Redding was born in Dawson, Georgia, and at the age of 2, moved to Macon, Georgia. Redding quit school at age 15 to support his family, working with Little Richard's backing band, the Upsetters, and by performing in talent shows at the historic Douglass Theatre in Macon. In 1958, he joined Johnny Jenkins's band, the Pinetoppers, with whom he toured the Southern states as a singer and driver. An unscheduled appearance on a Stax recording session led to a contract and his first single, "These Arms of Mine", in 1962.
Stax released Redding's debut album, Pain in My Heart, two years later. Initially popular mainly with African-Americans, Redding later reached a wider American pop music audience. Along with his group, he first played small gigs in the American South. He later performed at the popular Los Angeles night club Whisky a Go Go and toured Europe, performing in London, Paris and other major cities. He also performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967.
Shortly before his death in a plane crash, Redding wrote and recorded his iconic "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" with Steve Cropper. The song became the first posthumous number-one record on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts. The album The Dock of the Bay was the first posthumous album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart. Redding's premature death devastated Stax. Already on the verge of bankruptcy, the label soon discovered that the Atco division of Atlantic Records owned the rights to his entire song catalog.
Redding received many posthumous accolades, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In addition to "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," "Respect" and "Try a Little Tenderness" are among his best-known songs.
Redding has been called the "King of Soul", an honorific also given to Brown and Cooke. He remains one of the genre's most recognized artists. His lean and powerful style exemplified the Stax sound; he was said to be "the heart and soul of Stax", while artists such as Al Jackson, Dunn and Cropper helped to expand its structure. His open-throated singing, the tremolo/vibrato, the manic, electrifying stage performances and perceived honesty were particular hallmarks, along with the use of interjections (such as "gotta, gotta, gotta"), some of which came from Cooke. Producer Stewart thought the "begging singing" was stress-induced and enhanced by Redding's shyness.
Artists from many genres have named Redding as a musical influence. George Harrison called "Respect" an inspiration for "Drive My Car". The Rolling Stones also mentioned Redding as a major influence. Other artists influenced by Redding include Led Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Doors, and virtually every soul and R&B musician from the early years, such as Al Green, Etta James, William Bell, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Conley. Janis Joplin was influenced by his singing style, according to Sam Andrew, a guitarist in her band Big Brother and the Holding Company. She stated that she learned "to push a song instead of just sliding over it" after hearing Redding.
The Bee Gees' Barry Gibb and Robin Gibb wrote the song "To Love Somebody" for him to record. He loved it, and he was going to "cut it", as Barry put it, on his return from his final concert. They dedicated the song to his memory.
Ooh Carla Ooh Otis
Otis Redding Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh, Carla—I love you, little girl
Ooh, Otis—keep saying you love me
You're so sweet to me—you're my everything
You're my cake and ice cream—honey, you remain the same
Dimples in your jaw—so good, honey
But one more thing I got to tell you is that
As always, I love you, Carla
Ooh, Otis—keep saying you love me
Carla, baby, I really love you
I give you everything your heart desires
Just your touch set my soul on fire
Ain't it plain—you're my man
Since you kissed me, baby, I'm not the same
Ooh, baby—I really love you, Carla
Ooh, Otis—keep saying you love me
Carla, honey, I love you
I'll always love you—I love you, baby
You are my everything—my cake and ice cream
You're so sweet, honey—sweeter than anything
Ain't it plain that you're my man
Since you kissed me, baby, I'm not the same
Ooh, baby—I really love you
The song "Ooh Carla Ooh Otis" by Otis Redding is a love song dedicated to Carla Thomas, a fellow soul singer and collaborator. The lyrics express the strong affection that Otis has towards Carla and how she is everything to him. The repetition of "Ooh Carla" and "Ooh Otis" demonstrates the intense emotional connection between the two singers. Otis describes Carla as his cake and ice cream, indicating that she is both sweet and satisfying. He praises her physical features such as the dimples in her jaw, but also acknowledges that it's not just about her appearance, she touches his soul and makes him feel alive. The lyrics highlight the depth of love and devotion that Otis has for Carla and the significance that she holds in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, Carla—I love you, baby
Otis expresses his profound love for Carla
Ooh, Carla—I love you, little girl
Otis affirms his love for Carla and treats her affectionately
Ooh, Otis—keep saying you love me
Carla wants Otis to keep expressing his love for her
You're so sweet to me—you're my everything
Otis sees Carla as his entire world and cherishes her sweetness
You're my cake and ice cream—honey, you remain the same
Just like his favorite treats, Carla is a constant source of pleasure and joy for Otis
Dimples in your jaw—so good, honey
Otis admires Carla's physical beauty, especially her charming dimples
But one more thing I got to tell you is that
As always, I love you, Carla
Otis remembers to remind Carla of his unchanging love for her
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALVERTIS ISBELL, OTIS REDDING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind