Evening Honoring Otis Redding Planned for Jan. 25 at Apollo Theater

Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, the Harlem Concert will feature the Dap Kings and Aloe Blacc.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Otis Redding's hit song "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" this January, the Otis Redding Foundation is planning An Evening of Respect, a special concert event honoring the soul legend, at the Apollo Theater in New York on Jan. 25.    

"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968, and is Redding's only
top 10 hit on the chart, though he's had 29 Hot 100 hits total. It was also the first posthumous No. 1 hit on the Hot 100, as Redding died in a plane crash on Dec. 9, 1967 at age 26.   

The evening will be hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and feature The Dap Kings as the house band, with appearances by Aloe Blacc, Michelle Williams, Ruth B, and Nikka Costa. Other performers include the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Redding's sons Otis Redding III and Dexter Redding, Warren Haynes, Marcus King, Jussie Smollett, Ty Taylor, Paul Janeway and "Dock" co-writer Steve Cropper.    

"Otis Redding is soul music," Blacc said in a statement given to Billboard. "He had an unmistakable voice that was rich with emotion. The classics he wrote stand the test of time right alongside his catalog of undeniable covers. I'm honored to sing at the Apollo Theater in tribute to this legend."    

Redding's widow Zelma Redding, who is also the president of his foundation, said she was "overjoyed that An Evening of Respect will be hosted at one of Otis’ favorite venues," adding, "He loved performing at the Apollo and was planning to return there in the Spring of '68. I have such fond memories of being there with Dexter, Karla and Otis III in early 67’, and I can't wait to get back there."

The show is being produced by JAM, Inc., Jonathan Shank for Red Light Management, and is being promoted by CEG Presents. For tickets click here.