Otis Day and the Knights was created as a fictional R&B band to perform in the 1978 movie ''

National Lampoon's Animal House ''National Lampoon's Animal House'' is a 1978 American comedy film directed by John Landis and written by Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney and Chris Miller. It stars John Belushi, Peter Riegert, Tim Matheson, John Vernon, Verna Bloom, Thomas Hulc ...

''.

Career

They are best known for their R&B/ black rock version of " Shout" and "

Shama Lama Ding Dong "Shama Lama Ding Dong" is a song written by and performed by fictional band Otis Day and the Knights in the 1978 film '' National Lampoon's Animal House''. Although Otis Day was portrayed by DeWayne Jessie in the film, the lead vocals were actual ...

". Both songs were sung by Lloyd G. Williams, and lip synched by

DeWayne Jessie DeWayne Jessie (a.k.a. "Otis Day"; born September 21, 1951) is an American character actor best known for his portrayal of Otis Day in ''National Lampoon's Animal House''. In the movie, the songs "Shama Lama Ding Dong" and " Shout" were sung by ...

in the film. Backing vocals were provided by Melvin Britt and Sidney Justin. Gospel style "Shout" was written by

the Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers ( ) are an American musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the 1950s. With a career spanning over seven decades, ...

. Otis Day was played by Jessie, brother of

Young Jessie Obediah Donnell "Obie" Jessie (December 28, 1936 – April 27, 2020) was an American R&B, rock and roll and jazz singer and songwriter. He recorded as Young Jessie in the 1950s and 1960s, and was known for his solo career, work with The Flai ...

The Coasters The Coasters are an American rhythm and blues/rock and roll vocal group who had a string of hits in the late 1950s. Beginning with "Searchin'" and " Young Blood" in 1957, their most memorable songs were written by the songwriting and producing ...

Robert Cray Robert William Cray (born August 1, 1953) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He has led his own band and won five Grammy Awards. Early life Robert Cray was born on August 1, 1953, in Columbus, Georgia, while his father was stationed at ...

was one of the members of the band, seen playing bass in the movie. In the 1980s, DeWayne Jessie purchased the rights to the band's name from Universal Studios and formed a real-life version of the band with some of his family members and toured the country for years afterward, with Jessie essentially assuming the identity of Otis Day. They recorded an album, produced by George Clinton,Leader of P funk, Parliament, and Funkadelic that came out in 1989 titled ''Shout'' which flopped, but included updated versions of "Shout" and "Shama Lama Ding Dong".

Career

Discography

References

External links