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Otis Redding

found the live at the whisky a go go cover in portland

Otis Redding(1941/09/09 – 1967/12/10) was one of my first musical inspirations. He’s one of my many musical influences for at least my first 5 books of blues, and perhaps for as long and as much as I get to write. His upbringing, influences, and impact on music has captured me since I first remember hearing (Sittin’ on the) Dock of the Bay saunter in the room on a summer Friday night from my best friend’s father’s Philco Hi-Fi.

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If you’ve never heard Otis Redding outside of one of his simply-too-many greatest hits albums, then you’re missing perhaps one of the best performers to ever grace a stage. I’m not just talking in regards to Soul music or Blues / Jazz with a Macon Music makeover, or even in the broader realm of American roots music. 

Otis Redding might have been the best live performer in 20th century American music.

– Finn

And if you have anything to contribute, or find a fact you’d like to contest, please let me know.

“Pretty little thing, let me light your candle / ‘Cause mama I’m sure hard to handle, now, gets around”

– Allen Jones & Otis Redding

Now, get ready for “Star Time,” complete with two trumpets and a saxophone.

Otis Redding Quickfacts:

Otis Redding Career Snapshot

Stage Name:Otis Redding
Real Name:Otis Ray Redding, Jr.
Birthday:1941/09/09
Birthplace:Dawson, GA [Clark’s Mill, GA]
Died:1967/12/10
COD:Plane Crash (Drown)
Where Died:Lake Monona, WI
Final Age:26 yrs.
Signature:Raspy Voice, Emotional Delivery, Vibrance
Influences:Little Richard, Sam Cooke
Songwriter?Yes
Instruments:Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Broke in:Won $5 singing contest in 1958. 1963: wrote / Sang “These Arms of Mine.”
Bands:The Upsetters, The Pinetoppers, Otis and the Shooters, Booker T. & the M.G.’s (backing band)
Record Company:Jotis (owned), Stax, Redwal, and Atlantic
Breakout:Monterey Pop Festival. 1967
Manager / Agent:Self, Alan Walden
RC SNAFUs?Stax didn’t know Atlantic held the copyrights.
Awards Include:UK Silver award. Posthumous: #1 US Single, Grammy Lifetime Achievement, Songwriters HOF
Best Selling Single:
Best Selling Album:“Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul”. (Posthumous: “The Dock of the Bay”)
Infamy:Died too Soon
Legacy Left:Ability to show raw soul emotion. High-energy covers of rock anthems. Show soul / rock cross-overs can be ballads. Business acumen: owned record company. Invested.

Otis Redding Personal Facts:

Wife:Zelma
Kids:Dexter, Karla, Otis III, Demetria
Family Man?According to Zelma
Upbringing:Father: deacon / sharecropper / entrepreneur. Contracted tuberculosis when Otis was 15. Forced Otis and Mama to work hard jobs to make ends meet until he recovered a year later.
Parents Around?Yes
Traumatic childhood?Forced to work manual labor jobs to help mama bring in money for the family.
Traumatic events?Parental illness.

My Personal Favs:

My Favorite Single:“(Sittin’ on) The Dock of The Bay”
My Favorite Album:“Live on the Sunset Strip”
Why I Love Otis Redding:He started my love of music
How He Inspires Me:When his music’s on, watch me work.

Otis Redding Discography

Studio Albums

Otis Redding: Pain in My Heart. 1964
  • Title:
    “Pain in My Heart”
  • Released:
    1964/01/01
  • Label:
    Alto Records (NYC)
  • Acclaim:
    Positive. All Music & Rolling Stone
  • Charts:
    #28 – UK Charts

The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul. 1965/09/15
The Soul Album by Otis Redding. 1966/04/01
  • Title:
    “The Soul Album”
  • Released:
    1966/04/01
  • Label:
    Volt (Memphis, TN)
  • Acclaim:
    4 Stars: AllMusic
  • Charts:
    #54 Billboard 200
Complete

Posthumous Studio Albums, with Original Material:

Dock of the Bay. 1968/02/03
  • Title:
    “The Dock of The Bay”
  • Released:
    1968/02/03
  • Label:
    Volt (Memphis, TN)
  • Acclaim:
    It had (Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay on it. Rolling Stone: positive.
  • Charts:
The Immortal Otis Redding. 1968/06/01 (?)
  • Title:
    “The Immortal Otis Redding”
  • Released:
    1968/06/01 (?)
  • Label:
    Atco (NYC)
  • Acclaim:
    4 Stars: Rolling Stone Album Guide
  • Charts:
Love Man. 1969/06/20
  • Title:
    “Love Man”
  • Released:
    1969/06/20
  • Label:
    Atco (NYC)
  • Acclaim:
    Not Sure.
  • Charts:
    Not Sure.
Tell the Truth. 1970/07/01
  • Title:
    “Tell the Truth”
  • Released:
    1970/07/01
  • Label:
    Atco (NYC)
  • Acclaim:
    3 Stars: AllMusic
  • Charts:
    Not Sure.

Otis Redding Live Albums:

Live in Europe. 1967/07/10
  • Title:
    “Live in Europe”
  • Where:
    London, Paris…
  • Released:
    1967/07/10
  • Label:
    Volt (Memphis, TN)
  • Acclaim:
    Not Sure.
  • Charts:
    #8 US R&B. #14 UK
In Person at the Whisky a Go Go. 1968/04/15 (?)
  • Title:
    “In Person at the Whisky a Go Go”
  • Where:
    Whisky a Go Go. Los Angeles, CA
  • Released:
    1968/04/15 (?)
  • Label:
    Atco (NYC)
  • Acclaim:
    Not sure.
  • Charts:
    #7 US R&B.
  • Title:
    “Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival.”
  • Where:
    1967 Monterey Pop Festival
  • Released:
    1970/08/26
  • Label:
    Reprise Records
  • Acclaim:
    Not sure.
  • Charts:
    #15 US R&B, Gold: US
  • Title:
    “Live on the Sunset Strip.”
  • Where:
    Sunset Strip / Whisky A Go Go, Los Angeles.
  • Released:
    2010
  • Label:
    Not Sure.
  • Acclaim:
    Not Sure.
  • Charts:
    Not Sure.

Online Media: Streaming Music, YouTube Videos…

Otis Redding on Spotify

My Favorites

Recorded Albums

Beginners Top Ten

Live Recordings

Otis Redding on YouTube

Latest Thoughts on Otis Redding

found the live at the whisky a go go cover in portland

Sources Consulted Included

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Album photo credits: somewhere between the Otis Redding estate and the Amazon affiliate program.

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