Otis Redding

Otis Redding, Jr., known as the "King of the Soul Singers," lost his life in a plane crash in Lake Monona on December 10, 1967, while en route to a Madison engagement. During his life, he was acclaimed in France and England as the world's top popular male singer. Four months after his death, he achieved his first American number one record with "Dock of the Bay." On the morning of the flight to Madison, he had been warned of bad weather and was advised to postpone his trip, but his loyalty to his Madison fans forced him to proceed. It was the only engagement of his career that he ever missed. Otis Redding stands with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke in the first rank of American rhythm and blues singers.

Madison, Wisconsin · United States