Contents
Otis Redding
Singing deeply expressive soul music, including (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.
Otis Blue · Try a Little Tenderness
- Born
- 9 September 1941
- Birthplace
- Dawson, Georgia, United States
- Died
- 10 December 1967
More people
Otis Redding
Otis Redding was an American singer and songwriter whose powerful performances helped define Southern soul.
Early life
Macon childhood
Sang in church and school settings after his family moved to Macon.
Family responsibilities
Left school as a teenager and worked to help support his family.
Career
- 1950s
Local bands
Developed as a performer around Macon.
- 1962
Stax breakthrough
Recorded These Arms of Mine in Memphis.
- 1967
Monterey
Reached a new audience at the Monterey Pop Festival.
Selected work
Otis Blue
Combined original songs with striking reinterpretations.
Try a Little Tenderness
Built a standard into an increasingly urgent soul performance.
(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay
Became a posthumous hit after his death in a plane crash.
Beyond work
Family
Married Zelma Atwood in 1961.
Lasting support
His family established a foundation supporting music education for young people.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Further source ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Stax Records. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
