By Daily Press staff
You know it’s summer in Santa Monica when the free pier concert series begins.
The 18th Annual Santa Monica Pier Concert Series kicks off tonight at 7:30 p.m. with blues rocker Shuggie Otis and The Brother Johnson, a funk band.
Shuggie Otis was lured from semi-seclusion to the pier stage by the prospect of performing with The Brothers Johnson. Otis is the author of The Brothers mega hit, “Strawberry Letter #23.” Shuggie is a prodigy guitar hero whose performances are rare these days.
The Brothers Johnson are the originators of the sophisticated funk R & B style that shook a generation and influenced almost every musician who came after them, are back together after 18 years apart. The group began playing music together in the ’70s with Billy Preston and collected seven Grammy nominations and six Gold and Platinum LPs. The Brothers were discovered by Quincy Jones who produced them and brought them to stardom.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 27, 2002. Read the original PDF.