Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay” Released Weeks After His Plane Crashed
via Hi Tones Record Store / YouTube
On January 27, 1968, Otis Redding’s “Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay” was released, six weeks after his tragic death in a plane crash. The song became the first posthumous number-one single in Billboard chart history. Redding had planned to revisit the studio to replace the whistling heard at the end with lyrics.
The day before the crash, Redding and his band performed on Cleveland’s local ‘Upbeat’ television show. On December 10, 1967, their plane went down at 3:28 p.m., plunging into the icy waters of Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. Redding, along with four members of The Bar-Kays—Jimmy King, Ron Caldwell, Phalon Jones, and Carl Cunningham—lost their lives. Trumpet player Ben Cauley was the sole survivor.
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Early Career and Rise of Otis Redding
Born in Georgia, Redding left school at 15 to help support his family. He worked with Little Richard’s backing band, The Upsetters, and competed in talent shows to earn prize money. In 1958, Redding joined Johnny Jenkins’s group, The Pinetoppers, as both a driver and a musician. His big break came during an unscheduled studio session, which led to him signing with Stax Records.
Redding released his first album, Pain in My Heart, in 1964, featuring the single “These Arms of Mine.” Initially popular among Black audiences, Redding gained broader appeal over time. He performed in smaller Southern venues before headlining larger shows, including his first major West Coast concert at Whisky a Go Go. Internationally, Redding captivated audiences in Paris and London.
The Final Days of Otis Redding
In 1967, Redding performed at The Monterey Pop Festival, sharing the spotlight with Jimi Hendrix. His set, recorded in the film Monterey Pop, was a milestone in his career. While staying in Sausalito, California, Redding began writing “Dock of the Bay” on a houseboat. The song’s unfinished recording included his spontaneous whistling, which he intended to replace.
Redding’s death dealt a major blow to Stax Records, already on shaky ground financially. It was later revealed that Atlantic Records owned the rights to Redding’s entire catalog. Despite this, his influence remained profound. He received numerous posthumous honors, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, earning him the title “King of Soul.”
