While I was searching for information about the late Clyde Otis, I also found information about his daughter Ana Otis. I was so impressed with her biography that I am simply going to reproduce it here:
The Biography of Ana Otis
New Jersey native Ana Otis, the daughter of legendary songwriter and producer, Clyde Otis and former top model and recording artist Lulu Guerrero, is an author, singer/songwriter and a talented fine artist in her own right. Beginning a professional singing career at the age of seven which spans over 30 years, Ana joined the original vocal cast of Sesame Street and has recorded over 70 jingles, as well as animated television specials such as Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, and other commercial recordings, including “Sing”, with the Carpenters. Ana also sold her first set of paintings in the Bloomingdales Children’s Clothesline Exhibit at the age of seven. As an adult, Ana has performed as a solo artist in the United States and abroad and has performed with and opened for the late Dizzy Gillespie, Illinois Jacquet and his big band and other jazz greats.
As a songwriter, Ana’s biggest accomplishment was in composing “If You Wanna Sing Me (I’ll Be A Song)” recorded by Jazz legend Nancy Wilson as a title song on the album titled “I'll be a Song” and performed live by Ms. Wilson in the feature film, “The Big Score”. “I'll be a Song” was also re-released on the 4 disc CD Compilation The Essence of Nancy Wilson- 4 Decades of Music as one of Ms. Wilson's personal favorite recordings.
Ana’s writing credits include Dis(c) & Dat, a newsletter circulated during her stint as VP of Television and Film by The Clyde Otis Music Group, Inc., the historical music publishing company founded by her father over forty years ago, and has had articles and poetry published in various print and e-magazines, such as Venus Magazine. Trashy Novel is Ana’s debut fiction novel.
Ana is featured in the book “Kings and Queens- Queers at the Prom” by David Boyer; in Venus, Black Elegance and Billboard Magazines, and in numerous NYC and NJ newspapers. Ana was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002 from her alma mater Mt. Ida College in Massachusetts, where she studied Fine Arts and Graphic Design. Ana attended the Sorbonne in Paris, France, majoring in French, Art History and Fine Arts.
Ms. Otis, who has received awards attesting to her acting ability, hosted and produced her own self-titled cable television talk show for four years. She has also received recognition as an accomplished production designer for film and television projects and received a mention in Variety for her production design work in the award winning feature film, “Chocolate Babies”, directed by Stephen Winter, producer of the much acclaimed documentary film “Tarnation”. In addition to her production design work in film, Ana has been heavily involved in volunteer work and is a former Platinum member of New York Women in Film and TV (NYWIFT) where she served on a number of committees, conceiving of and producing events and several panel discussions featuring industry leaders. Although twice nominated to run for a seat on the board of directors of NYWIFT, she ended her involvement with NYWFT and accepted a seat on the board of directors of NewFest, the NYCLGBT Film Festival. After years of participation, Ana recently vacated her position with the non-profit organization, and has been serving as a Juror for the International Emmy Awards for the past several years.
Ana is now at work on new projects: “9-11”, a mystery novel set in the NYC area; Trashy Novel (Book 2) and is currently revising a script and collaborating on the score of a musical stage production with songwriter and vocalist Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul fame; emerging R&B and Hip-Hop artist Amore; and singer/songwriter Shelby Johnson, the only female member of soul singer D’Angelo’s background group, the Soultronic’s. The theatrical production is slated to open on Broadway in the near future.
As a songwriter, Ana’s biggest accomplishment was in composing “If You Wanna Sing Me (I’ll Be A Song)” recorded by Jazz legend Nancy Wilson as a title song on the album titled “I'll be a Song” and performed live by Ms. Wilson in the feature film, “The Big Score”. “I'll be a Song” was also re-released on the 4 disc CD Compilation The Essence of Nancy Wilson- 4 Decades of Music as one of Ms. Wilson's personal favorite recordings.
Ana’s writing credits include Dis(c) & Dat, a newsletter circulated during her stint as VP of Television and Film by The Clyde Otis Music Group, Inc., the historical music publishing company founded by her father over forty years ago, and has had articles and poetry published in various print and e-magazines, such as Venus Magazine. Trashy Novel is Ana’s debut fiction novel.
Ana is featured in the book “Kings and Queens- Queers at the Prom” by David Boyer; in Venus, Black Elegance and Billboard Magazines, and in numerous NYC and NJ newspapers. Ana was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002 from her alma mater Mt. Ida College in Massachusetts, where she studied Fine Arts and Graphic Design. Ana attended the Sorbonne in Paris, France, majoring in French, Art History and Fine Arts.
Ms. Otis, who has received awards attesting to her acting ability, hosted and produced her own self-titled cable television talk show for four years. She has also received recognition as an accomplished production designer for film and television projects and received a mention in Variety for her production design work in the award winning feature film, “Chocolate Babies”, directed by Stephen Winter, producer of the much acclaimed documentary film “Tarnation”. In addition to her production design work in film, Ana has been heavily involved in volunteer work and is a former Platinum member of New York Women in Film and TV (NYWIFT) where she served on a number of committees, conceiving of and producing events and several panel discussions featuring industry leaders. Although twice nominated to run for a seat on the board of directors of NYWIFT, she ended her involvement with NYWFT and accepted a seat on the board of directors of NewFest, the NYCLGBT Film Festival. After years of participation, Ana recently vacated her position with the non-profit organization, and has been serving as a Juror for the International Emmy Awards for the past several years.
Ana is now at work on new projects: “9-11”, a mystery novel set in the NYC area; Trashy Novel (Book 2) and is currently revising a script and collaborating on the score of a musical stage production with songwriter and vocalist Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul fame; emerging R&B and Hip-Hop artist Amore; and singer/songwriter Shelby Johnson, the only female member of soul singer D’Angelo’s background group, the Soultronic’s. The theatrical production is slated to open on Broadway in the near future.
Great information on a super talented lady. It is admittedly bittersweet with the passing of her father but I also think that it shows that his great legacy flows through her. His spirit is on the other side now and I think he's greeting his old friends like Brook Benton, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan and probably creating mores songs with them. I salute Ms. Otis and in extension her father.
2 comments:
Dear Mrshadow33<
Ana Otis, here. I would like to thank you very much for your kind attention to my father, Clyde and me. Knowing that my father meant so much to so many warms my heart and makes our admiration of my father deeper still. You are very kind to post my bio, and i appreciate it very much as I am trying to publicize Trashy Novel by myself. I read your bio and find you impressive as well! LOL. Good luck on your doctorate.
P.S. i notice that my father's name is mispelled in the title of your blog about him. In it, it reads Clarence Otis. LOL. Maybe you could correct that.
Please feel free to reach out anytime. My email address is author@trashynovel.com
Best,
Ana Otis
Hi primita, we the family are so proud of you. Keep the good work up!Carmencita
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