ROUTES’ Roots: Otis Redding | 5/1980
Tragic End and Timeless Voice
Otis Redding was only 26 years old when his twin-engine Beechcraft plane crashed into Lake Pomona, Wisconsin on December 10, 1967, sending him to an untimely death. One could never tell by listening to his memorable recordings such as Try A Little Tenderness or Pain In My Heart, that he was that young. There was a quality of universal weariness in his voice that spoke of painful life experiences. If ever a man had sung as if the world were pressing upon his shoulders, it was Otis. He captured the languid beauty of the rural South with wonderful ease.
Early Life and Influences
Otis Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia into a family of eight. His father, a minister, brought the family to Macon when Otis was still a child. Macon was the hometown of Little Richard, a singer whose revolutionary rock style would have a profound influence on young Redding. Otis’s first singing experience was in his father’s church, where he also learned to play a wide range of musical instruments, including the guitar, bass, organ, piano, and drums.
Early Career and Struggles
Otis started working at odd jobs when he was 15 years old and joined a band called Johnny Jenkins and the Pinetoppers. He did some singing for them, but his main role was to be a chauffeur. A determined Otis Redding cut his first record in 1960 on the Bethlehem label. The A-side was an uptempo rocker entitled, Shout Bamalama, where his vocals reportedly sounded like Little Richard’s. The record was greeted by a less than enthusiastic public.
Breakthrough and Rise at Stax Records
In 1962, Otis traveled with the Pinetoppers to Memphis to audition for Jim Stewart, the president of Stax Records. At the end of the session, Stewart allowed Otis to sing his self-composed ballad, These Arms of Mine. Despite initial doubts, the song became a success. Stewart signed Otis to a long-term contract with Volt Records, a subsidiary of Stax. Otis wrote and arranged a list of emotionally fulfilling recordings, defining the Memphis Sound.
Creative Contributions and Style
Otis wrote most of the horn lines on his recordings, creating a seamless interaction between his voice and the instruments. His songs were created collaboratively, similar to the MG’s, who worked off each other’s riffs. Otis’s ability to improvise was evident during recording sessions. His rendition of the Rolling Stones’s Satisfaction became a classic Redding interpretation.
Entrepreneurial Ventures and Mentorship
During his time at Stax, Otis started his own publishing company, Redwal Music, and a record label, Jotis. He worked to groom several performers, notably Arthur Conley, who recorded Sweet Soul Music, a tribute to the Memphis Sound.
International Recognition and Breakthrough
By 1966, Otis’s acceptance among both urban and rural Blacks rivaled other major acts. The commercial success of Otis Redding in America’s pop mainstream began at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, where he performed alongside prominent artists.
Final Days and Legacy
This commercial success brought him financial rewards, allowing him to buy a private plane. Otis’s funeral was held in the Macon County Auditorium, where 4,500 fans paid tribute. Otis Redding has been immortalized on wax through memorable albums like History of Otis Redding (1967), Otis Blue (1965), In Person At The Whiskey A Go-Go, and Otis Redding/Jimi Hendrix At The Monterey Pop Festival.
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See a list of all archived ROUTES editions
- ROUTES’ ROOTS — Oscar Micheaux, Filmaker | 1980-1-18 - January 25, 2025
- ROUTES’ Roots: Otis Redding | 5/1980 - November 7, 2024
- Media — Lawanda Page is Esther and a Snake Dancer | 1980-5-7 - October 31, 2024