Otis Redding
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Forty years after his passing, the legacy of Otis Redding remains stronger than ever. One of his biggest hit single released is "(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay".
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About
Otis Redding or "Otis Ray Redding, Jr." in real life was born on September 9, 1941 at Dawson, Georgia. Otis father was a Baptist Minister, which explains Otis' musical influence. At the age of 5, he moved with his family to Macon, Georgia. He began singing in the choir of the Vineville Baptist Church, as well as participating in the band at Ballard Hudson High School. Determined to help his family financially, he dropped out of high school and went on to work with Little Richard's former band, the Upsetters.
In the late ’50s, he met Johnny Jenkins, a local guitarist, who invited him to join his group, the Pinetoppers, who were managed by Phil Walden. He also began recording for sundry local independents, and his debut single, "She's Alright", credited to The Shooters Featuring Otis, and was quickly followed by "Shout Bamalama". Otis also released a song entitled, "These Arms of Mine" backed with "Hey, Hey, Hey," on a whim. The unique mixture of Memphis gospel and soul went on to sell an amazing 800,000 copies and bolted the singer into prominence. The song chartered #20 on the R&B chart and established him as a recording artist.
Further poignant releases, "Pain In My Heart", "That's How Strong My Love Is" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long". Otis composed most of his songs like, "Mr. Pitful" in 1965 which chartered at #10 on the US R&B Charts,
"Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)" in 1966 that landed #12 on the US R&B Charts and "(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay" which reached number 1 both on the US R&B Charts and US Pop Charts. It became his only million-seller and US pop number 1 and become his most enduring and memorable globally known anthem.
He also releases the singles, "Respect" in 1966 and "Satisfaction" in 1967. Otis also played an important role in the careers of other singers. In 1967, he cut a duet album with Carla Thomas, King and Queen, which had a hit in "Tramp" also, provided major success, while his production company, Jotis, was responsible for launching the career of Arthur Conley.
Otis enjoyed night after night of standing ovations in cities like London, Paris and Stockholm. Upon his return to the U.S., after being named “No. 1 Male Vocalist” in Britain’s "Melody Maker" poll, Otis was booked for the Monterey Pop Festival, sharing the stage with popular rock, pop and folk acts of the day such as Simon and Garfunkel, The Byrds, The Who, Jefferson Airplane and Jimi Hendrix.
On December 10, 1967, his chartered plane crashed into a Wisconsin lake, killing Redding and four members of his backup band, the Bar-Kays. He died on the cusp of greatness at the age of 26 not living to see how important a figure he would become.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Grammy Awards | Best Male Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance for "The Dock of The Bay" |
| 1968 | Grammy Awards | Best Rhythm and Blue Song for "The Dock of The Bay" |
Chart Toppers
News
Tours & Concerts
There are no current tour and concert schedules for Otis Redding.
Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
Discography
Albums
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Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Hey Hey Babt | Volt |
| 1964 | You One and Only One | Volt |
| 1964 | Security | Volt |
| 1965 | Respect | Volt |
| 1966 | Good To Me | Volt |
| 1966 | Any Ole Way | Volt |
| 1967 | Glory of Love | Volt |
| 1967 | Tramp | Stax |
| 1968 | Lovey Dovey | Atco |
| 1969 | Look At That Girl | Atco |
| 1969 | Love Man | Atco |
| 1970 | Snatch A Little Piece | Atco |
Compilations & Live Releases
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Other artists
Similar artists
Contemporaries
Influences
Trivia
- A commemorative stamp bearing Otis portrait was issued by the United States Postal Service in 1993 .
Reviews
External Links
Categories: Artist | Soul
