Five Magnificent Years: On Otis Redding

This man's life is definitely worth studying. Before it closed the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon, GA had a wonderful exhibit on Redding's life, including much of his correspondence and newspaper interviews. He was incredibly shrewd both in matters of business and culture at such an early age, and I firmly believe that if he had not been taken so young that he would have been a major force not just in the music business but in American politics.

Also of note is that he married extremely well - Zelma Redding has a huge story of her own. Due to the nature of the music business back then Otis Redding owned none of his catalogue at the time of his death. Zelma took the insurance money (from the plane, not life insurance on Otis) and used it to systematically buy back his songs over the years, financing the next purchase with the accrued royalties, until eventually his entire output was returned to the family.