Otis Redding

About

Considered one of the most important acts of soul music, Otis Redding was a singer/songwriter whose distinctive voice had a profound influence on the style of 1960s soul singers. He began his career in music touring as a member of Teacake's Band during a time of racial segregation in the US. Redding penned and released his debut single for the Stax record label, "These Arms of Mine," in 1964, which went on to sell over eight-hundred thousand copies and was featured on his debut album Pain in My Heart. Redding's success had so far been attributed to a mostly black audience, but with encouragement from the Beatles, he became one of the first African American soul artists to perform on the West Coast of the US at the iconic Whisky a Go-Go venue in Los Angeles. The performance received critical acclaim and earned Redding a mainstream spotlight. In 1966, he recorded what is often considered his signature song "Try a Little Tenderness," the recording of which epitomizes Redding's open-throated and commanding voice. During the recording of his final single "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," in 1967, his label was dissatisfied and complained that the song was not R&B, though Redding believed it was the best song he had ever written. Three days after he recorded the song, Redding was killed in a plane crash but is remembered for his ability to convey deep emotion with his lean and powerful voice.