From the church choir to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Otis Redding has moved generations with his music during his lifetime and beyond.

In 2008, Rolling Stone pinned Otis Redding at #8 on the “Top 100 Greatest Singers of All Time” list. With famed singles such as “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” Redding’s name has become synonymous with soul music.

Redding’s life was tragically cut short in a plane crash in 1967; however, his voice and words have continued his legacy through song. Three of his recordings, “Shake,” “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” and “Try a Little Tenderness,” were listed on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “The 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.” Redding also wrote songs which later became hits for fellow soul artists, including “RESPECT,” later performed by Aretha Franklin, and “Satisfaction,” later performed by The Rolling Stones.

Otis Redding helped breathe life into the African-American community during the 1960s through his soul music, and his contribution to music continues to receive deserved recognition to this day.