Sista Otis dancing with snakes, swallowing swords, lighting her self on fire and humping her guitar amp, all in the name of Rock N Roll. Hamtramck Oct 02, 2009
Sista Otis sitting in with Michael Franti in New Orleans 09
CLICK CLICK CLICKHERE to purchase the album Worldwide Release! Go to CD Baby and check it out. Click here to read the lyrics and reviews
Influences
The Great "IT", Acapulco Gold, Bettie Page, Elvis, Cheif Sitting Bull of The Lakota Nation, The Doors, Wanda the Dancing Lady, My Moms & Pops, Sojourner Truth, The Holy Ghost, Bob Dylan, Bette Midler, Cole Porter, Patsy Cline, Wayne Dyrer, Prince, Tom Robins, Big mama Thorton, Mae West, Dolly Parton, Janis Joplin, You, David Bowie, BRIAN SIKORA, RickieLee Jones, The Blues Brothers, Dr. John, Alice Walker, Leonard Cohen, Ben Harper, Martin L. King Jr., The Beatles, G Love, Jack Kerouac, Loretta Lynn, The last Poets, Ken Kesey, Diane Di Prima, Hank Williams, Ani, The chicago 7, Otis Redding, Martin Sexton, Bob Marley, Patti Smith, Bright Eyes, Rimbaud, Johnny Cash, James Brown, George Jones and last but not least there is no town like Motown
For links to many of these artist and spiritual leaders go to sistaotis.com
Hey Jack...I wont hit the air waves until the year 2000, babycakes!!!
CLICK CLICK CLICKHERE to purchase the album Worldwide Release! Go to CD Baby and check it out. Click here to read the lyrics and reviews
Sounds Like
This sound was born in Detroit, could only be born in Detroit.
As the Story goes, in a lil' JAZZ club downtown after hours
a few drinks and clouds of reefer hangin' in the air
Lady BLUES was feeling the SOUL from MOTOWN,
so she HIP-HOPped up on MOTOWN'S lap,
ROCKed back and forth and got the FUNK on.
Meanwhile, FOLK wondered in off the streets with crazy hair
and dark shades and wrote the story down.
On that night, Sista Otis was conceived...
The "Original Good Time Girl," Sista Otis, is a gypsy with no home to call her own an no day job to fall back on, all she does is live, eat, drink and sleep the music. She is currently working with, Norwood the bass player from the world famous punk/Reggae band Fishbone and recording with King Sound Studios who recorded Ben Harper, Blind Boys Of Alabama and Jack Johnson in Hollywood, CA. She released her Award Winning studio Album, Worldwide Release, her 6th release on Wholly Roller Records, that album has gone Indie Gold with air play in 12 different countries and coast to coast on college and public radio in the States. A write up in Roiling Stone. The Advocate named her one of the top Indie Artists to see LIVE in the U.S. Sista Otis is a song writer's song writer and a performer-extraordinaire. The grit of her shows all comes from a life of giving one's self over completely to their art. With her ear to the speaker and her eyes on the page, she listened to the voices that spoke to her in the songs and the books and they told her the only life worth living and writing about is one lived out on the tight rope of your passions with no safety net. She followed in the foot steps of her literary and musical heroes such as Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan and Hank Williams, striking out on the road at age19 with nothing but a back pack, a few bucks, and a six string. Abandoning security, and her known world in trade for the unknown adventure, the kind of life that drops a guppy in the ocean to fend for it's self. She began crisscrossing and couch surfing her way from coast to coast. Sista Otis sang for her supper on the side walks of America, financing her travels playing street music. Her hotel room, gas money, bus ticket or meal for the day depended on tips. She had to learn how to put on a show that would make people want to stop out on the side walk and put money in her hat. It was this grass roots approach, that were the makings of the artist we know today, with the stage presence of a Rock 'n Roll Tina Turner meets the American songwriter. Songs crafted with classic elements reminiscent of the late 60's, with song structures so diverse and truly original yet so familiar and warm that you feel like you've heard them before. Strong with rhythm and addictive hooks, sassy, charming, smooth and raw in all the right spots. With saucy lil' numbers bout' having the bar tender pour another round to, "This Love is Spiritual". She can easily play venues 21 and up, all ages festivals, a crowd pleaser reminiscent of a modern Mae West/Betty Boop with the feverish flare of a tent revival gospel show(Amen). Sista Otis is, "The Original Good Time Girl" and the Good Time Revolution is in full effect when, Otis is in the building, up on the stage and out on the wire.
Book Sista Otis on your Festival, in your venue, house concert or Private Party:
US & Canada
Booking:
Graphic Equlizer Productions : Aaron M. Koper
graphicequlizerproductions@gmail.com
www.myspace.com/graphicequlizerproductions
00+1(248)910-3564
Fishman promotions will send you posters, and start pushing radio and press in your city.
Quotes...
"She has enough girl power to fuel a fire and enough soul to make James Brown proud."
