Dont mind at all publicly sharing the tears on learning of the reported sudden heart attack death today of yet another Elder and long time friend, the legendary singer OTIS CLAY. Glad I saw him a few months ago on 47th Street and was able to share with him again the many years of memories I have had with him. God certainly blessed Otis and his music for it was so diverse that he crossed the lines and is an equal legend in the various categories of R&B, Jazz, Blues, and Gospel. When I was a young singer, I will never forget the times that he let me sing with him and the band, and as a young party promoter I helped promote a many local R&B, Blues, Jazz and Gospel and local appearances for with through over 30 years of knowing him. 

Many many times in my life in the Civil Rights Movement there was Otis Clay lending his voice to mobilizing for the movement and he appeared many times when he came by the Saturday Morning Forums at PUSH and would be backed up by the choir. And just HOW MANY times through the years have I been with him when he has been there to sing this great song for others we have lost and so it is just FITTING today that we Thank God for the life and legacy of Otis Clay and join in pray to God that The Gates Of Heaven Swing Open for Otis Clay. And on behalf of The Black Wall Street movement, locally and nationally we collectively SALUTE the contributions of OTIS CLAY for his lifelong contributions in the musical cultural legacy of our Black empowerment movement!! God Bless

marksallen2800@aol.com
Chairman & COO National Black Wall Street Chicago
(Consumer Education and Consumer Action Project)
Founder/Lead Organizer, Illinois Voter Restoration Civic Education Project
Chief of Staff to National Chairman, National Black Wall Street USA
"And The Ordinary People Said" News Blog, www.chicagonow.com
Chairman, Community Reinvestment Organizing Project
Listed in 2012 Edition Who' Who In Black Chicago
4655 South King Drive, Suite 203
Chicago, Illinois 60653
(Office) 773-268-6900 or direct 773-392-0165
The Rev. Al Sharpton calls Mark Allen "one of Chicago's legendary political activists and one of the best organizers of his generation"