After a long silence, tears begin streaming down his face, and his body slumps, the weight of 40 years of pain bearing down on his shoulders. Hes been with the church for more than 20 years. Today is the 50th anniversary of the Wisconsin plane crash that took the life of Stax Records great Otis Redding. "When you consider what he's experienced and yet he can still get up and have the kind of energy that entertains people," says Porter, "it's a true testament to what's inside of this guy. Ben was the only survivor of the Otis Redding plane crash. The plane had gone into Lake Monona, on the banks of Madison, at a sharp 35-degree angle. In a way, the experience seems to have been a catharsis, providing Cauley some measure of peace. Zelenskyy on Anniversary of RussianWar, R. Kelly Awaiting Fate in Child Pornography Case That Could Add Up to LifeSentence. He really loved his music. She said some of the band members needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the band. Soundtrack: Dope. After the crash, the pair rebuilt the Bar-Kays and backed Isaac Hayes on his landmark album, Hot Buttered Soul, according to the Memphis Music Hall of Fame's website. Ben Cauley, musician and sole survivor in Otis Redding plane crash, dead at 67 | CBC News Loaded. The Bar-Kays were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. He said he'd rather have the pilot do it. Published: 22:13 EST, 22 September 2015 | Updated: 03:00 EST, 23 September 2015. Mr. Cauley started playing with the Bar-Kays while attending Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. 'He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman,' Cauley-Campbell said. Ben Cauley. Ben S. Cauley, Jr. was an American trumpet player, vocalist, songwriter, and founding member of the Stax recording group the Bar-Kays. "Lord knows, it just really touched me to be there. Ben Cauley was born on 3 October 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Plans for a memorial service are pending. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Trumpeter Ben Cauley, a member of the Stax Records group the Bar-Kays and the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed most of his bandmates and Stax star Otis Redding, has died in Memphis.He was 67. He was 67. They told him he'd never play the trumpet again. On December 10, on their commute to Madison, Wisconsin, at 3:28 in the afternoon, the planecarrying Otis Redding, his partner, and the majority of the Bar-Kayscrashed into the Wiicawac Bay (formerly Squaw Bay) area of Lake Monona, on the outskirts of Madison. Cauley urged him to hold on, but his attempts to get to his bandmates were defeated by the hard, lapping waters. Besides Cauley-Campbell, Cauley is survived by daughters Shuronda Cauley-Oliver, Miriam Cauley-Crisp, Monica Cauley-Johnson and Kimberly Garrett; and sons Phalon Richmond and Ben Wells. "He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman," Cauley-Campbell said. And while he. The Bar-Kays were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. On September 20, 1973, the chartered flight he and Muehleisen were aboard crashed, the result of what an investigation later revealed was pilot error. (Dec. 10), Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. As the years passed, there was more sadness at Stax -- the company went bankrupt in 1975, and in 1989 they bulldozed the studio. It was a very distinct sound. The teen group was in high demand at clubs, like the Hippodrome. It was a pitch above the roof.". By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. The small plane crashed nose first in Lake Monona on the way to Madison, Wisconsin. Later that same evening, they played at a popular Cleveland club, Leo's Casino. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. In dreams, he feels the rush of the lake's icy water, the chill of fear, and the helplessness and hurt that followed. According to Jet magazine, which interviewed Cauley and the authorities who assisted in the rescue attempt, the rescue divers could not be in the water for more than 15 minutes at a time due to the freezing temperature of the water. I'd never been that way before in my life. 3 on Billboards R&B chart. It was a very distinct sound. Save up to 50% on Maternity Clothing when you shop now. Ben Cauley, who played trumpet with the rhythm-and-blues group the Bar-Kays and was the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed Otis Redding, died on Monday in Memphis. They had three gigs booked between Dec. 8 and 10, 1967, and most of the entourage was traveling on Redding's new twin engine Beechcraft. They were descending so rapidly that Ben Cauley struggled to breathe. If you purchase through this link I will receive a small commission.Some other titlesElvis 68 Comeback Special https://amzn.to/2MZVTV3The Searcher Pt 1 https://amzn.to/2Nvb0mq30 Greatest Hits https://amzn.to/2LBkRFRLast Train To Memphis https://amzn.to/2PcOLlMA Boy From Tupelo https://amzn.to/2LDYmjoElvis on Blu-Ray https://amzn.to/2LBBQYyEssential Elvis Presley https://amzn.to/2MEVlVlPeace In The Valley https://amzn.to/2LBlbo3RCA Albums Collection https://amzn.to/2LA8hq524kt Gold Record https://amzn.to/2CaH9ijThat's The Way It Is Blu-Ray https://amzn.to/2LCOOFlGEARCanon Rebel Camera https://amzn.to/2N2qQbgMicrophone https://amzn.to/2BZRhdmTascam Audio Recorder https://amzn.to/2om0nHYSD Card https://amzn.to/2PM7KopTripod https://amzn.to/2N5kh88Macbook Pro https://amzn.to/2N1sXw1Ben Cauley on the plane crash that killed Otis Redding \u0026 the Bar Kays Memphis January 2015Check out the full playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLovnN3AmQ_7LS_08_Rjgbv9Z9TZ5EK-gqLIKE, COMMENT, AND SHARE\"This video was shot and edited by me, I have full authority to post this video to youtube.\"Check us out on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OutlawFilmProductions and https://www.facebook.com/pages/816-Movie/103174963097080Walkin On The Blvd https://www.facebook.com/pages/Walkin-On-The-Blvd/185201857767Tumblr outlawfilmproductions.tumblr.com-~-~~-~~~-~~-~-Please watch: \"Franz Goovaerts sings 'A Little Less Conversation' Binche May 2017\" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4-FTZ--jh0-~-~~-~~~-~~-~- The next thing I remember, I came to and was in all this water.". He survived the 1967 plane crash that killed Otis Redding. The following day, December 9, they took the Beechcraft to Cleveland, where they appeared on Don Webster's Upbeat TV show with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Cauley was playing with the Bar-Kays while still attending high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. "He didn't feel comfortable being gone on the road all the time," says Alexander, who continues to lead the Bar-Kays to this day. He breathed music. NASHVILLE, Tenn. Trumpeter Ben Cauley, the sole survivor of an airplane crash that killed rhythm and blues singer Otis Redding and his entourage in 1967, has died. He was a well-known session musician, and Cauley-Campbell said she often recognized the sound of his trumpet on records because it was so different from anyone else's playing. He could jam: Musicians Derek Huston, Marc Franklin, Cauley and Joe Restivo of the Bo-Keys open for Cyndi Lauper at The Club Nokia in LA in 2011. He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman, Cauley-Campbell said. Able to hold onto a seat cushion, Mr. Cauley was the only survivor. They formed a group called the Imperials, later changing their name to the Bar-Kays. [2][3] Cauley, who was sitting directly behind Otis Redding in the co-pilot's seat, had fallen asleep on the flight clutching his seat cushion. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Cauley was thrown into the freezing water. "He asked about us doing some gigs. What happened next, Cauley says, "is something I can never erase. Save up to 50% on Women's Clothing when you shop now. Pick up a copy of Elvis Presley's new album, Where No One Stands Alone. As Cauley recalls, Otis Redding followed the band there to offer them a gig, We played at the Coliseum, said Cauley. Besides Cauley-Campbell, Cauley is survived by daughters Shuronda Cauley-Oliver, Miriam Cauley-Crisp, