The Otis Cadillac and the El Dorados R&B Revue is an 11 piece band that performs Classic R&B, Root Rock N’ Roll, and related Blues-oriented material. The band performs in a style that emulates the R&B revues of the late 50s and early 60s. It is the goal of each performance to recreate the atmosphere and energy that gave birth to Rock N’ Roll in that era. The band chooses eclectic and diverse material exposing the talents of its band members!
The Revue features the extraordinarily talented female vocal quartet of the Seville Sisters. Under the vocal direction of acclaimed vocal instructor and performer Kat Riggins, they provide colorful harmonies, featured solos, dance routines, and on-stage banter to compliment the Octogenarian iconic lead vocalist Otis Cadillac.
Don’t look for an overly familiar and nostalgic performance from this group. The seasoned veteran musicians that compose the El Dorados roar through the music and spur Otis and the Seville Sisters to inspired, soulful, performances that are stirring, fresh, fun, and guaranteed to get the most jaded bun off its seat.
Music Made in Mexico
Otis Cadillac, born Otis Lincoln Washington Dec. 8th 1927 in Pecos, Texas to Walter Washington, a blacksmith and loving wife Netta Washington, a Pilates instructor.
Otis showed remarkable talent with multiple musical instruments, including his hauntingly hypnotic singing style. At age 15, Otis grabbed a guitar, a harmonica, and with the clothes on his back, headed south to Mexico, where he discovered he had been misled at some point as to the popularity of his beloved blues music south of the border. Fate being the harbinger of more fate, it was there he was to meet the love of his life, Penelope Lopez. They were wed on Feb. 2nd, 1944, and Penelope gave birth to their first child Marc Anthony hours later.
Headed north to Detroit
Having saved some money from his job as a tuck & roll specialist at a prominent local upholstery shop, young Otis and his new family headed north to find people of like mind to hear his music. The family settled in Detroit where Otis took a job and discovered the second true love of his life, the Cadillac. Working days at the Cadillac assembly line, and playing music at night, Otis was quickly befriended by blues legend Grapevine Robinson, who nicknamed Otis “Cadillac”, as he would come directly from work to the clubs while still in his work clothes.
Otis stayed in Detroit for the next 49 years and honed his craft at clubs such as Hatties Juke Joint, Marmadukes’, Diddy’s, and the Woodward Avenue Waffle House. Otis worked with a great many fine musicians in his time, all of whom sing his praises to this day. This list includes such greats as “Hollywood” Henderson, Donald “Flea Bag” Sutton, “T-bone” Schwartzman, and of course the unforgettable “Primetime” Sanders.
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