Otis Redding

Otis Redding News
Credit: Stax Records
Full Name
Otis Ray Redding Jr.
Born
September 9th, 1941
Height
5ft 10in
Hometown
Macon, Georgia, United States
Partner
Zelma Redding
Family
Otis Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia, and raised in Macon, Georgia, by his parents Otis Redding Sr. and Fannie Mae Redding. He married Zelma Atwood in 1961, and they remained together until his death in 1967. The couple had four children: Otis III, Dexter, Demetria and Karla Redding. His family later established the Otis Redding Foundation to support music education and youth programmes.
Years Active
1960–1967
Bands
The Pinetoppers
Top Tracks
'(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay', 'Try a Little Tenderness', 'I've Been Loving You Too Long', 'These Arms of Mine', 'Respect'
Top Albums
'Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul', 'The Dock of the Bay', 'Pain in My Heart', 'The Soul Album', 'Dictionary of Soul'
Records Sold
More than 20 million
Number Ones
'(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay'
Fun Facts
Otis Redding wrote 'Respect' in 1965, two years before Aretha Franklin transformed it into one of the most celebrated songs in popular music. He performed a career-defining set at the Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967, introducing his music to a wider rock audience. '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' was recorded just days before Redding's death and became the first posthumous single to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Related Artists
Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Solomon Burke, Booker T. & the M.G.'s

Otis Redding was an American musician, singer and songwriter widely regarded as one of the greatest soul singers in history. Renowned for his powerful, emotionally charged vocals and dynamic stage presence, Redding became one of the defining artists of Stax Records during the 1960s.

His recordings, including ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long’, ‘Try a Little Tenderness’, ‘Respect’ and ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay’, helped shape the sound of Southern soul and influenced generations of musicians across soul, rock and rhythm and blues.

Redding’s career was tragically cut short when he died in a plane crash in 1967 at the age of 26, just days after recording ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay’, which became his first posthumous US number-one single.

Otis Redding News

More About Otis Redding

Otis Redding was an American soul singer and songwriter regarded as one of the greatest vocalists in popular music history, known for songs including '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay', 'Try a Little Tenderness' and 'I've Been Loving You Too Long'.
'(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' is Otis Redding's signature song and became his first US number-one single after his death in 1967.
Otis Redding died in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin, on December 10th, 1967, at the age of 26.
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