
Otis Redding - Pop Singers, Birthday and Personal Life
Otis Redding's Personal Details
Otis Redding was an American Singer
Information | Detail |
---|---|
Birthday | September 9, 1941 |
Died on | December 10, 1967 |
Nationality | American |
Famous | African American Singers, Black Musicians, Black Singers, Died Young, Singers, Pop Singers |
City/State | Georgia |
Spouses | Zelma Redding |
Known as | Otis Ray Redding Jr., Otis Ray Redding |
Universities |
|
Cause of death |
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Birth Place | Dawson, Georgia, U.S. |
Height | 185 |
Gender | Male |
Father | Otis Redding Sr. |
Sun Sign | Virgo |
Born in | Dawson, Georgia, U.S. |
Famous as | Singer |
Died at Age | 26 |
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Otis Redding's photo
Who is Otis Redding?
Otis Redding was a great American singer, songwriter, record producer, and also an arranger. He is considered to be one of the most influential singers of the 1960s. His repertoire mostly included American popular music, soul music, and rhythm and blues. He was best known for his hoarse, gritty vocals, brassy arrangements, and also for his party tunes and mesmerizing ballads. Redding began his career in the late 1950s when he started working in the band of guitarist Johnny Jenkins. Redding’s debut album ‘Pain in My Heart’ was released in 1964. Initially the album became popular only with African-Americans though Redding was able to reach a wider American audience much later. He also performed at venues across Los Angeles, London, Paris and many other major cities. In 1967, he performed a major gig at the Monterey Pop Festival. Before his death in a plane crash, Redding had recorded his most iconic song ‘The Dock of the Bay’ with Steven Cropper. The song broke several records and was the number one on Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. The album of the same name, ‘The Dock of the Bay,’ became the first posthumous album to reach the number one position on the UK Albums Chart.
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Childhood & Early Life
Otis Redding was born on September 9, 1941, in Dawson, Georgia. He was the fourth child of Otis Redding Sr. and Fannie Mae Redding. He had five siblings. His father was a sharecropper and also worked at Robins Air Force Base.
Redding used to sing in the Vineville Baptist Church choir when he was a child, and also learned guitar and piano. When he was just ten, he started taking drum and singing lessons.
When he was in Ballard-Hudson High School, he often sang in the school band. He earned $6 every week by performing gospel songs at Macon radio station WIBB.
He left school when he was 15 to support his family financially. At that time, his father was suffering from tuberculosis and was often hospitalized, due to which his mother was burdened with the family’s responsibilities. A young Redding worked as a well digger, gasoline station attendant, and also as a musician.
In 1958, Redding met Johnny Jenkins who took interest in Redding’s music. He offered to accompany him, and they performed together, winning Swain’s talent contest and a cash prize of $5 for 15 consecutive weeks.
Redding was then hired by the band Upsetters when their lead singer Little Richard abandoned rock and roll. But despite getting well paid, Redding did not stay long.
Career
In the early years of his career, Otis Redding moved to Los Angeles with his sister, Deborah, and wrote his first songs which were ‘She’s Allright’, ‘Tuff Enuff’, ‘I’m Gettin’ Hip’ and ‘Gamma Lamma’.
When Johnny Jenkins left the band, Redding met Phil Walden and Bobby Smith who ran a small label Confederate Records. Redding signed with Confederate and recorded his singles ‘Shout Bamalama’ and ‘Fat Girl’.
In 1962, Redding drove Jenkins to his session in Memphis. The session with Jenkins wasn’t well received and Redding was allowed to perform two songs. He performed ‘Hey Hey Baby’ and ‘These Arms of Mine’. The studio chief, Jim Stewart, praised Redding’s performance. Later, Stewart signed Redding and released both the songs. The single ‘Hey Hey Baby’ became one of the most successful songs and sold more than 800,000 copies.
Redding’s debut album ‘Pain in My Heart’ included songs from his 1962-63 sessions – ‘These Arms of Mine’ and other songs. In 1963, ‘That’s What My Heart Needs’ and ‘Mary’s Little Lamb’ were recorded.
