Darius -

Darius — aka Robert J. Ottwere — was an American singer/songwriter from Cleveland who released a 1968 self-titled album on Chartmaker Records. His abandoned second album later appeared courtesy of archivists World in Sound.

Background

Darius was born Robert Joseph Ott in 1944 and grew up in Euclid, Ohio, near Cleveland, where he learned guitar in his youth. Ott moved to Los Angeles in 1963, where he performed blues songs and ballads in local clubs. He also earned studio credits under the name Darius. On October 19, 1966, he registered three original songs — “Scar on My Soul,” “Beauty,” and “Girl” — with the U.S. Copyright Office under the name Darius D’Paul.

Ott secured an arrangement with the Hollywood-based Venett Records and recorded Harley Toberman’s “Alone Without Love” with the San Chez sisters, but Venett vaulted the track. He then met guitarist and arranger Ben Benay, who helped develop Ott’s repertoire. By early 1968, the two demoed “Lonely Man,” which earned a contact with Chartmaker Records.

Chartmaker was a Hollywood record company established by producer Bob Ross, owner of Harmony Recording Studios, and former Vee-Jay executive Steve Clark. Pat Glasser directed the company’s publishing operations and co-produced the Darius album with Butch Parker. Ott recorded with bassist Jerry Scheff, drummer Toxey French, and guitarists Ben Benay and Mike Deasy. Benay, Scheff, and French also constituted the recording trio Goldenrod. In December 1968, Chartmaker advertised the self-titled Darius album for release in January 1969.

Discography:

Darius (1968)
II (2002, recorded 1967–71)

References and notes

U.S. Copyright Office Registrations — Robert Joseph Ott — Copyright entries for “Scar on My Soul,” “Beauty,” and “Girl,” dated October 19, 1966, identify Ott as Darius D’Paul. Later registrations identify him as Darius and give his birth year as 1944, although some entries list 1949. (Copyright Encyclopedia)
Невероятный Дариус [The Incredible Darius] — Alexander Kushnir, 2019. Biographical research covering the early guitar performances, 1963 move to Los Angeles, Venett Records project, Harley Toberman connection, and collaboration with Ben Benay. Includes Toberman’s account of the abandoned Venett recording. (Colta.ru)
Darius — Darius — World In Sound reissue information identifying the Cleveland-area singer-songwriter and the Goldenrod musicians involved in the Chartmaker sessions. (Forced Exposure)
Chartmaker Inc. Advertisement — December 7, 1968, Section II, page 67. Contemporary label advertisement announces the first Darius album for January 1969. (Record World)
Ross and Clark Form New Chartmaker Label on Coast — February 15, 1969. Identifies Bob Ross, Steve Clark, Pat Glasser, and the label’s initial album releases. Names Pat Glasser and Butch Parker as producers of the Darius LP. (Record World)
Chartmaker Action Triples in 1st Year — May 17, 1969, page 72. Contemporary report confirms that Chartmaker released the Darius album earlier in 1969. (Record World)
Darius — Darius (1969) — Album personnel information identifying Ben Benay, Mike Deasy, Jerry Scheff, Toxey French, Pat Glasser, and Butch Parker. (Discos Fundamentais)