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Otis Redding Biography

Otis Redding was an American Soul and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and talent scout who is best recognized for releasing hit songs including Try a Little Tenderness, These Arms of Mine, The Dock of the Bay, Knock on Wood, and Tramp among others listed herein.

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10 Quick Facts About Otis Redding

• Name: Otis Redding
• Age: 26 years old
• Birthday: September 9
• Zodiac Sign: Leo
• Height: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m)
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Singer-songwriter, record producer, and talent scout
• Marital Status: Married
• Salary: $1.68 million.
• Net worth: $10 million.

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Otis Redding Plane Crash

On December 10, 1967, Redding and his Bar-Kays bandmates were tragically killed in a plane crash involving Redding’s Beechcraft H18 aeroplane. While flying to the Factory nightclub in Madison, Wisconsin, the aircraft crashed into Lake Monona, seconds after the pilot, Richard Fraser, asked permission to land.

Despite warnings of poor weather with heavy rain and fog, the plane took off. The only survivor, Ben Cauley, was sleeping before the aggressive landing. He woke up just to hear bandmate Phalon Jones, who was looking out a window, exclaim, “Oh, no!”

Ben Cauley unbuckled his seat belt which explains why he was found in frigid water on a seat cushion to keep afloat. He was unable to rescue the others as he did not know how to swim. The other victims of the crash include Jimmy King, Ronnie Caldwell, Carl Cunningham, and Matthew Kelly.

Otis Redding Death

The late singer-songwriter was born Otis Ray Redding Jr. on September 9, 1941, in Dawson, Georgia, United States of America. He later died on December 10, 1967, in Madison, Wisconsin on the spot of a plane crash. Thus, he died at the age of 26.

Redding’s body was recovered the next day after the crash. His funeral was held on December 18, 1967 at the City Auditorium in Macon. He was entombed at his ranch in Round Oak after Jerry Wexler delivered the eulogy.

Redding passed away just 3 days after re-recording The Dock of the Bay. He is survived by his wife, Zelma Atwood, and four children.

Three decades after his death, Redding’s memorial plaque was placed on the lakeside deck of the Madison convention center referred to as Monona Terrace.

Early Life and Education

The Try a Little Tenderness singer is an alumna of Ballard-Hudson High School where he sang in the school band. While still a student, he performed gospel songs for Macon radio station WIBB and earned $6. Besides, he won the $5 prize in a teen talent show for 4 months straight.

As a young boy, Redding sang in the Vineville Baptist Church choir where he learned guitar and piano. He later took drum and singing lessons as early as age 10. According to the veteran singer, his early influencers in music included Little Richard and Sam Cooke. Besides, most of his music has a lot of Little Richard in it.

Before even attending college or university, Redding quit school at age 15 to support his family. Little Richard employed him in his backing band, the Upsetters, and performed together in talent shows at the historic Douglass Theatre in Macon.

Rise to Fame

Redding is best recognized for releasing hit songs including Try a Little Tenderness, These Arms of Mine, The Dock of the Bay, Knock on Wood, and Tramp among others listed herein.

Otis Redding Family, Parents

Otis Ray’s father is the late Otis Redding, Sr and his mother was referred to as Fannie Roseman. His dad was a sharecropper and then worked at Robins Air Force Base, near Macon, and occasionally preached in local churches.

When Otis was still a teenager, his father contracted tuberculosis and was often hospitalized. Thus, he quit school to help his mother take care of and provide for his younger siblings. He did jobs including as a well digger, gasoline station attendant, and sometimes as a musician.

Otis Redding Siblings

Otis has five siblings, and he is the first son as well as the fourth of six children born to Otis Redding Sr., and Fannie Roseman. Unlike their brother, his brothers and sisters have maintained a low-profile lifestyle making it hard to determine their matters including occupation, age, and names. One of his older sisters is known as Deborah.

Otis Redding Wife

Redding was married to Zelma Atwood. The couple tied the knot in August 1961 in Georgia, and together they have four children namely Dexter, Demetria, Karla, and Otis Redding III. The duo met when Redding was 18 years old and his wife was only 15 years old.

Otis Redding Wife, Zelma Atwood

Redding’s wife, Zelma Atwood, is an American entrepreneur who manages the Reddings band comprising of her children Otis, Dexter, and their cousin Mark Lockett. Before that, she worked at the janitorial service Maids Over Macon, several nightclubs, and booking agencies.

Otis Redding Salary

Otis earned about $35,000 every week from his concerts alone. Therefore, he used to receive an estimated annual income of $1.68 million.

Otis Redding Net Worth

Redding had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his death. He had around 200 suits and 400 pairs of shoes, as well as a Big O Ranch worth $125,000. According to a columnist, the Try a Little Tenderness singer sold more records than Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin altogether.

Facts: Everything You Need to Know About Otis Redding

Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Otis. R;

Otis Redding Bio

• Full Names: Otis Ray Redding Jr.
• Popular As: Try a Little Tenderness singer-songwriter
• Gender: Male
• Occupation / Profession: Musician
• Town/City: Georgia
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: Black
• Religion: Not Known
• Sexual Orientation: Straight

Death and Birthday

• Age at time of death: 26
• Zodiac Sign: Leo
• Date of Birth: September 9, 1941
• Place of Birth: Dawson, Georgia
• Place of Death: Madison, Wisconsin

Body Measurements

• Eye Color: Brown
• Hair Color: Black
• Height: 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m)
• Weight: 220 pounds (100 kg)
• Body Build Type: Athletic
• Shoe Size: Not Known

Family and Relationship

• Father (Dad): Otis Redding, Sr
• Mother: Fannie Roseman
• Siblings: 5 including Deborah
• Marital Status: Married
• Spouse: Redding’s wife is Zelma Atwood
• Children: Sons (Dexter and Otis Redding III), Daughters (Demetria and Karla)

Net Worth and Salary

• Net Worth: $10 million
• Salary: Under Review
• Source of Income: Musician

The Dock of the Bay

By the time Otis Redding wrote “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”, he was ambitious to finally record a number-one hit. Even though he finally succeeded in his goal with this song, hitting number one on the Billboard charts in March 1968, Redding never got to know how successful this song became.

(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” was recorded shortly before he, along with four members of his backing band, his assistant as well as the pilot were killed in a plane crash on the 10th of December 1967. Only one person survived the crash. While Redding’s body wasn’t even found yet, co-writer Steve Cropper was forced to go back into the studio by their record label to release something.

A small month after Redding’s death, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” was released, and quickly climbed the charts. It became the first posthumous number one hit in the United States’ music chart history. The song even won awards, such as two Grammys for Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

House

Otis used to live in Macon, Georgia before relocating to Los Angeles. Nevertheless, he has not specified the exact location, estimated value, and features of the house he lived in. We are keeping tabs and will upload images of his house once we have them.

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