Singer/songwriter/guitarist Marie Tinnes (a.k.a. Sista Otis) has received a little career boost via public praise from this season's "American Idol" runner-up, Crystal Bowersox, and now Otis is finding her spot on the national radar burning a little brighter. Her raw, honest, folksy, bluesy, gospel gumbo of rock 'n' roll fits perfectly on the streets and clubs of her hometown, New Orleans, but the Detroit native is never too far removed from her home away from home - Myrtle Beach - and she's here in concert tonight.

With regular visits to the Grand Strand, the home of her parents, Sista Otis has been picking up regular gigs, and fans of all ages, including an estimated 2,000 who watched her perform as opener for Blues Traveler at Broadway at the Beach's Celebrity Square this summer. Don Morris, general manager of the Myrtle Beach Hard Rock Café, liked Otis well enough to book her for tonight's fundraising event, Pinktober - Care To Rock, on the main stage inside the rock 'n' roll-themed restaurant. Joining Otis is the hardest working sixth-grader in rock 'n' roll, 11-year-old local Gabbie Rae.

The event is part of Hard Rock International's Global Pinktober campaign, to benefit breast cancer awareness and research. Proceeds from the event are specifically earmarked for Caring in our Lifetime, an organization that assists breast cancer victims who are in need of financial assistance, and live in Horry or Georgetown counties.

I caught up with Otis from somewhere in New Orleans, where, without a permanent address, she's a bit of a rolling stone, which is also the name of an Otis-penned song and video. "I've been on the road for a year and eight months," she said. "About five years ago my band in Detroit broke up, my relationship broke up, and I gave away pretty much everything I own. I lived out of my car for a while." She found kindred spirits and places to perform in a post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, where rebuilding lives is not such an uncommon endeavor. "I love New Orleans," said Otis. "My [original Detroit] style went over really well here, but I gained so much - Cajun, country, swamp-pop, brass, gypsy music - the European influences. It's all there. My music is just the gospel of rock 'n' roll - it's a combination of all those styles." Otis calls herself a "Wholly Roller."

When on national television Bowersox named Otis, along with Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt, as one of her major influences, some in the national media took note, and wondered just who is this Sista Otis? "The publicity really gave a boost to my bookings," she said. "Crystal was a fan on my MySpace page, and would write me now and then, and the next thing I know she's on 'American Idol.' Some guy drove 13-hours to see me at a show and told me about the 'American Idol' comment, which I didn't even know about."

Otis recently finished a new album "Charmed" on Ninth Ward Records, and many of her recordings may be found on iTunes. Bowersox, who landed a major record deal with Jive Records after "Idol," has promised to help Otis in her own recording and performance career, and told Otis that she hopes to record her tune "Love Is Spiritual" on her upcoming debut.

"Mostly I'm kind of independent," said Otis, "but, I'm branching out and songwriting with a few different people - singer/songwriter Poe, Kenny Olson [Kid Rock's guitarist], and whoever else is interested. I come from a long line of entertainers who never made any money. When I got into music, my parents said 'Oh God, not another one.'"

"At the Hard Rock I'm going to lay down the gospel of rock 'n' roll. People can expect miracles. Whatever [the audience] puts in, [they] will get out. I know I'm gonna give it everything I got."

Admission is free for the 8 p.m. show, though donations are encouraged. Hard Rock Café is at 1322 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach, in Myrtle Beach.

Have a thought, comment or newsworthy item for Weekly Surge Music Notes? S