Episode #121 | 3.14.23
Otis Redding: A Chitlin Circuit Shootout, a Fatal Plane Crash, and Crossing Over to the Other Side
Listen free:
Amazon Music | iHeart | Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
In this episode
Otis Redding was nearly shot by James Brown while performing at an after hours club. He played sweet soul music to crowds of KKK sympathizers. He took the stage in his hometown despite a threat on his life. But as the former VP of Stax Records once said, Otis was an overcomer. He overcame danger, violence, and fear, in order to focus his sights on unprecedented commercial success. But in his great quest to jump from R&B to pop, Otis Redding crossed over in more ways than one.
Sources
The Chitlin’ Circuit and the Road to Rock ‘n’ Roll, by Preston Lauterbach
Bill Graham Presents: My Life Inside Rock and Out, by Bill Graham and Robert Greenfield
Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom, by Peter Guralnick
Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life, by Jonathan Gould
A Look Back: Ben Cauley on the plane crash that took the life of Otis Redding and members of the Bar-Kays (Commercial Appeal)
In Memory of Otis Redding and His Revolution (The New Yorker)
Bar-Kays Survivor Recalls Crash That Killed Otis Redding (WREG.com)
https://www.gatewaymacon.org/live-music-macon-ga/top-5-antics-jamesbrown.cms
Otis Redding: The Crown Prince of Soul Is Dead (Rolling Stone)
Otis Redding: Mysteries & Scandals (Daily Motion)
Otis Redding: Soul Ambassador (BBC)
Hold Up! James Brown Shot At WHO Back In The Day?!! (I Love Old School Music)
That time James Brown tried to murder Joe Tex with a shotgun (Dangerous Minds)
50 YEARS - 2006 James Brown (1933-2006) (Creative Loafing)
Disgraceland is a podcast about musicians getting away with murder and behaving very badly. It melds music history, true crime and transgressive fiction. Disgraceland is not journalism. Disgraceland is entertainment. Entertainment inspired by true events. However, certain scenes, characters and names are sometimes fictionalized for dramatic purposes.
Credits
Hosted by Jake Brennan.
Written by Zeth Lundy.
Copy editing by James Sullivan.
This episode was mixed by Sean Cahalin.
Score by Jake Brennan.
Mixed and Engineered by Sean Cahalin.
Additional music and score elements by Ryan Spraker.
Additional music services by Bryce Kanzer.
Ad music composed by the late, great Ian Kennedy.
Disgraceland theme song, "Crenshaw Space Boogie" written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor. Score by Jake Brennan.
*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak