Post by Pete70s on Feb 24, 2007 17:06:28 GMT -5
This week we'll look at one of rock history's greatest tragedies:
The Bar-Kays
On December 10, 1967, at approx. 3:28 in the afternoon, the twin-engine plane carrying Otis Redding and his backing band, The Bar-Kays, crashed into the frigid waters of Lake Monona, WI. Though the members had survived the crash itself, they could not survive the frozen waters of the lake. Trumpeter Ben Cauley, the lone survivor, grasped a seat cushion and watched helplessly as his bandmates fought desperately to stay afloat, but eventually were pulled under.
Earlier that year, Things couldn't have looked better for the band. Their instrumental "Soul Finger" blared out of AM radios all summer and became a bona-fide classic. They were selected as Otis Reddings backing band as Otis played Monterey and crossed over into the pop market, putting Southern soul on the map. All this, before any of them reached their 20th birthday!
After the tragedy, Ben Cauley and bassist James Alexander (who didn't make the plane trip), reformed the band, and they would go on to further success in the 70's and continue on to this day. But, unfortunately, the crash set them back before they could become legendary, and Reddings death completely overshadowed the deaths of four of the Bar-Kays.
The Bar-Kays
On December 10, 1967, at approx. 3:28 in the afternoon, the twin-engine plane carrying Otis Redding and his backing band, The Bar-Kays, crashed into the frigid waters of Lake Monona, WI. Though the members had survived the crash itself, they could not survive the frozen waters of the lake. Trumpeter Ben Cauley, the lone survivor, grasped a seat cushion and watched helplessly as his bandmates fought desperately to stay afloat, but eventually were pulled under.
Earlier that year, Things couldn't have looked better for the band. Their instrumental "Soul Finger" blared out of AM radios all summer and became a bona-fide classic. They were selected as Otis Reddings backing band as Otis played Monterey and crossed over into the pop market, putting Southern soul on the map. All this, before any of them reached their 20th birthday!
After the tragedy, Ben Cauley and bassist James Alexander (who didn't make the plane trip), reformed the band, and they would go on to further success in the 70's and continue on to this day. But, unfortunately, the crash set them back before they could become legendary, and Reddings death completely overshadowed the deaths of four of the Bar-Kays.
