Otis Redding Lyrics Follow
Otis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. Redding's style of singing gained inspiration from the gospel music that preceded the genre. His singing style influenced many other soul artists of the 1960s. During his lifetime, his recordings were produced by Stax Records, based in Memphis, Tennessee.
Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia, and at the age of 2, moved to Macon, Georgia. Redding quit school at age 15 to support his family, working with Little Richard's backing band, the Upsetters, and by performing in talent shows at the historic Douglass Theatre in Macon, Georgia. In 1958, he joined Johnny Jenkins's band, the Pinetoppers, with whom he toured the Southern states as a singer and driver. An unscheduled appearance on a Stax recording session led to a contract and his first single, "These Arms of Mine", in 1962.
Stax released Redding's debut album, Pain in My Heart, two years later. Initially popular mainly with African-Americans, Redding later reached a wider American pop music audience. Along with his group, he first played small gigs in the American South. He later performed at the popular Los Angeles night club Whisky a Go Go and toured Europe, performing in London, Paris and other major cities. He also performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
Shortly before his death in a plane crash, Redding wrote and recorded his iconic "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Steve Cropper. The song became the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. The album The Dock of the Bay was the first posthumous album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart. Redding's premature death devastated Stax. Already on the verge of bankruptcy, the label soon discovered that the Atco division of Atlantic Records owned the rights to his entire song catalog.
Redding received many posthumous accolades, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In addition to "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," "Respect" and "Try a Little Tenderness" are among his best-known songs.
Source: Wikipedia
Albums
Try a Little Tenderness Single
Tell the Truth
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag / Direct Me Single
White Christmas / Merry Christmas Baby (single) Single
The Dock of the Bay
(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay Single
Hard to Handle / Amen Single
I've Got Dreams to Remember Single
King & Queen
Dictionary of Soul
I Can't Turn You Loose / Just One More Day Single
Pain in My Heart
That's What My Heart Needs / Mary's Little Lamb Single
These Arms of Mine / Hey Hey Baby Single
Popular Songs
- Mary Had a Little Lamb
- Swingin' on a String
- When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
- Ooh Carla, Ooh Otis
- It Takes Two
- Are You Lonely for Me Baby
- Bring It on Home to Me
- Something Is Worrying Me
- Louie Louie
- Got to Get Myself Together
- Your Feeling Is Mine
- Swinging on a String
- Give Away None of My Love
- Snatch a Little Piece
- Wholesale Love
- I Got the Will
- Demonstration
- Out of Sight
- Fa - Fa - Fa - Fa
- Lucille
- Think About it
- Thousand Miles Away
- You've Made a Man Out of Me
- A Waste of Time
- A Fool for You
- Champagne and Wine
- Tenessee Waltz
- Groovin' Time
- I Need Your Lovin'
- Tell It Like It Is