Otis Redding: 43 years ago today

[DrPhil]

Today, it is 43 years since Otis Redding and 4 of the 6 members of The Bar-Kays (Redding's backup band yet an awesome band in their own right) were killed in a plane crash. Redding's manager and the pilot were also killed in the crash. A fifth member of The Bar-Kays, Ben Cauley, survived the crash and a sixth member, James Alexander, was on another plane because Redding's plane was full. (These are the two members who revived The Bar-Kays and James Alexander is Jazzy Pha's father.)

Those of us who are fans of Redding and The Bar-Kays have heard about this tragic day for years; and TVOne did a special on Redding and The Bar-Kays.

Redding was 26 and The Bar-Kay members were 18 (Jimmy King, Phalon Jones, and Carl Cunningham) and 19 (Ronnie Caldwell).

Redding recorded "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," the song that made him more of a household name, 3 days before this tragic accident. It is said that he considered the song unfinished and whistled the tune in the recording so that he could record actual lyrics later. Those whistles actually placed the finishing touches on that great song.

Rest in peace, Redding, King, Jones, and Cunningham. Still jammin'!