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American soul singer-songwriter renowned for his raw vocal power and profound influence on rhythm and blues, often hailed as the 'King of Soul'.Born in Georgia, Redding rose from gospel roots to define 1960s soul music. He recorded for Stax Records, delivering hits like 'Try a Little Tenderness' and writing 'Respect' (popularized by Aretha Franklin). His career peaked at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival before his death in a plane crash at age 26. His posthumous single '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' became his only Billboard No. 1 hit.

• Redding co-wrote 'Respect' in 1965; it became a civil rights and feminist anthem after Aretha Franklin's 1967 cover, though Redding jokingly lamented she 'took it away' from him.
• Days before his death, he recorded whistling on '(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay' as a placeholder but died before re-recording. The incomplete version was released against label objections.
• He died when his private plane crashed into Wisconsin's Lake Monona on December 10, 1967. Four members of his backing band, the Bar-Kays, also perished; trumpeter Ben Cauley survived by clinging to debris.
• A 1966 Paris concert was halted mid-show by French police for 'overwhelming audience frenzy', cementing his international impact despite U.S. racial barriers.