He left us Sittin’ on the dock of the bay, all grieving the loss of the undisputed king of soul – Otis Redding.

Growing up in a religious family Otis sang, played piano and drums from a very young age. Despite living in times of inconceivable segregation it was his music which pulled him through times of turmoil, supporting his whole family from the age of 15 as his father fell ill. A local talent show provided him with the springboard he needed to make his passion his work. After getting his big break, Otis had a clear path – touring the Chitlin Circuit, which accommodated African-American artists.

Despite being restricted to only working in specific venues Otis still managed to get signed, eventually ending up under Atlantic Records. He was an unstoppable force, and soon became the face of soul itself. He lived out his success on his very own ranch, the perfect place to create his laid back melodies and catchy rhythms. Unfortunately, it was here that became his resting place on December 10 1967. A founding father of rhythm and blues, he pushed the genre into the limelight: a seminal musician who truly swam against the tide.