Otis Redding: The King of Soul and Timeless Tunes
Dubbed the King of Soul—a title he shares with another legend, Sam Cooke—Otis Redding was an extraordinary American singer-songwriter who penned and performed some of the most enduring songs of all time.
Tragically, Otis’s career was cut short in 1967 when he died in a plane crash, just five years after the release of his debut album. Despite his brief time in the spotlight, his influence on soul, R&B, and rock music is immeasurable.
His breakthrough came in 1962 with These Arms of Mine, released on the Stax label and developed in collaboration with the label’s legendary house band, Booker T. & the M.G.’s. This partnership became a cornerstone of Otis’s sound, with the band backing him throughout his career.
While known primarily for his own songwriting, Otis wasn’t shy about putting his stamp on other people’s material. His version of Try a Little Tenderness—originally written in 1932 and previously recorded by artists like Frank Sinatra—became one of his most beloved performances. He also covered Wonderful World and Knock on Wood, further showcasing his ability to breathe new life into existing songs.
Two of his most iconic originals are Respect, which found even greater fame through Aretha Franklin’s version, and (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay, which became a posthumous hit and one of the most recognisable songs of the 20th century.
Another standout is Hard to Handle, released after his death. While it performed well at the time, it found a second life in 1990 when The Black Crowes recorded their version and scored the biggest hit of their career—cementing Otis Redding’s continued influence on future generations.
Otis may have left us far too soon, but his music, spirit, and voice live on—pure soul at its finest.
Otis Redding Tunes | Related Pages
(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay | Chords + TAB
Learn how to play (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| G | B7 | C | A |
Sittin’ in the mornin’ sun, I’ll be sittin’ when the evenin’ comes…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Hard To Handle | Chords + Lyrics
Learn how to play Hard To Handle by Otis Redding using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, and the original recordings.
| Bb7 | Bb7 (A7 Bb7 Eb6) | Bb7 | Bb7 (A7 Bb7 Eb6) |
Baby, here I am, I’m a man on the scene…
Knock On Wood | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Knock On Wood by Eddie Floyd using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, the original recording, and cover versions.
| A6 | A6 | A6 | A6 |
I don’t want to lose, this good thing, that I got…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Knock On Wood (Eddie Floyd) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Respect | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Respect by Aretha Franklin using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| G7 | F7 |
(Oh) What you want, (Oh) Baby, I got it…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Respect – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Stand By Me | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Stand By Me by Ben E. King using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| A | A | F#m | F#m |
When the night has come, and the land is dark…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Stand By Me (Ben E. King) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Wonderful World | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Wonderful World by Sam Cooke using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| B | G#m |
Don’t know much about history…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Wonderful World (Sam Cooke) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Otis Redding on the web
