[1] As a teenager he began playing piano and singing, appearing in the Wilmington Symphony and competing in regional music competitions.
[1] In highschool he began performing "piano man" style arrangements, and has cited singer-songwriters such as Billy Joel and Elton John as influences.
According to Otey, his style was also shaped by Harry Connick Jr., Frank Sinatra's ballads, jazz standards, and hits from the Beatles, Van Morrison and Sting.
[5] Otey met his wife, singer-songwriter Miss Amy, and they began playing in jazz, folk and rock bands together.
[3] Other artists include pianist and composer Leonardo Le San, Sue Tally, Pedro Ledezma, and Leticia Gómez-Tagle.
[17] In August 2012 Ionian Productions released Tenochtitlan 1325, which includes piano pieces composed by his father, Orlando Otey.
[18] The album was well-received; according to Robert Schulslaper, "Orlando Otey played the piano with panache and considerable skill, reveling in music's capacity for passionate extroversion as well as lyrical reflection.
His compositions reflect a genuine talent, curious about modern trends (but stopping short of atonality) and capable of fashioning diverse influences into a convincing artistic statement.