Otis Redding remains a living presence in the canon of American popular music on the strength of such classic hits as "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay", "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)", "Try a Little Tenderness", and "Respect", a song that Redding wrote and recorded before Aretha Franklin made it immortal. As a singer, songwriter, bandleader, and arranger, Redding was the chief architect of the distinctly southern, gospel-inflected style of rhythm and blues associated with Stax Records in Memphis.
Yet, while Redding's music has long served as the gold standard of 1960s soul, an aura of myth and mystery has always surrounded the story of his life, which was tragically cut short at the height of his career by his death in a plane crash in December 1967.
Otis Redding is the biography that finally does justice to the unfinished life of the man who was once celebrated as the "King of Soul". Jonathan Gould's book draws on comprehensive research, the cooperation of the Redding family, and previously unavailable sources of information to present a fully-formed portrait of Redding's background, his upbringing, and his professional career.
That said, this biography is not only a book about Redding and his music; it is also a social history of the time and place from which they emerged. Rejecting the often sentimentalized view of race relations in the music business, Gould never lets us forget that the boundaries between black musicians and white listeners were becoming porous at precisely the moment when racial tensions were reaching a height throughout the United States. His indelible portrait of Redding and the mass acceptance of soul music in the 1960s is both a remarkable look at a little-understood artist and a provocative exploration of the tangled history of race and music in America.
PAT'S REVIEW
| This book is not just about Otis Redding, but also about his family’s life and the social injustice for over 200 years. Beginning with his birth and going back through grandmothers who worked as slaves you are given the feeling of hard work to make it. The author also takes you through the fifties and the record companies owned by African American, Imperial, Keen, King, to name a few. Being an avid record collector for years I knew this but I am sure others do not. Though a lot of this information is like reading a history book. Once you get to Otis Redding actually story the last part of the book. This is a really good story. The last 100 pages I thought were the best. Of course, the author goes into everything after his death and the release of the song “Dock of the Bay “and then an album by the same title. This led to more albums to be released. You also get a look into the dealings of Sax records and some of the major players behind the scenes. Once again you see a musician being taken advantage of by executives. What the author brings out is how it was effected being in the South during the 60’s. All of this leads to a very good book with a lot of information. My one complaint is that too much information. Especially for someone who is just wanting to read about his life. Overall a good book. I got this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 4 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com |
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