Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” Children’s Lyric Book Distribution to Jones County School District
The Redding Estate and the Otis Redding Foundation partner with the Jones County School District to distribute children’s lyric book “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”
The Redding Estate and the Otis Redding Foundation teamed with the Jones County School District to distribute the “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” children’s lyric book to first graders on Thursday, May 20. VP/Executive Director for the Otis Redding Foundation, Karla Redding-Andrews visited Dames Ferry Elementary, Turner Woods Elementary, Gray Elementary, and Mattie Wells Elementary, where she met with students and staff. Students participated in an art contest, creating pieces inspired by Otis Redding’s classic song, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.”
First grade students participated in an art contest, creating pieces inspired by Otis Redding’s classic song, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.” Teachers and administrators chose the selected artists to represent their classes. The art can all be viewed in the video above and the visit can be viewed via the photos and video below.
“The Jones County School System has been so proud to have been included as a part of this community outreach from the Otis Redding Foundation. Our students and our schools have benefited greatly from learning more about the music of Otis Redding through the books which have been donated,” says Amy Marlowe, Literacy Specialist for the Jones County Schools. “The family of Otis Redding Jr. has strong ties to the Jones County Community and we feel grateful to be able to share these connections.”
“We have greatly enjoyed seeing the creations that my father’s work has inspired in these young artists,” says Karla Redding-Andrews, vice-president and executive director of the Otis Redding Foundation and daughter of Otis Redding. “He would have been so very proud to know that his music is living on in the youth of his community in such a beautiful way.”
(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay: A Children’s Picture Book, with song lyrics by Otis Redding and co-writer and friend Steve Cropper, and illustrations by Atlanta, GA–based artist Kaitlyn Shea O’Connor, was published on March 2, 2021 as part of Akashic Books’ LyricPop series.
The song was originally released in 1968, and peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and Hot R&B Singles charts. It received two GRAMMY Awards, has been certified triple platinum, and has been named one of Rolling Stone’s Greatest Songs of All Time. O’Connor’s picture book imagines a lonesome cat fishing off a dock and hoping the fish will bite, who soon become friends with a young child who warms its heart (and fills its belly). It is a wonderful companion to the previously released Respect, which the New York Times called “. . . exactly what we need right now.” The book is available to order via the Otis Redding Foundation online store (https://otisreddingfoundationstore.square.site). All proceeds benefit the Foundation’s music and arts programs.