Songwriter, singer, great guy...that is what should come to your mind when you think of Otis Redding. He left us much too soon at the age of 26. Tomorrow would have been his 80th birthday. To honor him, the state of Georgia has declared Sept. 9th to be "Otis Redding Day". Remember, Otis Redding wrote the song that the marvelous Aretha Franklin made so famous, "Respect".
"Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" was recorded just three days before his tragic death in a plane crash in 1967. (He not only sang this great song but he wrote it as well with his good friend and guitarist, Steve Cropper.)
All respect to a fellow Georgian, Otis Redding. Otis Redding Foundation- I have a link just here! There, go and read more about this great man.
I love Otis Redding, especially Dock of the Bay. Guess what, I had tickets to see him in concert on the day he died, he was flying to the concert in Madison, Wisconsin. I think we were in the venue when his death was announced, a big shock.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I can't imagine what a shock that must have been for you. I hope you kept those tickets. I would treasure them. You know how much I admire songwriters and just think of how many more songs he could have given us! Still, I am grateful for those that we have.
DeleteLike with many other great musicians who died far too young (Buddy Holly comes to mind, for instance), one can't help but wonder what else they would have come up with, had they lived longer. And even though their lives were tragically cut short, they left a lasting legacy and influenced many of those who came after them.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed! Don McClean called that day "98day the music died" when Buddy Holly and the others died on that plane crash. And although I have mentioned Otis Redding before on my blog, I am glad to have this here for yesterday. I didn't hear one single thing about it on the news here.
DeleteLovely! 1967 was a really good year - musically and in many ways. I even turned 21. What a good idea to have Otis Redding day, and thank you for sharing Dock of the Bay which is a fave, of course, and brings me back to my sunshiny youth :) We are always young folks at heart.
ReplyDeleteAh, your sunshiny youth! That sounds lovely. Very happy to have a song here that brings back such lovely memories.
DeleteHe was gone much, MUCH too soon.
ReplyDeleteI think I do remember listening to that song on the radio and being told that Otis Redding had died. I loved the song but felt a real sadness about it. "These Arms of Mine", I heard that with my Dad at one of the Sunflower Festivals, one of the country bands was doing a cover version of it, and my Daddy and I sat there just transfixed by the performance of this song. So, that song has a happy memory for me!
DeleteWhat a great way to honor this great musician and singer. Not every state has their own singer to celebrate .
ReplyDeleteGeorgia has some really great songwriters to honor! My son, for one!!
DeleteSittin On The Dock Of The Bay is an ultimate relaxing song. It brings a lazy smile to my face every time I hear it.
ReplyDeleteIt truly is a great song, music and lyrics. Wish I had written it!
DeleteOtis Redding and "On the Dock of the Bay" always brings back memories to me of a certain period in my life.
ReplyDeleteLike a sudden fragrance, music can bring back memories instantly to us!
DeleteIt always made me sad that he died so young, i had the feeling he had a lot more great hits in him.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! He left a legacy of not just music but tremendous good will which needs to be more known!
DeleteDear Kay, thank you for providing these two songs of Otis Redding. I'd heard the first one, but not the second. I left the convent in late December 1966. I'd been there for nearly nine years. So I knew and still don't know much of anything about the music from 1958 to 1967. So I've never known about him and his life and his songs. I'm grateful to you for the link and for introducing me to him and two of his songs. Peace.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so glad you liked these songs then! It was so sad that he died so young. Can't imagine how different life was for you when you left the convent. The late 60s were very troubled times. Thank God for the music.
DeleteOne of my favorite songs "Siting on the..."
ReplyDeleteIt's a great song.
DeleteI didn't know that about Otis Redding. That is so sad. And gosh... only 26?
ReplyDeleteYes, he died in a plane crash. His songs live on though.
DeleteIt's tragic that Otis Redding died so young. I always loved "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay." Have a good week, Kay! Hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a good week too!
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