soul music
Otis Redding is about to get a little “Respect” – to borrow the title of one of his most famous compositions – from the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The late soul music legend will be honored posthumously with a star on Friday, Oct. 4, at 11:30 a.m. PT at 6150 Hollywood Blvd. Redding’s star is in the category of live theatre/live performance.
Five-time Grammy-winning producer (and previous Walk of Fame honoree) Jimmy Jam will emcee the star ceremony. Killer Mike, who won three Grammys in the rap field in February, will speak. Accepting the award will be the singer’s daughter, Karla Redding-Andrews.
“The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is honored to dedicate a star to the legendary Otis Redding, whose music continues to inspire generations,” Ana Martinez, producer of the Walk of Fame ceremonies, said in a statement.
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Redding has long been regarded as one of the greatest soul singers in popular music history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994 and received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 1999. Three of his recordings are in the Grammy Hall of Fame – his 1965 hit “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (to Stop Now),” his 1967 reinvention of the 1933 pop standard “Try a Little Tenderness” and his deeply moving 1968 classic “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay.” Aretha Franklin’s classic 1967 version of “Respect,” which Redding wrote and had the initial hit with in 1965, is also in the Grammy Hall.
Redding had a volley of hits between 1964 and 1967. He even played at the Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967. But less than six months later, on Dec. 10, 1967, he died in a plane crash in Madison, Wisc. en route to a concert. He was just 26.
The first sign that his music would live on came when “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” shot to No. 1 in early 1968 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Top Selling R&B Singles (as the chart was then called). Redding also had a pair of top 10 albums on the Billboard 200 in the spring of 1968 – History of Otis Redding and The Dock of the Bay. In early 1969, “Dock of the Bay” won two Grammys – best rhythm & blues song and best rhythm & blues vocal performance, male.
Redding’s influence continues through the work of the Otis Redding Foundation, ran by his widow Zelma and daughter Karla Redding-Andrews, which seeks to preserve his legacy through empowering music education for all youth.
The star ceremony will be streamed live at WalkOfFame.com.
SZA was the top winner at the 2023 Soul Train Awards, which premiered Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and BET Her. The red-hot star won four awards: best R&B/soul female artist, album of the year for SOS, and both song of the year and the Ashford & Simpson songwriter’s award for “Snooze.”
This is the sixth consecutive year that a female solo artist has won album of the year at the Soul Train Awards. H.E.R.’s H.E.R. won in 2018, followed by Lizzo’s Cuz I Love You, Summer Walker’s Over It, Jazmine Sullivan’s Heaux Tales, Beyoncé’s Renaissance and now SOS.
This marks the second time SZA has won best R&B/soul female artist; she previously won in 2017.
SZA, who was Billboard’s woman of the year for 2023, is this year’s leading Grammy nominee with nine nods, including album of the year and best progressive R&B album for SOS (which logged 10 weeks atop the Billboard 200) and best R&B song for “Snooze” (which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100).
Usher was runner-up at the Soul Train Awards with three awards, followed by Victoria Monét with two. Keke Palmer hosted the show, which was billed as “the soulful house party of the year.”
Usher won best R&B/soul male artist for the second time. He previously won in 2010 in a tie with Trey Songz. He also won the certified soul award and best collaboration for the hit “Good Good,” on which he teamed with Summer Walker and 21 Savage. That was the only award for Walker, who went into the night with nine nods (tied for the lead with SZA and Usher) and 21 Savage, who was the nominations runner-up with eight.
Monét won best dance performance and video of the year, both for “On My Mama.” That track is up for two Grammys: record of the year and best R&B song.
Coco Jones was named best new artist. She also won in that category at the BET Awards on June 27. Jones, 25, is nominated in that category at the Grammys as well.
Kirk Franklin won the best gospel/inspirational award for the fifth consecutive year, and the sixth time overall, for “All Things.”
Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Janelle Monáe and October London, each of whom received four nominations, were shut out, though Monáe received the Spirit of Soul Award. The show tweaked the name of its Lady of Soul award, which it has presented annually since 2015, “to honor the diversity and inclusivity of this year’s recipient.” Monáe identifies as nonbinary.
Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy, oversaw the annual show and executive produced for BET with Jamal Noisette, VP, specials & music programming. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, served as executive producer, along with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.
Fans can watch encore presentations of the show on Monday, Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. ET/PT and on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. ET/PT on BET. The show will air internationally on BET Africa on Monday, Nov. 27, at 3 CAT, and on BET France on Tuesday, Nov. 28 at 20:45 PM CET. The show will also be available to watch on My5 and Sky On-Demand in the U.K. beginning Thursday, Nov. 30.
Here’s the complete list of 2023 Soul Train Awards nominees, with winners marked:
Album of the year
The Age of Pleasure, Janelle Monáe
Age/Sex/Location, Ari Lennox
Clear 2: Soft Life EP, Summer Walker
Girls Night Out (Extended), Babyface
I Told Them…, Burna Boy
Jaguar II, Victoria Monét
WINNER: SOS, SZA
What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe), Coco Jones
Song of the year
“Back to Your Place,” October London
“Favorite Song,” Toosii
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“ICU,” Coco Jones
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Lipstick Lover,” Janelle Monáe
“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
WINNER: “Snooze,” SZA
Video of the year
“Back to Your Place,” October London
“Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” PinkPantheress & Ice Spice
“Boyfriend,” Usher
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“ICU,” Coco Jones
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Lipstick Lover,” Janelle Monáe
WINNER: “On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
“Special,” Lizzo
Best R&B/soul female artist
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Janelle Monáe
Summer Walker
WINNER: SZA
Victoria Monét
Best R&B/soul male artist
6lack
Babyface
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Eric Bellinger
October London
WINNER: Usher
Best group
Dvsn
Flo
Jagged Edge
Kool & The Gang
WINNER: Maverick City Music
Phony Ppl
Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers
Tank and The Bangas
Wanmor
Best collaboration
“America Has a Problem” (Remix), Beyoncé Feat. Kendrick Lamar
“Boy’s a Liar, Pt. 2,” PinkPantheress & Ice Spice
“Creepin’ (Remix),” Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, Diddy Feat. 21 Savage
“Fly Girl,” Flo feat. Missy Elliott
WINNER: “Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“Sittin’ on Top of the World,” Burna Boy Feat. 21 Savage
“Special,” Lizzo feat. SZA
“To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug),” Summer Walker, J. Cole
Best new artist
Ambré
Ayra Starr
WINNER: Coco Jones
Doechii
Flo
Fridayy
Tyla
Wanmor
Certified soul award
Anthony Hamilton
Ashanti
Ciara
Eric Bellinger
Monica
PJ Morton
Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers
T-Pain
WINNER: Usher
The Ashford and Simpson songwriter’s award
“Back to Your Place,” October London
“Favorite Song,” Toosii
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“ICU,” Coco Jones
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
“Sittin’ on Top of the World,” Burna Boy Feat. 21 Savage
WINNER: “Snooze,” SZA
Best dance performance
“Better Thangs,” Ciara Feat. Summer Walker
“Boyfriend,” Usher
“Good Good,” Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage
“How We Roll,” Ciara & Chris Brown
WINNER: “On My Mama,” Victoria Monét
“Snooze,” SZA
“Summer Too Hot,” Chris Brown
“Under the Influence,” Chris Brown
Best gospel/inspirational award
“All of the Glory,” Shirley Caesar
WINNER: “All Things,” Kirk Franklin
“Came Too Far,” Fridayy Feat. Maverick City Music & My Mom
“Cry,” Koryn Hawthorne
“Feel Alright (Blessed),” Erica Campbell
“God Problems,” Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine
“The Journey,” H.E.R.
“Try Love,” Kirk Franklin
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