Otis Redding was the first soul singer to have a posthumous number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100.
His song “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” reached number one in the United States after Redding died in a plane crash on December 10, 1967. The record was released in January 1968 and became the first posthumous single to top the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number one on the U.S. R&B chart.
Redding co-wrote the song with guitarist and producer Steve Cropper during sessions at Stax Studios in Memphis. He recorded it in late 1967, including a session just three days before his death. The finished recording became distinctive for its relaxed acoustic feel, ocean imagery, and whistled ending.
The achievement is sometimes confused with the success of the album The Dock of the Bay or with later posthumous chart hits by other artists. Redding’s single was not merely a posthumous hit: it was the first such single to reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100.