Ottilie

Description

Born in Comber, a tiny Ulster town, Ottilie Patterson rose to be regarded as the greatest Blues singer to emerge outside America. So talented was she that she received acclaim and acceptance from American Blues audiences themselves, as well as audiences in Europe.

This book traces her story from early days of performing in Ulster, through her Hollywood-style arrival on the jazz scene with the Chris Barber Jazz Band, to triumphant performances at all the main concert venues on both sides of the Atlantic.

Her story is not without its unhappy, dark moments however, and follows the lines of the stories of many jazz greats. Persistent bad health, a failed marriage and the stress and strain of hectic touring schedules eventually caused Ottilie to withdraw from performing and spend the latter years of her life in the relative solitude and calm of Ayr in Scotland.

Ottilie is a reminder to us that extraordinary things sometime come to us dressed in quite ordinary packaging, and is an encouragement for us to see what can be achieved through determination and strength of character.