Clyde Otis - The man who gave us The Stroll

Clyde Oits, from Prentiss Mississippi, was the artists and repertoire executive for Mercury Records between 1958 and 1962. He was notable in being the first ever African American executive for a major record label.

He is well known for his collaboration with Brook Benton, for whom he wrote the hits Endlessly,It's Just a Matter of Time, So Many Ways and The Boll Weevil Song.

Otis not only knew The Diamonds, but wrote for them, produced several of their sessions, and gave them their second million selling record - namely "The Stroll".The Stroll was credited to "Clyde Otis and Nancy Lee" (and even featured a photograph of Nancy Lee with The Diamonds on the cover of the sheet music), The song was written by Clyde Otis and Nancy Lee who was the daughter of one of the executives of Meridian music (publishing company). He also authored several other songs that The Diamonds recorded and released and although none could match the success of The Stroll, they were all strong r&b sides. Otis gave The Diamonds some of the best material they put down on record.

The following songs werel penned for The Diamonds by Clyde Otis - often in collaboration with others such as blues singer/composer Willie Dixon and Mercury label mate Brook Benton.

The Stroll(1957), Happy Years(1958), Patsy(1958), Sneaky Alligator(1959), Tell the Truth(1960), Real True Love(1960)I Sho' Lawd Will(1961), You Short Changed Me(1961)