In November 1963, Redding was accompanied by his brother Rodgers to perform at the Apollo Theatre for recording a live album for Atlantic Records. Redding got a chance to showcase his dance moves with ‘Shake’ and ‘Satisfaction’.
Redding’s second studio album was ‘The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads’ which released in March 1965. In the same year, Redding co-wrote ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long’ with Jerry Butler who was the lead singer of ‘The Impressions’.
His next album was titled ‘Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul’ which was released in September 1965. He also released the cover of ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ in the same year.
Redding performed at the ‘Whiskey a Go Go’ event in Los Angeles since Afro-Americans formed majority of the fans. His music was well-appreciated and Redding became one of the first soul artists to perform for rock audiences in the USA. His performance also received appreciation from the media.
In 1966, he recorded several tracks, like ‘Try a Little Tenderness’ which was written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and Harry M. Woods. The song is often considered to be Redding’s signature song. It was included in his next album ‘Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul’ which was critically and commercially a huge hit.
In late 1966, Redding performed at the Fillmore Auditorium and was paid around $800 to $1000 per night. The gig was successful and Redding began touring Europe six months later.
An album of duets sung by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas was released in 1967. The album ‘King & Queen’ was released by Stax and became an instant hit. The collaboration of Redding and Thomas worked and the album charted at number 5 on the Billboard Pop and number 36 on the R&B charts, respectively.
Till 1967, Redding had been performing only for the black audience and had never played before the white American audience. But when he performed at the Monterey Pop Festival as the closing act that year, it created history. During the act, Redding played his own song ‘Respect’ and a version of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’ and his music found wider audience.
In early 1967, Redding recorded ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay’, written with Cropper. He was inspired by the Beatles album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and wanted to create a similar sound. Though everyone was against the idea, Redding felt he needed to expand his musical style.
On December 10, 1967, Redding’s band was going to play at the Factory nightclub, near the University of Wisconsin. Despite poor weather conditions, Redding’s plane Beechcraft H18 took off and shortly after crashed into Lake Monona. Redding’s body was recovered the next day and the other victims included his band members and the pilot. Singer and musician Ben Cauley was the only survivor of the crash.
Major Works
Otis Redding was considered to be one of the most iconic singers of the 1960s. He enjoyed massive success and garnered a large number of fans due to his soulful singing. Most of his songs were huge hits and topped the charts. But the album that broke all the records came only after his death.
His single ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay’ which released in January 1968 went on to reach the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also the first posthumous number one single in U.S. chart history. The album ‘The Dock of the Bay’ sold approximately four million copies; it was also the first posthumous album which reached the top spot on the UK Albums Chart.
Awards & Achievements
In 1966 Otis Redding received NAACP Lifetime Membership Award. In the same year, he was voted favourite for Home of the Blues Award, London.
He was awarded the title of International Male Vocalist of the Year in 1966. He received his first Grammy in 1969 for R&B Vocal Performance for ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay’. He was also awarded Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Song for ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay’.In 1986, he received Black Gold Legend Award. A couple of years later, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
In 1986, he received Black Gold Legend Award. A couple of years later, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
Grammy also presented him with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.
Personal Life & Legacy
When he was in his late teens, Otis Redding met 15-year-old Zelma Atwood at ‘The Teenage Party’ and became romantically involved. They had their son, Dexter; in 1960 and got married in August 1961.
Redding was a wealthy man and he earned around $35,000 per week for his concerts. He used to spend considerably on philanthropic projects and organised summer camps for disadvantaged black children.
Many artists over the years have named Redding as their influence. These include George Harrison, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Doors, and many others.
In 2011, Kanye West and Jay-Z released a song ‘Otis’ which won them a Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 2012.
Trivia
Rolling Stone voted Redding the 21st Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Artist of all time.
The whistling at the end of the song ‘Dock of the Bay’ was improvised by Redding since he forgot the lyrics.
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Otis Redding's awards
Year | Name | Award |
---|---|---|
Other | ||
0 | Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award |
Otis Redding biography timelines
- // 9th Sep 1941Otis Redding was born on September 9, 1941, in Dawson, Georgia. He was the fourth child of Otis Redding Sr. and Fannie Mae Redding. He had five siblings. His father was a sharecropper and also worked at Robins Air Force Base.
