Otis Redding Artistfacts

Otis Redding song list

Otis Redding Artistfacts

Sept. 9, 1941-Dec. 10, 1967
Otis Redding died December 10, 1967, when a plane carrying him and his backing band the Bar-Kays crashed into Lake Monona, near Madison, Wisconsin. Only Ben Cauley (trumpet player for the Bar-Kays) survived the crash - Redding's body was found the day after the crash, still strapped into his plane seat.

There's an official monument to the crash in a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building, located just a few blocks from the State Capitol at the following address: Monona Terrace, 1 John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI 53.
Otis Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia. At age 15, with his father suffering from tuberculosis and unable to work, Redding dropped out of school to support the family. He worked as a well digger and gas station attendant before being hired by Little Richard's house band, the Upsetters.

He got his break when, as chauffeur and gofer for Johnny Jenkins and the Pinetoppers, he asked the Stax producer and engineer if he could record a song when the Pinetoppers were finished. The result was his first R&B hit, "These Arms of Mine."
He recorded with Stax Records, a Soul label in Memphis that had a string of hits in the late '60s. The house band, known as Booker T. and The MGs, played the instruments on his songs. Other famous Stax artists include Isaac Hayes, Albert King and Wilson Picket. Redding's debut album, Pain in My Heart, was released in early 1964 on Stax's Volt label.
Redding owned a 200+ acre ranch in Georgia called "The Big O Ranch," complete with hogs and cattle. The "Big O" took it's name from Redding's nickname, and was home to Redding's herd of horses, which he told an interviewer in 1967 that he loved as much as music. Redding was also an avid hunter, who liked to hunt on horseback.
Sam Cooke was one of Redding's inspirations. Redding recorded several of Cooke's songs, including "Shake" and "A Change is Gonna Come," and adapted his signature version of "Try A Little Tenderness" from a version he heard on Sam Cooke at the Copa. Redding listened to the album so often that he literally wore the grooves out, and had to purchase another copy.
Redding was the first soul artist with a large white audience. His success with white audiences was due in part to his willingness to risk performing in venues that had featured few soul artists, such as the Whisky A-Go-Go and the Fillmore West. Redding also toured Europe, performing in London, Paris and Stockholm, at a time when few soul artists toured outside the US. Redding's performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, his last live performance, was a groundbreaking crossover success; he was the best-known soul act featured at the festival.
Redding was so popular in England that he ended Elvis Presley's eight-year reign as "world's best male vocalist" on Melody Maker's annual pop poll in 1967, when readers voted Redding to the position. When Redding arrived in England for a 1967 tour, he was greeted by The Beatles' personal limo.
Redding often said that if he left the US, he'd live in England. He counted among his best friends the Animals' Eric Burdon.
Shortly before his death, Redding begun acting as manager and producer for his close friend Arthur Conley, recording Conley on his biggest hit, "Sweet Soul Music."
Pallbearers at Redding's funeral included fellow soul legends Solomon Burke, Don Covay, Sam Moore (of Sam and Dave), Joe Simon, Percy Sledge, Johnnie Taylor, and Joe Tex. James Brown also attended.
On March 16, 1968, Redding's recording of "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" became the first posthumous number one hit in the Billboard chart history.

Comments: 10

Sid from Lsui was 17 year old when saw Otis, Arthur Conley with Jr. Walker and the all stars in Baton Rouge 10/67. 4,000 fans mixed black and white when during Conley's song when a chair throwing fight broke out. Otis came out on the stage grab the mike and shouted "this shit stops or i don't play" He threw the mike down and walked off! Everyone stopped where they were and there never was any more problems! He died two months later! SAD day for me! My number one hero! i never saw any color but beautiful soul music!
John From Gold Coast from Queensland I was 12 when Otis started his musical career and it has been a beautiful journey
Andy from Arlington, VaInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Sam from Philadelphia, Patheres a live album of the grateful dead and otis from a festival in 1966 and it is awesome
Gary from Mattawan, Mi"I liked Otis' version of "Respect" better than Aretha's.
- mike, berkeley, CA"
i have to agree!
Seb from Pau, FranceOtis the king of Soul ;=)

"amen" "the arms of mine" et bien d'autre
bonne journÃ?e
C.j. from Tunkhannock, PaAnyone ever hear his version of (I can't get no) Satisfaction? its pretty good
Virgil from Monroe, CtIt makes me so sad to think of how great Otis Redding's music was and how overlooked and underappreciated he is. Most radio stations only play his biggest hit "Dock of the Bay". He was so much more than that 1 song. He left us a treasure trove of the most powerful passion-filled
recordings you will ever hear but most people are clueless as to his body of work. Otis is truly an immortal.
Mike from Berkeley, CaI liked Otis' version of "Respect" better than Aretha's.
Shelli from Madison, WiLake Monona is right in Madison, Wisconsin.

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