- Rachel May, Detroit Free Press
"The band's name and its Detroit Pedigree set some big expectations. Happily, Sista Otis and her Wholly Rollers manage to over deliver. Sista serves up Janis Joplin-inspired 1960s Rock mingled with flavors of funk, hip-hop, soul, and urban folk in socially conscious songs"
-Mark Davis, The Advocate
"Also hailing from the Midwest, Detroit to be exact, is Sista Otis and the Wholly Rollers. With the feverish fervor of a faith healer, Sista Otis and company rolls through a series of songs on its CD Worldwide Release (Wholly Roller) that sound as if they were baptized in hip-hop (Beat On The Road), funk (Love Is Spiritual), modern rock (Rollin Stone, Mama Look At Me), and the blues (Letter To Denine), and bring the listener to the brink of testifying."
-Gregg Shapiro, Windy City Times
"She's a very talented guitar player, song writter and she knows how to work a croud. Her stage persence is one that you cant walk away from without knowing she was there."
-Kristi Singer
The Sun News Kicks Weekly Entertainment Guide Myrtle Beach, SC
"Worldwide Release holds the potential as the record that can break open the national scene for Sista Otis and the Wholly Rollers. And it's a great album, full of the variety and depth that Otis is known for. Each song sounds fresh and different from each other, a feat not often accomplished by music groups either through fear or inexperience."
-Lucie Bourgeau, The South End
"Her spunky -- sometimes spittingly so -- new disc is the kind of blast of self-confidence that says an artist has really arrived. Sista Otis is emerging as one of Detroit's most distinctive voices."
-Steve Byrne, Detroit Free Press
"Sista Otis is one-of-kind figure in the Detroit music scene."
-Melody Baetens, Detroit News
"One listen leaves little doubt that Otis is on her way out of the shadows of the gritty, "urban folk" genre she helped create and on her way into the mainstream. But that's OK. Perhaps it's the mainstream that needs this prophetess most of all."
-Jason Michael, Between The Lines
"Sista Otis has got to be one of the best songwriters to hit Detroit in a very long time."
-Aimee Spencer, Real Detroit
"(Sista Otis) is the hardest working women in Detroit Show Business."
-Jim Dolzo, WDET.
"A maverick artist packing rooms across the Midwest, exalted by critics"
-BRIAN MCCOLLUM, Detroit Free Press
"Legendary Country crooner Johnny Cash once wrote a song about a boy named Sue. But around these parts, it's a girl named Otis that's getting all the attention. Sista Otis to be exact."
-Jason Michael, Between The Lines.
Dragonfly Photography
Come on out and play Moter Boat and catch The Sista Otis Show.
OTIS! Thank you for the candid interview! You're a stellar talent and we are very glad to know you. Be well, stay focused and work hard sweety... we're in your corner! And our invite is open ended too!!
Otis! :) I"m so happy to see Charmed on here...it holds a special place in my heart. How was Nod? Dono had a boxing match yesterday so I couldn't make it. :( I'm missin your lovely presence. Hope things are well and to see you soon.
The Four Prayers - From the Book I'm writing Quasi
Positive Prayer - asking for positive change, asking for new growth asking for help in your life.
Absolute Prayer - asking not but bringing things up, in absolute prayer one asks not for good nor bad, one simply addresses things with no opinion either way. As well, devotioal choring around the house, yard work. Say a small prayer before you do your dishes and offer that time of labor. A truth of breaking free of heart pains caused. Devotional sits, take a moment and breath, say a prayer first and sit for as long as you see fit.
Negative Prayer - asking for things to change that are bad, bringing things up that are horrable and asking for people to leave, situations to change. Devotional silences, take a day or a night and be silent, begin with a prayer.
Almighty Prayer - a combination of all three, a writ or quick note of addressing a situation that arises in your life, to your shepard as well, an absence or going with out for an amount of time, an offering of money, an offering of a relationship, an offering of the hope you have for someone to advance or grow. A surrender of a relationship, a surrender of a day, a week or a year. A full surender to The Lord, The ALmighty, The Lord of all Lords, The Holly Spirit or God, a surrender of self. Total liberation comes from this, and a new beginning! As well, devotioal food offering and devotional food preperation. Always begin with a prayer when making food and even in a slilent moment offer all food.
What the four prayers bring forth in a mathmatical way.
Positive Prayer - feeling better about you Absolute Prayer - feeling better about others in your life Negative Prayer - Feeling better about your dislikes Absolute Prayer - Feeling better about your whole life
I'm working this Sat. and will not be able to make it to your show here in Nola, This makes me a sad bunny :( . . Hope all is well beautiful! Namamste!
The good time girl really knows how to get the good times rollin...."positive energy brings no hate...so negative vibes cannot relate".....lovin you sister (sista)
How have you been ? It's been awhile since I've talked to you. I hope that this comment reaches you and your family in great health and spirits. I'm doing well and as usual working on music and performing. Stopping by to say "Hi" and send my love and well wishes. Take care, stay safe and have a wonderful weekend beautiful lady !
Luv'n you ma you are an awesome unbelievably talented sista keep on keepin on ! wish I could have seen you at john & peters in new hope pa. I hope to see you somewhere! From the front line of the revolution! ScoOPs
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