Synopses & Reviews
The long-awaited, definitive biography of The King of Soul, timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Redding’s iconic performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival.
Otis Redding remains an immortal presence in the canon of American music on the strength of such classic hits as "(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay," "I’ve Been Loving You Too Long," "Try a Little Tenderness," and "Respect," a song he wrote and recorded before Aretha Franklin made it her own. As the architect of the distinctly southern, gospel-inflected style of rhythm & blues associated with Stax Records in Memphis, Redding made music that has long served as the gold standard of 1960s soul. Yet an aura of myth and mystery has always surrounded his life, which was tragically cut short at the height of his career by a plane crash in December 1967.
In Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life, Jonathan Gould finally does justice to Redding’s incomparable musical artistry, drawing on exhaustive research, the cooperation of the Redding family, and previously unavailable sources of information to present the first comprehensive portrait of the singer’s background, his upbringing, and his professional career.
In chronicling the story of Redding’s life and music, Gould also presents a social history of the time and place from which they emerged. His book never lets us forget that the boundaries between black and white in popular music were becoming porous during the years when racial tensions were reaching a height throughout the United States. His indelible portrait of Redding and the mass acceptance of soul music in the 1960s is both a revealing look at a brilliant artist and a provocative exploration of the tangled history of race and music in America that resonates strongly with the present day.
Review
"In his biography of Otis Redding, Jonathan Gould summons up the teeming cast of hustlers, visionaries, and eccentrics who fed Otis' supernatural talent. It's a thrill to see Redding brought back to life in all his raw, flashing glory!" David Dalton, founding editor, Rolling Stone, and author of Who Is That Man?
Review
"Some of the best parts of Gould’s book are his incisive descriptions of Redding’s live performances and recording sessions…. But even more than his vivid re-creations of Redding’s composing and recording work, it’s Gould’s insightful portrayal of the Segregated South’s racial climate that makes Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life so compelling." Steve Nathans-Kelly, Paste
Review
"An excellent and definitive biography… A master storyteller, Gould tackles Redding’s life by planting his flag firmly at the crossroads of individual genius and social and cultural context… [His] fabulous portrait…provides Redding with the "Respect" he richly deserves. Highly recommended." Library Journal (Starred Review)
Review
"A music biography with the depth to do its subject justice. Otis Redding (1941-1967) ranks high in the pantheon of 1960s musical luminaries, so it’s fitting that [Otis Redding] ranks equally high among such work focusing on popular musical artists…. Better late than never, the soul master receives his considerable due in this superbly researched and written biography." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
Review
"Gould vividly brings to life the man Stax Records boss Jim Steward called 'a walking inspiration'…. From his supreme triumphs to his one last heart-breaking phone-call to Zelma, devotees and soul scholars alike could not wish for a more thorough and sensitive portrait." Kris Needs, Mojo
Review
"[M]agisterial… With meticulous scholarship, lively prose, and a tale that uses a singular musician as a springboard into interrogating America’s political and popular cultures, Gould has created a vital book that helps contextualize one of the most important figures in pop music." Maura Johnston, Boston Globe
About the Author
Jonathan Gould is a former professional musician and the author of Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain & America. He divides his time between a home in Brooklyn and a house near Hudson, NY.