On December 10, 1967, Otis Redding and his backup band, The Bar-Kays were killed when their plane crashed into Lake Monona on approach to the local airport at Truax Field.
The Bar-Kays that died were: Jimmie King, guitar; Ronnie Caldwell, electric organ; Phalon Jones, saxophone; Carl Cunningham, drums. Ben Cauley, their trumpet player was the only survivor of the crash. James Alexander, the bass player was on another plane.
“(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” was released in January 1968 and became Redding’s only single to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was also the first ever posthumous number-one single in U.S. chart history.
Otis is buried on his family’s estate, the Big O Ranch in Round Oak, Jones County, Georgia.
Lake Monona
Madison WI 53713
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