Here's Where Jim Got "Poor Otis Dead And Gone"

According to his brother-in-law, Jim called Anne, and they were talking for hours, and Jim mentioned "The End" (Lowell Lee Andrews story), and for "Runnin' Blue" - Robby's song, but the a cappella in the beginning is from the song below... Anne said he loved Bonanza and Rawhide, and would sing the theme at the top of his lungs. You can hear Jim do this (on YouTube) while they're rehearsing for "Riders on the storm" (the version when Jim says to the band, "We should go to Arizona and record some thunderstorms" (to put on record).. They did, but Elektra had a bank of effects, and used it, instead of going to Arizona.

The only change really is the name "Otis", and I think Jim amalgamated the two. Otis Redding died in a plane crash on the way to open for The Doors.