Otis Redding
September 9th, 1941 - December 10th, 1967
Biography
Otis Ray Redding Jr. was a prolific and influential American songwriter, singer and record producer. He saw international fame and is considered one of the greatest Soul and R&B(rhythm and blues) singers in popular music. Redding is said to have embodied every essence of Soul.
Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia to a working class family. At the age of 19 he married Zelma Atwood who gave birth to their son Dexter in 1961. They would have 3 children together. At the age of 15 Redding left school in order to support his family. As his father was sick, Redding's mother became the sole financial provider. Redding worked as a gas attendant and a well digger. It is around this time that Redding became interested in music. As a teenager, Redding sang in the town choir and Redding would sometimes play music with friends at a Macon social club.
Otis Redding's big break in the music business came during a talent show in 1958. 'The Teenage Party' talent show, held at the Roxy and Douglass theatres in Macon had a 5$ winning prize, which Redding took home for 15 consecutive weeks! During this time Redding became the frontman for the Upsetters, Little Richard's former band. Eventually Redding and his brother moved to New York and performed at the Apollo Theatre.
In 1967, after playing 3 shows in Cleveland, Redding called Zelma and his children and boarded a plane to Madison, Wisconsin. They were warned against flying but in heavy rain and fog they took off. The cause of the accident is unknown to this day but 4 miles away from their destination, the plane crashed into Lake Monona killing everyone but one band member, Ben Cauley. 4, 500 people attended his funeral and he was buried on December 19th, 1967
Despite his talent and and tenacity, Otis Redding never had a #1 hit in America until after his death. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay", released in 1968 following his death, was his only hit to reach #1.
Otis Redding was an incredible musician and was well known for his electric stage presence. If you want to see some live footage of Redding and his band, check out the Mementos page!
Read More
|
About
|
|
Name |
Otis Redding |
Date of Birth |
September 9th, 1941 |
Date of Death |
December 10th, 1967 |
Home Town |
Dawson, GA, US |
Favourite Saying |
“As I was growing up, I did a lot of talent shows. I won fifteen Sunday nights straight in a series of talent shows in Macon. I showed up the sixteenth night, and they wouldn't let me go on any more. Whatever success I had was through the help of the |
|
Milestones
|
|
1951 |
At age 10 began drum and singing lessons |
1956 |
Left high school to help support his family; eventually becoming a well digger and gas station attendant. |
1958 |
Entered a 5$ singing contest at the Roxy Theatre in Macon, Georgia, winning the contest for 15 consecutive weeks. |
1959 |
Redding met his wife Zelma Atwood at a singing competition |
1960 |
Zelma gave birth to their son Dexter |
1961 |
Otis and Zelma are wed |
1964 |
Redding’s first hit “Pain in my Heart” debuts at #20 on the Billboard Top 100 |
1966 |
With many attempts by white artists to stop Redding from recording this song, his signature track “Try a Little Tenderness” hit #25 on the Billboard Top 100 |
1967 |
Redding and his bandmates were flying to Madison, Wisconsin in bad weather. For reasons unknown, the plane went down and crashed into Lake Monona. There was only one survivor |
1967 |
On December 18th Redding’s funeral was held |
1968 |
Redding’s posthumous hit "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" becomes his only single to reach #1 on the Billboard Top 100 |
published a comment .
Read More