A tribute to the life and music of one of soul’s greatest singer/songwriters, Otis Redding, told through vintage performances and rare interviews with family members and close colleagues. During Redding’s five years (1963-1967) with Stax Records, he placed a total of 21 singles on the R&B charts, with another 10 charting in the two-year period following his tragic death, December 10, 1967, in a plane crash. The documentary features rousing performances of classics, including “I Can’t Turn You Loose,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” “Shake,” live with Booker T and the MG’s at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, and live studio performances recorded the day before he died of “Try A Little Tenderness” and “Respect.” Redding’s only #1 song, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” plays against footage of San Francisco and the Sausalito docks where he composed the memorable tune on a houseboat. He never got the chance to perform the posthumous hit in concert.

Giving few interviews during his short career, Redding’s conversation with host Dick Clark on American Bandstand is particularly significant, as are revealing interviews with his wife Zelma and daughter Karla Redding-Andrews, and those who helped Redding create his unique sound: Stax Records founder Jim Stewart; guitarist Steve Cropper, a founding member of Booker T and the MG’s and The Mar-Keys, who co-wrote and played on many of his songs; and trumpet player Wayne Jackson of The Mar-Keys, who played on all of his records.

Growing up in Macon, Georgia, Otis sang in a gospel quartet and played the drums while helping to support his family. Winning a local singing contest brought him to the attention of promoters and musicians, who paved the way a few years later for his Stax Records audition in 1962. Nearly every 45 rpm single Redding released had an up-tempo track on one side and a ballad on the other, reflecting the two primary styles of his biggest influences, Little Richard and Sam Cooke, respectively. As his wife Zelma recounts, performing at Monterey Pop was the “highlight of his life” because Redding felt he had reached a whole new audience. That audience has grown every day since.

Song List
“My Lover’s Prayer” (written by Otis Redding)
“I Can’t Turn You Loose” (written by Otis Redding)
“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (written by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler)
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards)
“Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” (written by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper)
“Shake” (live) (written by Sam Cooke)
“Try A Little Tenderness” (written by Harry M. Woods)
“(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” (written by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper)
“Respect” (written by Otis Redding)
“I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” (written by Otis Redding and Zelma Redding)

Presented nationally by WLIW New York. Executive Producer: Zelma Redding. Producers: David Peck, Rob Bowman and Phillip Galloway for Reelin’ In The Years Productions; Archie Gormley for Universal Music Group International. Associate Producer: Jackie Clary. Directors: David Peck and Phillip Galloway.

Dvds/cds of this program available when you support WLIW21.

For more information about Otis Redding, visit his official website at otisredding.com.