Clyde Otis

Clyde Otis, born in Prentiss, Mississippi, (September 11, 1924 – January 8, 2008), was an American songwriter and producer best known for his collaboration with singer Brook Benton, and for being one of the first African American A&R executive for a major label. According to the music licensing organization Broadcast Music Inc., Otis is credited as the writer or co-writer of almost 800 songs. After serving in the Marines during World War II, Otis moved to New York and inspired by fellow-Marine Bobby Troup, best known for "Route 66", began writing songs. Otis' first success was Nat King Cole’s recording of his song “That’s All There Is to That”, which reached the Billboard Top 20 in 1956. On joining Mercury Records as director of A&R in...