Otis Redding
Long before Olivia Rodrigo alluded to her driver’s licence in song, Otis Redding’s ID card helped him get the break he so desperately needed. After all, if he hadn’t been hired to drive guitarist Johnny Jenkins to an audition in Memphis, Redding might never have showcased his own abilities for Stax Records, the legendary soul label who released his breakthrough single, These Arms Of Mine, in 1962.
Serendipity alone doesn’t explain Redding’s success: the future “King Of Soul” had the vast reserves of talent and dedication needed to get to the top. Recorded with Stax’s regular house band, Booker T And The MGs, the Macon, Georgia-born singer’s immaculate 1964 debut album, Pain In My Heart, was a commercial slow-burner, but its successors – not least UK Top 10 smash Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul – showcased his raw, yet highly emotive, voice and established Redding among the best soul singers of all time by the time he played 1967’s Monterey International Pop Festival.
The future should have been his for the taking from thereon in, but just days after recording his glorious, chart-topping signature song, (Sittin’ On The) Dock Of The Bay, Otis Redding died in a plane crash, in December 1967, his tragically premature passing robbing modern music of one of its most singular talents.
Otis Redding Honoured With Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Otis Redding will be honoured posthumously with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Killer Mike will speak at the ceremony
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King & Queen: When Otis Redding And Carla Thomas Took The Crown
Pairing Otis Redding’s belting voice with Carla Thomas’ classy poise, ‘King & Queen’ was a stroke of genius from Stax Records.
Pain In My Heart: The Soul-Baring Genius Of Otis Redding’s Debut Album
Otis Redding’s debut album, ‘Pain In My Heart’, featured all the ingredients that would make him an all-time soul music great.
(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay: How Otis Redding Sang His Own Elegy
With (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay, Otis Redding hit upon a new type of soul – one his shockingly early death left unexplored.
Otis Redding: How A High-School Dropout Became The King Of Soul
With a voice that ranged from tender vulnerability to unrestrained power, Otis Redding, the King Of Soul, demanded nothing but total respect.
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