American singer and composer Otis Ray Redding Jr. He is considered as one of the greatest vocalists in the annals of American popular music as well as a key figure in rhythm and blues and soul. The gospel music that came before the "soul" genre served as an inspiration for Otis Redding, known as the "King of Soul." His singing style impacted a lot of 1960s soul performers.

Redding collaborated with Steve Cropper to write and record their classic song "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" before he tragically lost his life early in an aircraft crash. The track became the first posthumously-declared number-one hit on the R&B and Billboard Hot 100 charts. The Dock of the Bay, an album, became the first posthumous album to top the UK Albums Chart. The untimely passing of Redding shook Stax. The label, which was already on the verge of going out of business, quickly learned that the Atco division of Atlantic Records was the rightful owner of his entire song catalogue.