“Try a Little Tenderness” performed by Otis Redding (1966)

Otis Redding was one of the first “soul” artists, blending gospel with rhythm & blues to form a smooth but powerful sound that’s still with us today.  He wrote a lot of his own music, including cowriting hits like “(Sittin’ on the) Dock of the Bay” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” songs that certainly stand the test of time.

While he didn’t write this song, it showcases his amazing range as a singer and performer.  This track starts out as a smooth ballad, then builds into a frenzied end.

Mr. Redding’s music was also some of the first so-called “black music” to crossover into the mainstream (which, in the 1960’s, meant “music for white people,” which was sometimes originally written and recorded by black artists, only to be stolen and neutered by marginally-talented white teen idols).