Show #98: In Memoriam - Otis Redding

(Photo courtesy of Nadine Goff.)

The 10th of this month marked the 39th anniversary of the death of legendary soul singer Otis Redding. Redding died along with four memebers of his backing band, The Bar-Kays, here in Madison when his plane crashed into the frigid waters of Lake Monona.

Best known for "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay", Redding recorded the song three days before his death and would posthumously hit #1 on the pop music charts. Although Aretha Franklin is most closely associated with the song "Respect", it's an Redding song. If the extent of your familiarity with Otis Redding is "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay", then you're in for a real treat. His biggest hit is miles away from the gritty, raw, and funky performance here.



This show was recorded at the Whisky A Go-Go in West Hollywood, CA on 10 April 1966. Redding performed two shows that day and this is the late one. It is, to the best of my knowledge, the entire performance from that night.

Setlist:

Your One and Only Man
Security
Good to Me
Respect
Ole Man Trouble
I Can't Turn You Loose
A Hard Day's Night
These Arms of Mine
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (false start)
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

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Otis Redding

Here's Otis performing "Shake" a few months before his death.



A recent photo of the plaque here in Madison commemorating Redding's death. It is in the Rooftop Gardens of the Monona Terrace Convention Center.


(Photo courtesy of Nadine Goff.)