HE was the King of Soul, considered one of the greatest singers in the history of popular music.
Sittin’ On The Dock of The Bay, recorded just days before Otis Redding’s death, became one of the great soul anthems of all time, covered by a star studded list of singers.
Now Otis Redding III, who has inherited his superstar father’s rich musical legacy, will be stopping off at Eastleigh’s Concorde Club as part of his UK tour.
He will be headlining at the Stoneham Lane club on June 4 in what promises to be a soul blockbuster.
Young Otis has been bestowed with his father’s unique musical gift which inspired a generation of soul singers.
For nearly 25 years he has put this talent to good use by not only touring and performing but also writing and arranging.
His father’s name is permanently etched in the history of popular music with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Born and raised in Georgia, Otis Redding (pictured) left school aged 15 to support his family, working with Little Richard’s backing band The Upsetters and performing in talent shows for prize money.
Later, an unscheduled appearance on a Stax recording session led to a contract and his first sigle. Two years later the label released his debut album Pain In My Heart.
After appearing at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, the singer – also known as Rockhouse Redding – wrote and recorded Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay with Steve Cropper.
Three days after the recording the soul superstar died in a plane crash, aged just 26.
He was flying to a concert in Madison, Wisconsin, and the plane was attempting an instrument landing in fog when it went down in the icy waters of Lake Monoma, near Madison.
Sittin’ On The Dock of The Bay – Otis’s only US chart-topper – became the first posthumous number one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R & B charts.
It was also the first posthumous album to reach number one in the UK album charts.
Redding’s premature death devastated Stax.
Already on the verge of bankruptcy the label soon discovered that Atlantic Records owned the rights to the star’s entire song catalogue.
More than 4,500 mourners attended Redding’s funeral, overflowing the 3,000 capacity hall.
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