Where is 

The Dock of the Bay?

Have you ever wondered what dock Otis Redding was singing about in (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay? There’s a line in the song that might give it away. We scoured the Internet to learn more about this great oldie’s origins and the man known to some as the King of Soul. Let’s dive in!

Who Originally Wrote The Dock of the Bay?

Who Originally Wrote The Dock of the Bay?

Otis Ray Redding Jr. was born in Dawson, Georgia, on September 9, 1941. He was the fourth oldest of six children. Otis attended Ballard-Hudson High School and sang in the school’s band.

A Musical Sensation

A Musical Sensation

Stewart soon signed Otis to his first recording contract. Otis released his first single, These Arms of Mine, in October 1962. His songs were popular among blues fans, plus many did well on pop music charts.

How Did Redding Create The Dock of the Bay?

How Did Redding Create The Dock of the Bay?

A few months after his momentous Monterey Pop Festival performance, Redding began writing the lyrics to Dock of the Bay. During a tour stop in the San Francisco Bay Area, he rented a houseboat from Bill Graham. Otis walked out to the end of the dock, found a comfortable place to sit, and started scribbling notes.

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