Tuesday, November 24, 2020
It seems so long long ago, back in the early days when the AOK Talent Agency was just beginning. There were a lot of people who helped make it all possible: Alfred and Verna Jones, Joyce, of course, and later George and Dorothy Floyd. Without each of them there would have been no band. And there, almost from the very beginning, was Otto. Our relationship went up and down over the years, depending most often on the whims and immature behavior of the various band members ? we were just kids!. At times our relationship was tumultuous and trying for everyone involved. Yet through it all Otto stood by us. It was Otto who insisted we grow up. It was Otto who encouraged us. It was Otto who taught us some notion of professionalism. It was Otto who pulled it all together. It was Otto who kept pushing it all forward. He was at once a taskmaster, a surrogate father, a friend, a confidant, and a fan. Depending on all sorts of factors, the sight of him suddenly appearing backstage with that toothpick in his mouth could be calming, or terrifying -- occasionally even both in the same night. Otto prodded us, he chastised us, he insisted on accountability..... and yet he always encouraged us and sought to see us succeed. He promised and promised that before he died he would let us hear him play the drums. That was never to be, but he did drum some responsibility into us. He did drum some common sense into us. Without him, we wouldn?t be who we are today. He gave us direction. And we had many many wonderful times together. I thanked him many times, but now we thank the family for sharing him with us. He was something special. A true original. He made all our lives richer in many ways. He will forever be remembered as someone special who played a significant role in our lives. Those were special days, and we all have priceless memories of Otto. In the end, he molded our lives more than either he, or we, could have ever imagined at the time. He was truly special, and what he did for his boys was precious.
