Remember Whensday – Otis Redding’s Plane Crash

remember whensday

This week marks the 48th anniversary of “The King of Soul” Otis Redding’s sudden death. Just twenty six years old at the time of his death in 1967, Redding had already released six studio albums and recorded enough material for four full posthumous albums. He might not have lived quite long enough for entry into the tragic “27 club,” but his relevance to the music industry goes largely undisputed.

Redding’s short but impressive career has inspired scores of musicians for decades, his influence reaching anywhere from R&B and hip hop to funk, from rockabilly revivalists to grassy jam bands. That a man could amass so much music-cred in such a short amount of time raises the obvious question of what else he might have been able to accomplish had his plane landed safely on December 10, 1967. Perhaps just another decade of active work could have made Redding as much a household name as the “Queen of Soul,” the incomparable Aretha Franklin.

And as if losing one brilliant artist wasn’t enough, four of Redding’s five backing musicians—the unbelievably charming up-and-coming Bar-Kays—also died, along with Redding’s manager.

Though it’s the least we can do, we should all take a moment this week to lift a mug of nog in recognition of Redding and his crew, preferably while revisiting some of his sweet tunes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vUc17A0SNY

About Claire Schroeder

Hey, my name is Claire and I've been at WPGU since 2012. I like baseball, food, and reading alone in a dimly lit and slightly chilly room.

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