- // 1958In 1958, Redding met Johnny Jenkins who took interest in Redding’s music. He offered to accompany him, and they performed together, winning Swain’s talent contest and a cash prize of $5 for 15 consecutive weeks.
- // 1961When he was in his late teens, Otis Redding met 15-year-old Zelma Atwood at ‘The Teenage Party’ and became romantically involved. They had their son, Dexter; in 1960 and got married in August 1961.
- // 1962In 1962, Redding drove Jenkins to his session in Memphis. The session with Jenkins wasn’t well received and Redding was allowed to perform two songs. He performed ‘Hey Hey Baby’ and ‘These Arms of Mine’. The studio chief, Jim Stewart, praised Redding’s performance. Later, Stewart signed Redding and released both the songs. The single ‘Hey Hey Baby’ became one of the most successful songs and sold more than 800,000 copies.
- // 1963In November 1963, Redding was accompanied by his brother Rodgers to perform at the Apollo Theatre for recording a live album for Atlantic Records. Redding got a chance to showcase his dance moves with ‘Shake’ and ‘Satisfaction’.
- // 1965His next album was titled ‘Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul’ which was released in September 1965. He also released the cover of ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ in the same year.
- // 1966In 1966, he recorded several tracks, like ‘Try a Little Tenderness’ which was written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and Harry M. Woods. The song is often considered to be Redding’s signature song. It was included in his next album ‘Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul’ which was critically and commercially a huge hit.
- // 1966In late 1966, Redding performed at the Fillmore Auditorium and was paid around $800 to $1000 per night. The gig was successful and Redding began touring Europe six months later.
- // 1966In 1966 Otis Redding received NAACP Lifetime Membership Award. In the same year, he was voted favourite for Home of the Blues Award, London.
- // 1967Till 1967, Redding had been performing only for the black audience and had never played before the white American audience. But when he performed at the Monterey Pop Festival as the closing act that year, it created history. During the act, Redding played his own song ‘Respect’ and a version of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Satisfaction’ and his music found wider audience.
- // 1967In early 1967, Redding recorded ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay’, written with Cropper. He was inspired by the Beatles album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and wanted to create a similar sound. Though everyone was against the idea, Redding felt he needed to expand his musical style.
- // Dec 1967On December 10, 1967, Redding’s band was going to play at the Factory nightclub, near the University of Wisconsin. Despite poor weather conditions, Redding’s plane Beechcraft H18 took off and shortly after crashed into Lake Monona. Redding’s body was recovered the next day and the other victims included his band members and the pilot. Singer and musician Ben Cauley was the only survivor of the crash.
- // 1986He was awarded the title of International Male Vocalist of the Year in 1966. He received his first Grammy in 1969 for R&B Vocal Performance for ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay’. He was also awarded Grammy for Best Rhythm & Blues Song for ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of The Bay’.In 1986, he received Black Gold Legend Award. A couple of years later, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
- // 1986In 1986, he received Black Gold Legend Award. A couple of years later, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
- // 2011In 2011, Kanye West and Jay-Z released a song ‘Otis’ which won them a Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 2012.
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Otis Redding's FAQ
What is Otis Redding birthday?
Otis Redding was born at 1941-09-09
When was Otis Redding died?
Otis Redding was died at 1967-12-10
Where was Otis Redding died?
Otis Redding was died in Madison
Which age was Otis Redding died?
Otis Redding was died at age 26
Where is Otis Redding's birth place?
Otis Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia, U.S.
What is Otis Redding nationalities?
Otis Redding's nationalities is American
Who is Otis Redding spouses?
Otis Redding's spouses is Zelma Redding
What was Otis Redding universities?
Otis Redding studied at Ballard-Hudson High School
What is Otis Redding's cause of dead?
Otis Redding dead because of Plane Crash
How tall is Otis Redding?
Otis Redding's height is 185
Who is Otis Redding's father?
Otis Redding's father is Otis Redding Sr.
What is Otis Redding's sun sign?
Otis Redding is Virgo
How famous is Otis Redding?
Otis Redding is famouse as Singer