Johnny Otis, R&B figure was 90

Johnny Otis, the white songwriter and singer from the Bay Area who said he "chose" to live as a black man, died in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday. His biggest song was "Willie and the Hand Jive." He also wrote the song that became known as "Roll With Me Henry" by Etta James. Otis hosted radio and early TV shows on the air in Los Angeles. LAT obit

Otis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994: "Bandleader Johnny Otis has been called 'the Godfather of Rhythm and Blues.'"