|
Forty years after
his passing, the legacy of Otis Redding remains stronger than ever.
His body of recorded work spans a mere six years, but is filled with
classic after classic. In the annals of rhythm and blues, few
artists are as deserving of the kind of admiration and love that
Otis Redding has commanded since he first came to the attention of
the mainstream music-buying public in 1963.
In the company of
such icons as Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, Little Richard and James
Brown, Otis Redding helped shape the direction of black music, using
a blues-drenched vocal style, initially derived from his early years
singing in church. Redding’s emotive heart-wrenching approach
instantly distinguished him from other soul men of the day and on
such ballads as “These Arms Of Mine” (his first national charted
single) and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” (written with fellow
R&B journeyman Jerry Butler) as well as an unforgettable cover of
the pop standard “Try A Little Tenderness,” Otis Redding was his own
man. On up-tempo groove sides like Redding compositions “Respect,”
“Mr. Pitiful,” “I Can’t Turn You Loose” and a funky reading of The
Stones’ “Satisfaction,” Otis ruled.
Beyond the
honors, accolades and awards, there is the wonderful music that he
made which still reverberates across the globe. While the world was
blessed with his presence for just twenty six short years, the
lasting legacy of Otis Redding remains intact, a testament to a
one-of-a-kind true-to-life always-real soul man of the first order.
Otis Redding’s
“I’ve Got Dreams To Remember” was featured in the fifth season of
NCIS, in an episode titled, “In The Zone.” The track was
suggested by numerous fans through a poll conducted on ncismusic.com,
and it’s a beautiful and soulful addition to NCIS: The Official
TV Soundtrack. |
