Otis Redding
Otis Redding (1941–1967) was an American soul singer and songwriter whose raw, expressive vocals and songs helped define Southern soul.
Steve Cropper: An American guitarist, songwriter, and record producer, Cropper was a member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s. Cropper co-wrote and played on several Redding recordings, including “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.”
(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay: A 1968 song by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper, released shortly after Redding’s death. Its reflective mood and whistled ending marked a striking departure from Redding’s earlier hits.
Southern soul: A soul music style that developed in the American South, especially around Memphis and Muscle Shoals. Redding’s voice and Stax recordings became central examples of this regional style.
Dawson, Georgia: A city in southwestern Georgia and the birthplace of Otis Redding. Redding was born in Dawson before his family moved to Macon.
1967 plane crash: A December 1967 aviation accident in Wisconsin that killed Otis Redding and six members of the Bar-Kays. Redding’s death interrupted his career just as his music was reaching a broader audience.
Booker T. & the M.G.’s: An instrumental soul group that served as Stax Records’ house band during the 1960s. The band supplied the tight, economical backing on many of Redding’s Stax recordings.
Try a Little Tenderness: A 1966 Otis Redding recording that builds from a restrained opening to an impassioned climax. The performance captures Redding’s signature ability to turn a ballad into a vocal crescendo.
Stax Records: A Memphis record label known for influential soul and R&B recordings from the 1960s onward. The label’s studio, musicians, and recording approach shaped much of Redding’s best-known work.
Macon, Georgia: A city in central Georgia with a significant place in the history of American popular music. Redding grew up and began performing in Macon, where he joined Johnny Jenkins’s band.
Bar-Kays: An American soul and funk band that began as Stax Records’ backing group in the 1960s. Several members died in the same crash that killed Redding, who was traveling with them.