By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
The musical memory of late, great soul icon Otis Redding is living on in a special way with a host of activities celebrating what would've been his 66th birthday -- and commemorating the 40th anniversary of his death.
An acclaimed documentary, titled 'Dreams to Remember: the Legacy of Otis Redding,' arrived on DVD this week, while a major art exhibition went on display at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame last week.
'Dreams,' with a running time of 90-minute, features 16 classic full-length performances by the vocal virtuoso who delivered such 60's hits as 'Respect,' 'Try A Little Tenderness,' 'Satisfaction' and '(Sitting) On the Dock of the Bay.' Interspersed between the performances are more than 40 minutes of exclusive new interviews documenting his incredible life and career.
Redding, considered one of the architects of soul music, was tragically killed in a plane crash at the young age of 26 on Dec. 10, 1967.
The film had the full cooperation of Redding estate, and is the first official DVD anthology of his classic archival television performances.
"To be given the honor to produce this release was an awesome responsibility," producers David Peck & Phillip Galloway said. "Zelma Redding, Otis' widow, has faithfully maintained her husband's legacy for the last 40 years and it was our desire to create a DVD that would both live up to and pay tribute to that legacy."
In addition to the documentary and the year-long memorabilia exhibition, a star-studded musical salute took place last weekend at the Macon City Auditorium -- featuring the Macon Symphony Orchestra, the Bar-Kays, Taj Mahal, Diana DeGarmo and special guest hosts Kenny Lattimore and Chanté Moore -- to benefit The Big "O" Youth Educational Dream Foundation, which the was established to encourage and empower youth through music and the arts.
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By: BOBBY C. ROBERTS on 9/21/2007 9:44PM
it was long over due. otis redding was and still is a treasure to music history.
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By: Willie Pollock on 9/22/2007 2:31AM
I'm so elated about this project. Thank you to all involved. Mr. Redding can be compared to TNT. The world unfortunatly had only a little bit of him, but the explosion that his music made is like that of a volcano that has yet to ceast to errupt.
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By: Tammy Daniel on 9/23/2007 11:55PM
Thank you Mr. Redding for giving a young 37 year old like me the opportunity to know what "Good Music" truly sounds like. Your music is always in my changer and my MP3. Kudos to Mrs. Redding for sharing with true music fans and the city of Macon because they got it right this time.
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By: blaqgod on 9/22/2007 5:39PM
Oh my God, what took so long about this project? Otis is the man. One of the greatest crooners of all time.
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By: Paula Harris on 9/22/2007 8:00PM
WAY OVERDUE!!! I had the pleasure of seeing him when I was a teenager just 2 weeks before he died and it was a performance I will never forget. He had woman fainting in the aisles!I was devastated when I heard he died. I can't wait to get the DVD.
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By: donaldrobinson, baby(fashion Lord & nutjob supreme) on 9/23/2007 5:57PM
THE BIG O. YES, I REMEMBER HIM FROM MONTERAY,CA.DURING THE SUMMER OF LOVE IN 1967.I THINK I WAS IN MY 20'S AND DODGING THE DRAFT,LIVING OFF THE LAND AND GETTING FREE LOVE BUT NO FREE MONEY. PERFORMERS ARE ALLWAYS A SNAP TO ME,ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU MEET THEM DOING NORMAL ASS SHIT LIKE GETTING BREAKFAST IN THE SAME DAMN JOINT THAT YOU ARE AND THE WHITIES DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE, YOU CAN USUALLY GET A FREE MEAL OR DRINK ON THEIR TAB ALL NIGHT. OH,GOD THE GOOD OLD 60'S WHEN BEING A BUM WAS IN STYLE.
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By: Laura Mahalale-El on 9/25/2007 9:04AM
Great,great loss. Who does not love his music. It is about time.
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By: sandra on 9/25/2007 12:41PM
Just like Buddy Holly, Patsy Cline,and many other greats, his story ought to be brought to the big screen
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By: Sarah on 9/25/2007 2:19PM
Praise God from whom all blessing flow,Otis made it. Now he need to be in lights. This has been long over due. I am so glad.
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By: Alonzo Coleman on 9/25/2007 4:34PM
All I can say is thank you Mrs Redding ,I was 9 at the time of his death .loved him then and still do today so thank you for putting his music on dvd .....
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