b. Otis Ray Redding, Jr., 9th September 1941, Dawson, Georgia, U.S.A.
d. 10th December 1967, Lake Monona, near Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Otis Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia.
He was the son of a Baptist minister.
As a child, he was exposed to various musical influences, including R & B and Gospel.
Relocating to Macon, he was interested in local singer Little Richard, and began singing on a full-time basis.
A high-school friend and booking agent, Phil Walden, then became his manager.
johnny jenkins and the pinetoppers (otis in white jacket)
Through Phil Walden's contacts Otis joined Johnny Jenkins And The Pinetoppers as a sometime singer and occasional driver.
Otis also began recording for local independent labels.
His first single, 'She's Alright' was credited to Otis And The Shooters and was quickly followed by 'Shout Ba Malama'.
Then one of Otis's own songs, 'These Arms Of Mine', was picked up for the Stax subsidiary Volt.
Recorded at the tail-end of a Johnny Jenkins session, this ballad made the American Hot 100 in May 1963.
Further releases, 'Pain In My Heart', 'That's How Strong My Love Is' and 'I've Been Loving You For So Long', were counterbalanced by several uptempo performances that included 'Mr. Pitiful', 'Respect' and 'Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)'.
pain in my heart - 1964 / otis blue - 1965 / sings soul ballads - 1965 / dictionary of soul -1966
Otis released 'Otis Blue' in 1965, in which original songs and cover tunes featured, including the Rolling Stones' 'Satisfaction' and two songs by Sam Cooke.
His version of the 'Temptations' 'My Girl' then became a UK hit.
the soul album - 1966 / live in europe - 1967 / ling & queen - 1967 / in person at the whiskey a go-go - 1968
In 1967 Otis toured with the Hit The Road Stax revue in 1967.
'Tramp', a duet with Carla Thomas, also garnered success, while Redding's production company, Jotis, was responsible for launching the career of Arthur Conley.
After an appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival Otis's career was looking highly promising, however, tragedy struck on 10th December 1967.
The band was traveling to performances in Otis' Beechcraft H18, when the jet plunged into Lake Monona, Madison, Wisconsin, killing the singer, his valet, the pilot and four members of The Bar-Kays.
otis redding's funeral
the gig that otis and the barkays were en route to perform at after the crash
The song '(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay', a song Otis recorded just three days earlier, became his only million-seller, and U.S. and U.K. pop number 1.
The thoughtful aspects of the song, along with several ureleased songs, indicated a maturity far beyond his years.
the immortal otis redding - 1968 / the dock of the bay - 1968 / love man - 1969 / tell the truth - 1970
Otis Redding is rightly regarded as, probably, the greatest exponent of soul music.
Albums:
Pain In My Heart (Atco Records 1964)
The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads (Volt Records 1965)
Otis Blue - Otis Redding Sings Soul (Volt Records 1965)
The Soul Album (Volt Records 1966)
Complete And Unbelievable ... The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul (Volt Records 1966)
with Carla Thomas: The King & Queen (Stax Records 1967)
Otis Redding Live In Europe (Volt Records 1967)
Here Comes Some Soul From Otis Redding (Volt Records 1967)
The Dock Of The Bay (Volt Records 1968)
The Immortal Otis Redding (Atco Records 1968)
Otis Redding In Person At The Whiskey A Go Go (Atco Records 1968)
Love Man (Atco Records 1969)
Tell The Truth (Atco Records 1970)
shared with Jimi Hendrix: Monterey International Pop Festival (Reprise Records 1970)
Live Otis Redding (Atlantic Records 1982)
Remember Me (Atlantic Records 1992)
Good To Me (Atlantic Records 1993)
Live in London & Paris (Volt Records 2008)
Live On Sunset Strip (Volt Records 2010)
