Songs I Love, Part XV: “Willie & the Hand Jive” Johnny Otis Show

When you’re 13 years old and male and pubescence has grabbed you in your comfort zone, any song with sexual innuendo resonates.

So it was with this rock & roll/ R & B classic that has stood the test of time since its release in 1958. My buddies and I may have interpreted this a tune back then as one about chokin’ the chicken back, but it remains good rockin’ tonight.

“Way out Willie/ Gave ‘em all a treat/ When he did the Hand Jive/ With his feet.”

Johnny Otis is an interesting study. Born of Greek parents in California, he lived in a black section of Berkeley, where he learned to play the drums. He married an African American woman, and was perceived by many color-coded folks in the entertainment biz as being black himself. He started making rhythm & blues music when it was referred to as Race Music.

Otis never seemed to mind about how folks interpreted any of that. He was a big band leader, a rock & roller, a producer, a perceiver of talent, a disc jockey, a recording artist, an entertainer, etc, etc. At a time when interracial ensembles were still viewed with a jaundiced eye, Otis would have none of it. The world of music is much the better for it.

With a wink at the novelty of the number in an era where the next dance craze was what the record execs were looking for, Otis fashioned the tune. That the eminent Earl Palmer is on drums, and Jimmy Nolan — later with James Brown’s band — plays the famous guitar riff helped make this one a classic.

Plus the whole tale had a happy ending.

‘Willie and Millie got married last fall/ They had a little Willie Junior, and a-that ain’t all/ You know, the baby got famous in his crib, you see/ Doin’ that hand jive on TV.”