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The seniors were almost right. Otis Redding was on a chartered plane that crashed into Lake Monona on Dec. 10, 1967, killing Redding and four members of his backup band, the Bar-Kays while they were flying to a scheduled performance. A native of Georgia, Redding’s gritty vocals became the measure of 1960s great soul artists. His only number one single, “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay,” shot to the top of the charts in 1968 after his death at age 26.

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Do you know any UW–Madison graduates who deserve to be honored — maybe even you? Nominations for the 2026 Alumni Awards will be accepted now through January 5, 2025. Nominate a Badger today.