EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART
The life and legacy of Johnny Otis: the Godfather of R&B, composer, bandleader, disc jockey, civil rights activist, preacher, and artist, who grew up in a Greek immigrant family, but defined himself as African-American.
Every Beat of My Heart is a personal and musical biography of Johnny Otis, the musician, bandleader, producer and songwriter who is often called the Godfather of Rhythm & Blues. But it is more than the biography of one man, just as the story of R&B is about much more than music. Johnny’s odyssey through the world of African-American music in the 20th Century is a window into arenas of race and culture that have defined and transformed contemporary America – and, in turn, have touched the whole world.
Produced by Bruce Schmiechen, Michael Anderson & Kevin White
Directed by Bruce Schmiechen