Weekend celebration pays 'Respect' to Otis Redding

MACON, Ga. - He was a music great known to many as the King of Soul.  And this weekend, Georgia-native Otis Redding is being honored with a weekend celebration marking what would have been his 75th birthday.

“Celebrating 75 Years of Otis Redding” is taking place September 9-11 in Macon, kicking off with a declaration of Friday, September 9 as “Otis Redding Day” in Macon.  After various events centered around the headquarters of The Otis Redding Foundation in downtown Macon, the celebration will culminate with a tribute concert called “An Evening of Respect” at the Macon City Auditorium on Sunday evening. 

The concert will feature performances by Grammy-nominee Robert McDuffie, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and The Reddings, including Otis Redding’s sons Dexter and Otis III.  Proceeds from the concert benefit The Otis Redding Foundation, whose mission is to empower young people through music and the arts.

Good Day Atlanta’s Paul Milliken spent the morning in Macon, getting a preview of this weekend’s big celebration.