Lucky Otis

{{notability|1=Biographies|date=July 2025}}

{{Short description|American multi-instrumentalist and band leader}}

Lucky Otis (born in Los Angeles, California),{{Cite web |date=2019-02-06 |title=Lucky Otis (Son of Shuggie Otis) Interview 020219 |url=https://www.wuky.org/the-crunkadelic-funk-show/2019-02-06/lucky-otis-son-of-shuggie-otis-interview-020219 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=WUKY |language=en}} is a multi-instrumentalist, band leader, selector, and curator.{{Cite web |title=Lucky Otis Public Figure |url=https://www.facebook.com/luckyotisofficial?mibextid=wwXIfr |access-date=April 8, 2025 |website=Facebook}} Lucky is the grandson of rhythm and blues legend Johnny Otis{{Cite news |last=Lester |first=Paul |date=2016-03-31 |title='Heir to Hendrix' Shuggie Otis: 'I could have been a millionaire, but that wasn't on my mind' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/31/legend-shuggie-otis-instant-millionaire-r-and-b-singer-hendrix |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} and the son of singer songwriter, Shuggie Otis{{Cite news |last=Lester |first=Paul |date=2016-03-31 |title='Heir to Hendrix' Shuggie Otis: 'I could have been a millionaire, but that wasn't on my mind' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/mar/31/legend-shuggie-otis-instant-millionaire-r-and-b-singer-hendrix |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} and Miss Mercy{{Cite magazine |last=Ehrlich |first=Brenna |date=2020-07-28 |title=Miss Mercy, Frank Zappa Muse and GTO Co-Founder, Dead at 71 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/miss-mercy-gtos-obit-1034820/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}} of The GTOs.

Lucky was raised by his grandfather, Johnny Otis,{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Randy |date=2012-02-26 |title=Testament to the full life of Johnny Otis |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-feb-26-la-me-johnny-otis-20120226-story.html |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} and his grandmother, Phyllis Otis.{{Cite web |title=Phyllis Otis Obituary (1922 - 2016) - Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/phyllis-otis-obituary?id=15870408 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Legacy.com}} He learned to play bass, guitar and other instruments at a young age and began performing with his grandfather as a child. He later toured with his father, Shuggie Otis,{{Cite web |title=Shuggie Otis To Release 'Live In Williamsburg' Album October 14 - The Official Shuggie Otis Site |url=https://www.shuggieotismusic.com/news/shuggie-otis-release-live-williamsburg-album-october-14/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.shuggieotismusic.com}} and his younger brother Eric Otis.

Lucky launched his solo career in adulthood, performing solo{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=Lucky Otis - Radio Venice ... fine music |url=https://www.radiovenice.tv/musical-guests/lucky-otis/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=RADIOVENICE.TV |language=en-US}} and with various artists across genres including blues, jazz, psychedelic rock, funk, reggae, and R&B.

In collaboration with Louis Leadbetter, great-grandson of Lead Belly, Lucky co-founded the band, Otis Leadbetter.{{Cite web |date=2017-08-28 |title=Otis Ledbetter |url=https://jaminthevan.com/band/otis-ledbetter/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Jam in the Van |language=en-US}} He also led a 13-piece rhythm and blues orchestra, The new Johnny Otis All-Stars,{{Cite web |last=Roldan-Dixon |first=Deborah |date=March 30, 2025 |title=The new Johnny Otis All Stars featuring Lucky Otis and Richard D'juan Berry. |url=https://www.threads.net/@booties_bluze/post/DH1RZrkh4Ba/from-the-who-knows-where-the-time-goes-archivesthe-new-johnny-otis-all-stars-fea |access-date=April 10, 2025 |website=www.threads.net}} continuing his grandfather's big band legacy.

Lucky took over his grandfather's radio show, The Jonny Otis Show on KPFA in Berkeley, California, in 2004, hosting it until its final airing in 2006.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-10 |title=The Johnny Otis Show Archives {{!}} Page 3 of 12 |url=https://kpfa.org/program/the-johnny-otis-show/page/3/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=KPFA |language=en-US}} He also taught Music 15-B (Jazz, Blues, and Popular Music in American Culture) at Peralta Community College District in Alameda and Berkeley, a class founded by his grandfather.{{Cite web |last=Mary |date=2012-02-22 |title=Meeting Johnny Otis |url=https://sfbayview.com/2012/02/26803/. |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=San Francisco Bay View |language=en-US}}