American singer and composer Otis Ray Redding Jr. was born on September 9, 1941, and passed away on December 10, 1967.
He is a brilliant vocalist in the annals of American popular music and a pioneer of rhythm and blues and soul. The gospel music that came before the genre served as Redding’s musical inspiration, earning him the moniker “King of Soul.” Many other 1960s soul performers were impacted by his singing style.
Kindly read on to learn more about his childhood.
What was Otis Redding childhood like?
Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia, and relocated to Macon when he was two years old. Redding dropped out of school at the age of 15 in order to support his family by playing in talent showcases at the venerable Douglass Theatre in Macon and worked with Little Richard’s backing band, the Upsetters.
He became a member of Johnny Jenkins’ band, the Pinetoppers, in 1958, and travelled the Southern states as both a vocalist and a driver with them. A contract and his first hit song, “These Arms of Mine,” were the results of an unannounced entrance during a Stax recording session in 1962.
