“King of Soul” festival honors Otis Redding’s legacy, raises funds for new center

Otis Redding died 57 years ago, but his music and legacy continued to live on at Macon’s City Auditorium Friday night, where community members attended a fundraiser concert, contributing to a new center bearing his name.

Attendees were treated to a dinner and a show, including a performance from the soul band St. Paul and The Broken Bones.

The first day, titled “An Evening of Respect,” of the two-day King of Soul festival kicked off at 7 p.m. with opening remarks from Redding’s descendants: his daughter Karla Redding-Andrews and her son Justin Andrews. Otis Redding’s wife Zelma was also in attendance.

“It’s gonna be absolutely incredible for not only Macon, but for the whole state of Georgia, but most importantly a fundraiser for the new Otis Redding Center for the Arts,” Redding-Andrews said to kick off the festival.

The new center, which is still being built less than a block away from the city auditorium and the existing Otis Redding museum, is set to open sometime in 2025, and will serve as a place for kids to learn, perform and publish music.

The concert was headlined by St. Paul and the Broken Bones, who got their start covering Otis Redding songs. The band performed a mix of Otis’ songs with some of their own.

Justin Andrews, director of special outreach for the foundation, said St. Paul and the Broken Bones was the obvious choice, since they have supported the family for years.

He said the event was a great way not only for the foundation to raise money but also for folks to have the opportunity to listen to an elite band in Macon.

Redding-Andrews said being able to carry on Otis Redding’s legacy means a lot to her and her family, since her father would be doing exactly what they are doing: spreading his music and nurturing the next generation of musicians.

“If Dad were alive, we would still be right here in Macon,” she said. “Macon would be home, Macon would mean the most to us in every way, shape and form. There’s no community better, and he loved Macon.” 

Following the opening remarks, the foundation presented awards to the Georgia Music Foundation and the Gia Prima Foundation for their contributions to music in the region.

Artist Vinson Muhammad, also known by his artist name “ALäZ”, was honored at the festival with the foundation’s “Dream Award” for his work with young musicians. 

Muhammad was born and raised in Macon, and his family has a “rich musical heritage” with both his grandparents being involved with their church’s music programs and his parents playing instruments as well. 

He has taken his music around the world, but has come back to Macon to coach kids on how to write lyrics and make music, which he will soon be doing full-time at the foundation.

Muhammad said being a songwriting coach is the “most transformative experience,” and he has been able to take what he’s learned from the educators in his life and give that to his students. He teaches his students to strive for perfection, and that everyone always has something to learn.

To Muhammad, being honored by the foundation means he has to uphold the legacy of Otis Redding by acknowledging the belief, hard work and respect it took for Redding to become successful. 

“It hits different when people who have seen the journey are giving you your flowers, because when you go to other places they only know a piece of your journey,” Muhammad said.

Following the awards, and a presentation of a music video from the Otis Music Camp, the Macon Music Revue took the stage. The band plays music from Macon legends around town at places like Grant’s Lounge.

Evan Bentzel, bass guitarist for the revue, figured out he wanted to be a musician from the Otis Music Camp, and growing up he had a lot of appreciation for the Allman brothers and their hometown success.

He said being able to perform at the festival is “a sweet thing” for him.

“Without the connections here in Macon and the connections to the music, I probably wouldn’t be playing,” he said.

As Bentzel and the Revue ran through its set, Rhodes Dean was the lone man on the dance floor. Most people on the stage floor were glued to their seats. 

By the end of the set, his white button-down and gray slacks were soaked in sweat. To him, dancing is a form of relief, and live music is “a cathartic experience.” 

“There can’t be a car without an engine, and I like to be the engine,” he said.

Dean, a Macon native, was at a table with some family friends, and has grown up with soul music all his life. He hadn’t listened to St. Paul and The Broken Bones before, but he has nothing but praise for anyone taking the stage.

By the time St. Paul and the Broken Bones got rocking and rolling, Dean was alone no more. He was joined by a group of people, including Karla Redding-Andrews, all bouncing up and down frontstage.

“When you feel somebody like that, who’s actually singing from the heart, it’s a different experience,” Dean said. “Somebody who takes the music craft to their whole heart, I dance the hardest too.”