Oti Brown

Guitarist-bassist-song writer-producer Oti Brown is an African citizen-of-the-world, both in terms of his life journey and musical vocabulary. As a singer, composer and virtuoso instrumentalist, his trademark sound is an esoteric but accessible amalgam of influences from his past and present, an inventively forward-looking yet folklore-based mix that raises spirits while falling smoothly on the ear.
Lucky Otitigbe (a.k.a. Oti Brown) was born in Warri Delta State of Nigeria on 17.5.1973.
1985, Oti Brown got into music, when his older brother Osaro started taking guitar, bass and singing lessons, and everything he learned, he taught Oti, at that point Oti knew, he wanted to be a musician.
In 1986 he joined a music group as a percussionist, 1987 he became the bassist of the group, and since he was the youngest bass player in the city he was giving the nickname “Smally�
Oti Brown wasn’t satisfied, just being a bass player, so he learned to play the guitar and improved his singing.
In 1992 he left for Lagos after getting an invitation to join the Sir J.B. music group.
He became their leadsinger and leadguitarist ( also played the bass, drum, conga and percussion) and he stayed with the group for 3 years.
In 1995 a friend and Oti formed the group “Smallykins� (a combination of the 2 names, Smally & Kingsly) Some friends, Kingly’s brother & 3 of Oti`s brothers joined as well, they played 6 times a week in Lagos hotels, clubs & private parties, like weddings, birthdays e.t.c.
In 2003 Oti Brown moved to Switzerland ,where he was confronted with different styles of music, next to the afrobeat, reggae, high life & gosple music that he used to play.
Oti started playing soul, funk, blues, jazz e,t,c.
Oti Brown is influenced by Fela Kuti, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Hugh Masekela, The Temptations, George Benson, Marcus Miller, Ray Charles, Wyclef Jean & Motown Artists.
His group is called Oti & the Afro-beat.
They often play at African club parties, or at weddings, not only in Switzerland,but also all around Europe.
Oti Brown lives in Zurich with his wife & son.
His goal in life is, to improve his music constantly, and to produce good albums.
God bless - AfroUp

It’s ‘Dancing Time’

Put on your dancing shoes, and get ready for Dancing Time, a new CD to be released soon by Oti Brown. The 8 tracks CD is a mixture of Afro Funk Jazz, Soul, Calypso and more, the kind of beat, that you just can't get enough of.

Oti Brown as he is popularly called is not new in the music scene, as he started in 1985 at a tender age of 13 by a stroke of luck, (a really lucky lad) when his senior brother who started attending music lesson decided to teach him (Oti Brown) what he was being taught. Soon his music talent became obvious both in playing instruments and in singing. Within a year he joined a music group in Benin City as a percussionist and later became the youngest bass guitarist in the city, which earned him the nickname "Smally".

In 1992 Sir J.B. music group invited him to Lagos to join the group where he later became the group’s lead singer and lead guitarist. He left the group in 1995 to form his own band "Smallykins" playing in Lagos hotels, clubs and at private parties.

When he moved to Switzerland in 2003 he found himself facing a different kind of music to what he was used to in his country Nigeria, but as a talented musician he soon mastered the trade playing Funk Jazz, Soul and R&B as if he was born with these sounds. Music lovers soon took notice of him. They started to engage him to play at private parties, in clubs and for special occasions.

His first album ‘Dancing Time’ is a testimony of his music talent. Though a fan of great names like Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Hugh Masekela, The Temptations, George Benson, Marcus Miller, Ray Charles, and Wyclef Jean, Oti Brown refuses to copy them although they have certainly influenced him.

Of 8 songs on the CD, he wrote six and the other two were written by his wife.
The album features other artists like his brother Cali Oti, a rapper based in Spain, Jennifer Chonia, a Ghanaian gospel singer in Zurich, and Kelly Lave, a musician and music producer from Fiji Island living also in Switzerland.

The album is being produced by Edward Apau (KEMP Recording studio Zurich Switzerland) and may be out by Dec. 2008 . So watch out and get ready for the ‘Dancing Time.’
It promises to be a master piece you can not afford to miss.

Contact oti@otilucky.com for information about the time of its release. www.otibrown.com www.myspace.com/otibrown
www.afroue.ning.com - Africa Link Magazine