If you don’t know who Otis Redding is, who was born Sep 9 in 1941, then stop whatever you’re doing and go listen to his music on Spotify or YouTube. Last year when I was in Madison, Wisconsin I paid a visit to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. What can best be described as a parking garage on the lake, there’s really nothing interesting about the building, but on the rooftop near the left side is a memorial plaque dedicated to Otis Redding. He died in December 1967 somewhere right beyond the plaque in Lake Monona. Did you know he recorded “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” just a few days before he died? Thank god he did because that’s such a powerful song. He was only 26 years old at the time of his death. So young! Imagine all the things he could have done with his music and soulful voice. So sad! And on a somewhat related note, if anyone recalls my visit to the Buddy Holly Memorial Crash Site, I am slowly achieving my goal of going to all the sites of “famous musicians who died in plane crashes.” Patsy Cline, you’re next!
Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center – Otis Redding
