The South African Rock Encyclopedia > Rock Legends > 1970s > Otis Waygood
Legends Of South African Rock
Otis Waygood
Introduction
Otis Waygood was a blues band formed in Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) in the 1960s. The original lineup included Benny Miller, Rob Zipper, Alan Zipper, Leigh Sagar, Angus McLean, and Billy Toon.
In late 1969, some of the members traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, which led to a residency in Johannesburg and a recording contract. They became a popular live act in South Africa during the early 1970s, touring extensively.
The band’s music had a blues-jazz fusion sound. They released three albums in the early 1970s: “Otis Waygood Blues Band,” “Simply,” and “Ten Light Claps And A Scream.”
In 1971, the group moved to the Netherlands, then Germany, and finally settled in the United Kingdom. In 1976, they added Caribbean musicians and shifted towards a reggae-based sound. In 1977, they changed their name to Immigrant and disbanded in 1979 after a final tour supporting Tavares.
The name “Otis Waygood” originated from a transposition of “Waygood Otis,” a lift (elevator) company with installations in Rhodesia.