Horace Ott is noted for his work since the late 1950s with a wide variety of artists, including The Shirelles, Don Covay, Nina Simone, Houston Person, and the Village People.
11 Facts About Horace Ott
1.
2.
Horace Ott studied music at South Carolina State University, graduating in 1955, and spent two years in the US Army from 1956 to 1958, playing in a marching band.
3.
Horace Ott met songwriter Luther Dixon, and had his first success writing arrangements for The Shirelles.
4.
Horace Ott worked as a songwriter and arranger with musicians including Jackie Wilson, Don Covay, Hank Ballard, Dee Clark, Sam Cooke and Solomon Burke.
5.
Horace Ott arranged Doris Troy's 1963 hit "Just One Look".
6.
In 1964, he co-wrote "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" with Bennie Benjamin and Sol Marcus; the co-writing credit was given to Ott's wife, Gloria Caldwell, because as a BMI member Ott was not permitted to work with ASCAP members.
7.
The song was included on Nina Simone's album Broadway-Blues-Ballads, in an arrangement by Horace Ott, and was later a hit for The Animals.
8.
Horace Ott continued working with Nina Simone, arranging her 1968 hit "Ain't Got No, I Got Life", and worked as an arranger in the late 1960s with Aretha Franklin, Eric Burdon, Bessie Banks, George Benson, Mary Wells, Jimmy McGriff, and many others.
9.
Horace Ott was there to record Louisa Jane White, a young artist who had recently been discovered by pianist and arranger, Tommy Sanderson.
10.
Horace Ott arranged "You Don't Have to Be a Star", a number 1 hit in 1976 for Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.
11.
Horace Ott has worked with the Count Basie Orchestra, and on Broadway musicals.