King of Soul

This Day in Music History: December 10, 1967

Soul music originated in the United States in the 50s combining elements of African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues, and often jazz. This genre of music enveloped an R&B sound that transitioned through the 60s on into the 70s. Awakenings has spotlighted the Sultan of Smooth Soul, The Sound of Soul, the Godfather of Soul and Queen of Psychedelic Soul.

The gospel revival and doo-wop merged into the great season of soul. These were the times when gospel music was turned into a secular form of art.

Welcome into the spotlight...

Otis Redding in front of his airplane. Courtesy: Zelma Redding

  Otis Ray Redding, Jr.

 (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967)

Known as the voice of soul music, King of Soul, Otis Redding died in a plane crash at 26 years old on this day in music history.

1967 American soul singer, songwriter Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash, aged 26. Redding and his band had made an appearance in Cleveland, Ohio on the local ‘Upbeat’ television show the previous day. The plane carrying Otis Redding and his band crashed at 3.28.pm into icy waters of Lake Monoma near Madison. Redding was killed in the crash along with members from the The Bar-Kays, Jimmy King, Ron Caldwell, Phalin Jones and Carl Cunningham. Trumpet player Ben Cauley was the only person to survive the crash.

 On March 16, 1968, The posthumously released Otis Redding single 'Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay', started a five week run at No.1 on the US chart, (a No.3 hit the UK) 

More on this day, December 10th...

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  1949 Fats Domino recorded his first tracks for Imperial Records. One of those songs was called ‘The Fat Man’, which later became his nickname.

• 1966 The Beach Boys went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Good Vibrations', the group's third US No.1. As a child, his mother told him that dogs could pick up "vibrations" from people, so that the dog would bark at "bad vibrations" Wilson turned this into the general idea for the song.

• 1983 Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson started a six week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Say Say Say'. It was Jackson's 10th No.1 (solo & The Jackson's) and McCartney's 29th, (solo and The Beatles).

• 1988 Chicago started a two week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Look Away', the group's third US No.1, not a hit in the UK.

• 1988 Cliff Richard had his 12th UK No.1 single with 'Mistletoe And Wine'. His first solo No.1 for 9 years and the best selling single of 1988.

• 1994 East 17 started a five-week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Stay Another Day'. It also gave them the UK Christmas No.1 of 1994.

Yes, it really happened...

2005 Queen overtook The Beatles to become the third most successful act of all time. Sales in 2005 showed that Queen had now overtaken The Beatles to make it into third place, spending 1,755 weeks on the British singles and album charts. The Beatles slipped to fourth place, with 1,749 weeks. Elvis had spent 2,574 weeks on the singles and album charts, making him number one in the Top 100 most successful acts of all time. Sir Cliff Richard remained in second place, clinching 1,982 weeks.

2008 The Associated Press reported that the US military used loud music to "create fear, disorient and prolong capture shock" for prisoners at military detention centers at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Among the songs blasted 24 hours a day were 'Born In The USA' by Bruce Springsteen, 'Hell's Bells' by AC/DC, 'White America' by Eminem, 'The Theme From Sesame Street' and 'I Love You' from the Barney and Friends children's TV show.

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...