Who was Otis Redding III? Son of the legendary 1960s soul singer Otis Redding dead at 59

Singer and guitarist Otis Redding III, the son of the legendary 1960s soul singer Otis Redding, has died from cancer at age 59. Otis’ death was announced by his family on Wednesday.

Otis died on Tuesday in Georgia.

His sister, Karla Redding-Andrews, in a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Otis Redding Foundation, the family’s charity in Macon said:

“It is with heavy hearts that the family of Otis Redding III confirms that he lost his battle with cancer last evening at Atrium Health Navicent in Macon, Ga. Otis was 59 years old,”

“Please keep our family in your prayers at this time and please respect our privacy as we consume this huge loss. Arrangements will be announced at a later date.”

Otis was just 3 years old when his father died at age 26 in a plane crash in 1967.

He and his three siblings, including brother and future bandmate Dexter, were raised by their mother Zelma on the 300-acre Big O Ranch where their dad was buried.

More than a decade after the death of his father, Otis and his brother, Dexter, formed the funk band The Reddings, which recorded six albums in the 1980s.

Though The Reddings released their final album in 1988, Redding continued to play music, and appeared onstage at Carnegie Hall for a 2018 tribute concert in honor of his father.

Aside his musical career, Otis worked with his family’s foundation to organize summer camps that teach children to play music and served as board president for the local chapter of Meals on Wheels.