The world of music lost Otis Redding in a plane crash in Madison, Wisconsin today (December 10, 1967).
Otis Redding was just 26-years-old when his plane crashed into Lake Monona.
Redding, his manager, the pilot and four members of The Bar-Kays were killed in the crash, while one group member, Ben Cauley survived.
Cauley may have been spared when he was thrown out of an opening in the fuselage.
“I saw Carl [Cunningham] come out of the water, I saw (Redding’s valet) Matt (Kelly) come up on the other side. I was conscious at that time,” Cauley said of the horrific crash. “I didn’t know it, but my head was swollen and bleeding, and I remember I had only one shoe….”
Otis Redding’s wife runs the Big “O” Educational Dream Foundation, which has honored rappers in the past for their community service.
“Otis would be so proud of what so many of these people have done in the community,” Zelma Redding said.
Waxfact: Otis Redding’s hit song “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” is the first posthumous single to top the charts in the US.
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