Otis Redding

Widely regarded as one of the greatest singers of all time, Otis Redding's all-too-brief career made an indelible impact; notably with the classic single (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay which earned him the sobriquet "King of Soul". Growing up in Macon, Georgia, Redding first sang in the choir at his local church and, inspired by Little Richard, became singer with Macon band Johnny Jenkins & the Pinetoppers. In 1962 he recorded his first solo single, the ballad These Arms Of Mine, and went on to have hits with Mr Pitiful, Try A Little Tenderness and the original version of Respect, later a smash for Aretha Franklin. Unusually for the time he wrote his own material and other notable songs from the time include I've Been Loving You Too Long and Tramp, a duet with Carla Thomas. His emotional vocals attracted a mainstream audience with a memorable performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, but tragedy struck a few months later when his plane crashed in Wisconsin following a gig in Cleveland. Recorded three days before his death, (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay ensured his immortality.