DARRIN
OTTO
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ABOUT
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Iowa native, Darrin Otto, is a sought after TV personality and host. He is also an actor, singer and commercial print model. Now living in Nashville, he’s appeared in major motion pictures, television shows and commercials, as well as hosting national and international infomercials. He has been a pitchman for everything from cars to portable spas! For the last ten years, Buick has relied on Darrin's presentation prowess to introduce their new vehicles at International Auto Shows around the country. He also is currently a host and producer for the digital, streaming shows "Meet The Host" and "Meet The Host Minute."
He has starred and appeared in several top music videos and has worked with such stars as Carrie Underwood, Montgomery Gentry, Lonestar, Bill Anderson, ZZ Top, Andy Griggs, Brad Paisley, James Otto, John Michael Montgomery, Nathan Osmond and the Eli Young Band just to name a few. He is most known and recognized for his starring role opposite Alison Krauss in the two-time #1 smash hit video "The Lucky One".
Darrin’s career took another exciting turn when he was featured in several national print advertising campaigns including Sonic Restaurants, Davidson Ladders, Honda Lawn Mowers, Sprint PCS, American Airlines, O’Charleys Restaurants, Goodyear, Ebbtide Boats, Mitsubishi Motors, Saturn and Carmax. He also appeared as a spokesmodel for the Shop At Home Network featuring everything from leather coats to men’s skin care.
Darrin comes from a musical family. His Dad loved to sing and his Mom is a Grammy Award-winning Music Educator with the West Des Moines Schools. Darrin’s professional singing career began fresh out of high school when Adventureland Theme Park in Des Moines hired him as the lead singer for the popular show Solid Gold Rockers. He performed 7 shows a day accompanied by a live band and full cast. On average, Darrin’s vocals drew a standing-room-only crowd. The stages of Branson, MO were now calling his name. For nearly a decade, Darrin performed in shows throughout the world-famous tourist destination. While in Branson, the Hard Luck Diner also showcased his vocal talents while he took your food order!
When not performing, Darrin put his marketing skills to work. He spearheaded the interior design of the revamped Hard Luck Diner. He was also the director of marketing and publicity for the award-winning Red, Hot...& Blue! Show. His efforts helped the show win "Breakfast Show of the Year", and Darrin was named the first recipient of the PHD Award by the Branson Chamber of Commerce acknowledging excellence in tourist hospitality. After receiving this prestigious award, Darrin has been asked to consult on other projects.
His vocals were heard as the Legendary Buddy Holly for the multi-award winning Iowa Lottery campaign “It’s So Easy” and co-hosted the annual Buddy Holly tribute with Buddy’s widow, Maria Elena Holly at the legendary Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA. Darrin has 3 independent radio singles under his belt. A member of ASCAP, in 2021 he went back into the studio to give a song he wrote as a teen ager new life. "Pass The Bottle Daddy" is his true story. In 2015, Darrin released a holiday favorite “Let It Snow." Both songs are available on Spotify and all streaming services. He has been requested to perform the Star Spangled Banner for several military ceremonies and major sporting events and has been “coined” by two US Army Generals.
In 2007, Nashville Lifestyle’s Magazine named him one of Nashville’s Sexiest Single Bachelors and in 2014, Darrin was named by Unite Magazine as one of Nashville’s Hottest Entrepreneurs. Both flattering and humbling honors.
After the passing of his Mother in the Fall of 2023, Darrin took a piano album that she had recorded but never released and had it digitally remastered in Nashville. Spring of 2024, he released "Piano Artistry" by Sara Otto on all streaming platforms as a tribute to her amazing talent 43 years after it was originally recorded.
Through all the performing, donating his time and talents to children’s
organizations make it all worth while. In 1999, Darrin was honored to host and perform on one of the main stages at the World Special Olympic Games in North Carolina. Darrin also supports Christmas 4 Kids, MDA, Make-A-Wish, Camp Heartland and Variety, The Children’s Charity of Iowa. He's been apart of 30 annual Variety Telethons and this great organization to date has raised over $125 million dollars for the children of Iowa.