This week, we take the opportunity to celebrate the legend that is Otis Redding, spinning four albums of the deep, soulful tunes that were the hallmark of his tragically short life and career.
Born in Georgia in 1941 to sharecropper parents, and growing up singing in church, Redding quickly found his voice. In his early teens he famously won fifteen Sunday night talent shows in a row at a theater in Macon, taking home its $5 prize each time and subsequently getting himself disqualified for his dominance.
In 1962 he found himself at Stax recording studios in Memphis working as sideman for another group, but at the end of their session, Stax co-owner Jim Stewart asked him to cut a few of his own songs with the remaining time. The result was “These Arms of Mine” and it was a hit. It catapulted Redding into a new and successful solo career, no small feat for black male artist coming out of the Jim Crow South in the early ‘60s. His success truly crossed over when he brought down the house at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, in front of a large white audience. Remarking on that performance, Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Bob Weir said “I was pretty sure I saw God on stage.”
From that first session, right up to the plane crash in December of 1967 that took his life (and the lives of four members of The Bar-Kays), he left an indelible mark on music and the culture of this country. He was a passionate activist for racial equality, imbuing all of his work with purpose, strength and vision of a brighter future.
To honor this titan, we’ll be spinning “Otis Blue” his 1965 album of blues and soul covers for Volt/Stax and then three posthumous albums, which include some of his most famous works. The song “(Sittin’ On The) Dock of the Bay” came out a mere weeks after the fatal plane crash and became the first posthumous number one single and album of all time. He recorded so much in his final sessions in 1967 that three more albums would come out after “Dock of the Bay” including “The Immortal Otis Redding” and “Love Man”
As always, early arrival is recommended and low speaking voices are required. Needle drops around 8pm. We’ll see you then!