Synopses & Reviews
Rolling Stone's Jon Landau described Otis Redding's music as "the highest level of expression rock 'n' roll has yet attained." And now from the critically acclaimed author of
Midnight Riders: The Story of the Allman Brothers Band comes an intimate look at soul brother number one and the undisputed king of soul, Otis Redding.
Music was his sole occupation. Inspired by the works of Little Richard, a singer raised in a small town just miles from his own, Otis Redding knew he wanted to become a singer. This dream, his father said, would lead him nowhere, but when Otis Redding first burst onto the scene in 1962 with his R&B hit "These Arms of Mine" music enthusiasts knew they were listening to the voice of a star. With over fourteen songs gracing the top 20 chart, Otis Redding soon became a music phenomenon. Crooning tunes such as "Respect," "I Can't Stop Loving You," and "Try a Little Tenderness," Otis Redding defined a new generation of R&B music.
He solidified his position as a superstar by stealing the spotlight at concerts like the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. But at the height of his career, three days after completing his most popular song "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," Otis Redding died in a tragic plane crash over Madison, Wisconsin.
Now for the first time in paperback, Otis!: The Otis Redding Story tells the true life story of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend who changed the face of R&B music. This revealing portrait is hailed as the most definitive text on the man who embodied the very essence of soul.
Review
"...a readable account of a big-hearted singer who, in five short years, left a legacy that continues to inspire." (RELIX magazine)
Synopsis
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, soul brother #1, Otis Redding exploded onto the music scene in 1963 with "These Arms of Mine, " which went on to hit the top twenty on the R&B charts. Inspired by singers such as Sam Cooke and Little Richard, 14 more of Otis's songs hit the top twenty. His appearance in front of a predominantly white audience at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival sealed his crossover success. On December 10, 1967, only three days after recording his greatest hit ever, " Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay, " Otis Redding died in a tragic plane crash. Otis! is a celebration of this legend's life and music -- and of the man himself.
About the Author
Scott Freeman is the author of
Midnight Riders: The Story of the Allman Brothers Band. He has received more than two dozen awards for his journalism, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. He is a senior editor at
Atlanta Magazine.