Go ahead and mark yourselves busy on September 6th & 7th and get that wallet out, because this is a party for a good cause you do not want to miss.
The Otis Redding Foundation (ORF) is proud to announce the 2024 “King Of Soul Music Festival” on September 6 and 7, 2024 in the late legend’s hometown of Macon, Georgia. Eight-piece soul band St. Paul &The Broken Bones will perform during the gala event “An Evening of Respect” at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 6 at the Macon City Auditorium. The “Big ‘O’ Homecoming Show & Dance” follows on Saturday, September 7th at the Capitol Theatre with DJ N.A.B.S.
Now would be a good time to mention wearing comfy shoes, too, because to say there will be dancing with this bunch is an understatement. And for the band’s frontman and co-founder Paul Janeway, any opportunity to get down and pay tribute to Otis Redding is one he will not let pass.
“We are honored to return to Macon and perform for the Otis Redding Foundation. Any time we have a chance to show our love for the legacy of Otis Redding’s music, we will try our best to be there,” stated Janeway. “The Redding family has been so kind to us, and we are overjoyed for the opportunity to play at this event.”
Besides it’s hard, if not impossible, to say “no” to the Queen of the Redding family, Mrs. Zelma Redding herself. The matriarch and business mogul has fiercely and fairly safeguarded both her late husband’s estate and esteemed reputation for more than four decades with a type of total devotion and pure love rarely seen in today’s world, business or personal.
For Mrs. Redding, keeping Otis’ memory, moments, and musical education mission alive and thriving while simultaneously protecting his unmatched stylistic contributions to the modern music canon is and always will be a deeply personal mission that most of us will never be able to relate to or understand. So, when she does encounter those rare, young performers who’ve undeniably immersed themselves artistically in her husband’s catalogue and legacy in a way that would make the King of Soul himself beam with pride, you bet that she takes notice and action.
“My Mom wanted to have Paul back, so she personally reached out and invited the band to headline the 2024 celebration,” said Karla Redding-Andrews, daughter of Otis and Zelma and VP/Executive Director of ORF.
“Paul came to “An Evening of Respect” in 2016 and expressed so much love and respect for my husband’s music. He stole the show with his fervent performance and passion,” stated Zelma.
That wild, uninhibited musical passion is exactly what gives Janeway and his bandmates an edge over many peers. After all, soul isn’t just a style, it’s a state of being.
Founded in Birmingham, AL in 2011, St. Paul & The Broken Bones has garnered widespread acclaim for their dynamic sound and electrifying live performances. The eight-piece ensemble includes Paul Janeway (vocals), Jesse Phillips (bass), Brown Lollar (guitar), Kevin Leon (drums) Al Gamble (keyboards), Allen Branstetter (trumpet), Chad Fisher (trombone) and Amaris Ansari (saxophone) burst on the scene with their 2014 debut album, Half the City. Since then, they have captivated audiences at major festivals including Lollapalooza, Coachella, and Glastonbury and have shared stages with iconic artist including Elton John and The Rolling Stones.
“The Redding family has been so kind to us, and we are overjoyed for the opportunity to play at this event.” – Paul Janeway, St. Paul & The Broken Bones
The band’s discography includes a mix of old-school, sleek summertime funk and classic disco, showcased in albums like “Young Sick Camellia” (2018). Their latest LP “Angels in Science Fiction, continued this trend, building on the shadowy psychedelia and experimental R&B of their 2022 release, “The Alien Coast.” St. Paul & the Broken Bones often cover Otis Redding songs in concert and in 2013 hosted a secreta house show at High Underground in Birmingham, when they played the iconic Otis Blue in its entirety.
Equally matched in passion, style, and pure unbridled soul are beloved local favorites, the Macon Music Revue, who are set to open the evening. Led by powerhouse vocalist and Redding family friend (and favorite) Charles Davis, these boys keep historic Grant’s Lounge in Macon buzzing and rocking every Wednesday night with what might be the tightest and most comprehensive Georgia music songbook show on the scene today. Keys player Ethan Hamlin and drummer Caleb Melvin bring an impressive musicianship and flair alongside bonafide guitarist Dustin McCook and wunderkind bassist Evan Bentzel, who are both alumni of the Otis Music Camp, having participated since their middle school years and continuing through high school.
“Dusty and Evan came up through the Otis Music Camp and their talent and professionalism today demonstrate exactly why the Otis Redding Center for the Arts will be such an invaluable destination for music education,” added Redding-Andrews.
The evening will also see awards given out to very special individuals and groups. During “An Evening of Respect,” awards will be presented to:
The Georgia Music Foundation will receive the Otis & Zelma Redding Award of Respect in recognition of its 30 years supporting music education, preservation, and outreach.
Gia Maione Prima Foundation will receive The Otis Redding III Award of Philanthropy in recognition of its dedication to music education and encouraging an appreciation for American jazz, American popular music, and jazz performance.
Songwriter Vinson “Alaz” Muhammad will receive The Otis Redding Foundation Dream Award for the dedication, ambition, and drive he demonstrates in pursuit of artistic excellence.
Sponsorships and VIP tickets for the “King of Soul Music Festival” are available at https://otisreddingfoundation.org. Balcony tickets for “An Evening of Respect” with St. Paul & the Broken Bones are $58.00 and are currently on sale now at Ticketmaster.
And in case for some reason you still need encouragement to come out and celebrate, know this: all proceeds from the Festival support ORF’s programs at the Otis Redding Center for the Arts, scheduled to be completed in October. The Center will further the Foundation’s mission to give students, ages 5-18, an opportunity to explore their interest in music and the arts including musical literacy, music instrumentation, mathematical components of music, etc.
A GREAT time for a GREAT cause? Sounds like it’s time to book the babysitter and spring for those fancy suits and sneakers.