People always ask that question about who would you want to have dinner with if you could pick anyone in the world, dead or alive. My answer: OTIS REDDING.
Getting back to my post about Stax Records….
He signed on with Stax in 1962 and immediately became the gem of the label. It started with Otis being the new guy who was always hanging out in the studio asking someone to listen to his new song idea. Of course, it took much persistence, but once he delivered his original performance of ‘These Arms Of Mine’, everybody was sold. Although his voice was his only instrument, he knew what he wanted all the musical parts of his songs to sound like. He was an artist that was on fire with passion and who had a voice that could completely take over a room full of distracted, loud-mouthed people.
He had this ability to own every note he sang. Every time he opened his mouth he blew people away. And there was an undeniable confidence about him that made him that much greater. He believed he was a star before he ever became one. That might be one of the biggest inspirations he has given to me. He knew what he was called to do and he went after it fully without any restraint.
I like to think that me and Otis would have been friends if I were alive back then. He just seems like that kind of guy that I would always want to be around and hang out with. It was kinda weird watching that documentary. Although I had heard much of Otis Redding’s music, I had never seen him in a video before. Just to watch him interact with people and perform on stage was inspiring. I was sitting on the couch in my cold apartment watching this documentary all alone and completely falling in love with Otis Redding. He was happy to be alive and doing what he loved to do most…sing. His big smile and joy for music was contagious, even through the TV screen 50 years later.
Otis was a Georgia peach, just like me. :) He was born in Dawson, GA, just south of Macon, in 1941. He died in a tragic plane crash in 1967 in Madison, WI at the age of 26, one month before his biggest hit, ‘(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay’, was released. Although his life and career were cut short, he made his mark in music. He didn’t waste his time tip-toeing around being fearful or complacent. He went after it.
So if I could tell Otis Redding one thing at our dinner date, I would say “thanks”. Thanks for being a real inspiration and for following your dreams. For bringing passion and soul to music and giving us timeless songs to listen to on our ipods. And for paving such a road for all of us to follow. You are my hero.
Here is Otis Redding singing ‘These Arms Of Mine’. A-mazing.
