The Boomer REport - Music Fun Facts

Otis Redding - 10 Fun Facts

  1. He won a talent contest 15 times in a row – As a teen in Macon, Georgia, Otis dominated a local radio talent show so frequently they eventually banned him to give others a chance.
  2. He got his big break driving for another band – Otis was the driver and occasional singer for guitarist Johnny Jenkins. One day at a studio session, he sang These Arms of Mine and changed his life.
  3. He wrote “Respect” before Aretha – Otis recorded the original version in 1965. Aretha Franklin’s 1967 feminist reinterpretation became even more iconic.
  4. He didn’t live to hear his biggest hit – (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay was recorded just three days before his death in a plane crash. It became the first posthumous No. 1 single in U.S. history.
  5. He died at just 26 – Otis had already become a soul legend before dying in 1967 in a plane crash with four members of his backing band, The Bar-Kays.
  6. He was a major influence on Janis Joplin – She idolized Otis, mimicked his vocal phrasing, and recorded Try a Little Tenderness in tribute.
  7. He performed one of the most electrifying sets at Monterey Pop – His 1967 performance, backed by Booker T. & the MGs, introduced him to a massive new (mostly white) audience.
  8. He was the first Black artist to perform at The Fillmore – Otis broke the race barrier at the legendary San Francisco venue, opening doors for other soul artists.
  9. He owned his own label – Redding co-founded Jotis Records with Jerry Wexler and also wrote for and produced other Stax artists.
  10. He was a deeply shy man offstage – Despite his explosive live persona, Otis was quiet and introverted in personal life.