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Otis Redding Quotes

Otis Ray Redding Jr. was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, arranger, and talent scout. He is considered one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. Redding's style of singing gained inspiration from the gospel music that preceded the genre. His singing style influenced many other soul artists of the 1960s.

Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia, and at the age of 2, moved to Macon, Georgia. Redding quit school at age 15 to support his family, working with Little Richard's backing band, the Upsetters, and by performing in talent shows at the historic Douglass Theatre in Macon. In 1958, he joined Johnny Jenkins's band, the Pinetoppers, with whom he toured the Southern states as a singer and driver. An unscheduled appearance on a Stax recording session led to a contract and his first single, "These Arms of Mine", in 1962.

Stax released Redding's debut album, Pain in My Heart, two years later. Initially popular mainly with African-Americans, Redding later reached a wider American pop music audience. Along with his group, he first played small shows in the American South. He later performed at the popular Los Angeles night club Whisky a Go Go and toured Europe, performing in London, Paris and other major cities. He also performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.

Shortly before his death in a plane crash, Redding wrote and recorded his iconic " The Dock of the Bay" with Steve Cropper. The song became the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. The album The Dock of the Bay was the first posthumous album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart. Redding's premature death devastated Stax. Already on the verge of bankruptcy, the label soon discovered that the Atco division of Atlantic Records owned the rights to his entire song catalog.

Redding received many posthumous accolades, including two Grammy Awards, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In addition to " The Dock of the Bay," "Respect" and "Try a Little Tenderness" are among his best-known songs. Wikipedia  

✵ 9. September 1941 – 10. December 1967
Otis Redding photo
Otis Redding: 9   quotes 0   likes

Famous Otis Redding Quotes

“These arms of mine,
They are lonely.
Lonely and feeling blue.
These arms of mine,
They are yearning.
Yearning from wanting you.
And if you would let them hold you,
Oh how grateful I will be.”

Otis Redding

These Arms of Mine.
Song lyrics, Pain in My Heart (1964)

“You call me Mr. Pitiful;
Baby that's my name now, oh.
They call me Mr. Pitiful;
That's how I got my fame.
But people just don`t understand, now
What makes a man feel so blue, now
Ooh, they call me Mr. Pitiful;
Cause I lost someone just like you, now.”

Otis Redding

Mr. Pitiful, co-written with Steve Cropper.
Song lyrics, The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads (1965)

“What you want,
Honey you've got it.
And what you need,
Baby you've got it.All I'm asking
Is for a little respect when I come home.”

Otis Redding

Respect, later covered by Aretha Franklin.
Song lyrics, Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965)

“There were times and you want to be free
My love is growing stronger, as you become a habit to me.
Oh I've been loving you a little too long
I don't wanna stop now, oh.
With you my life,
Has been so wonderful.
I can't stop now.”

Otis Redding

I've Been Loving You Too Long, co-written with Jerry Butler.
Song lyrics, Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965)

“[Huh]I can't turn you loose now.
If I do I'm gonna loose my life.
[Ooh]I can't turn you loose now.
If I do I'm gonna loose my life.
I can't turn you loose to nobody
I love you baby, yes I do.
Give shakin' mama, I told ya
I'm in love with only you.
[Gotta] Baby do it baby why don't ya
I'll give ya everything you want.”

Otis Redding

I Can't Turn You Loose (1965).
Song lyrics

“Ole man trouble
Go find you someone else to pick on.
I live my life now you see.
Ole man trouble,
Please stay away from me, now.Oh I look like I'm down in my luck.
Please send faith to help pick me up.
I've lived this way so many years
Ole man trouble,
Please wash away all my fears.”

Otis Redding

Ole Man Trouble.
Song lyrics, Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965)

Otis Redding Quotes about time

“Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa
I keep singing them sad sad songs, y'all.
Sad songs is all I know.
I keep singing them sad sad songs, y'all.
Sad songs is all I know.
It has a sweet melody tonight
Anybody can sing it any old time.
What's in your heart puts you in a groove
And when you sing this song,
It'll make you're whole body move.”

Otis Redding

Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song), co-written with Steve Cropper.
Song lyrics, Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul (1966)

“Sittin' in the mornin' sun,
I'll be sittin' when the evenin' comes.
Watchin' the ships roll in;
And I watch 'em roll away again.
Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Watchin' the tide roll away.
Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Wastin' time.”

Otis Redding

(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay, co-written with Steve Cropper.
Song lyrics, The Dock of the Bay (1968)

“So I guess I'll remain the same
Sittin' here restin' my bones.
Wish this loneliness would leave me alone.
For 2,000 miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home.
Sittin' on the dock of the bay
Watchin' the tide roll away.
Sittin' on the dock of the bay,
Wastin' time.”

Otis Redding

(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay.
Song lyrics, The Dock of the Bay (1968)

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