Wave Wire Services
HOLLYWOOD — A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled Oct. 4 honoring the late entertainer Otis Redding, known for such songs as “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” “These Arms Of Mine,” “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” “Respect” and “Try A Little Tenderness.”
The star at 6150 Hollywood Blvd., between El Centro and Argyle avenues, was accepted by Redding’s daughter, Karla Redding Andrews.
“He was such a family man, he was someone … who loved his family, loved his children and loved his fans around the world,” she said.
Also in attendance were Zelma Redding, Redding’s widow, his son Dexter Redding, grandson Justin Andrews, and son-in-law, Timothy Andrews. Zelma Redding has played a pivotal role in preserving her husband’s legacy.
The ceremony was emceed by Grammy Award-winning producer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jimmy Jam. Among the speakers was Grammy-winning hip-hop artist, Killer Mike, who spoke of Redding’s influence on his life, not only as a musician but as a man of character.
Other notable attendees included Verdine White, bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire, and actor Omar Dorsey.
The ceremony came two days after the announcement by the production company Fifth Season that it will make a biopic about Redding, starring John Boyega as Redding and Danielle Deadwyler as his wife Zelma.
Born Sept. 9, 1941, in Dawson, Georgia, Redding’s family moved to Macon, Georgia when he was 2 years old. He began his career as a singer and musician in the choir of the Vineville Baptist Church. He attended Ballard Hudson High School and participated in the school band.
As a teenager, Redding began to compete in the Douglass Theatre talent shows for the $5 prize. After winning 15 consecutive times, Redding was no longer allowed to compete.
Redding joined Johnny Jenkins and the Pinetoppers in 1958. In 1962 he drove Jenkins to Memphis, Tennessee for a recording session at Stax Records. At the end of the session, Stax co-owner Jim Stewart allowed Redding to cut a couple of songs with the remaining studio time. The result was “These Arms Of Mine,” which would become his first hit single.
Redding was invited to perform at New York’s Apollo Theatre for a live recording in November 1963 and would go on to showcase his dance movements with “Shake” and “Satisfaction.”
Redding toured throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean and became one of the biggest box-office successes of any touring artist at the time.
A career highlight was performing at Monterey International Pop Festival in 1967 as the closing act of the second night of the three-day festival.
Redding was killed in a plane crash on Dec. 10, 1967 in Madison, Wisconsin where he was to perform later that day.
In 1969, Redding posthumously won Grammys for best male R&B vocal performance for “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and best rhythm & blues song for writing “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” with Steve Cropper.
Redding was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Redding’s other honors include being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994, receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 and having the U.S. Postal Service issue a commemorative stamp in his honor in 1993.
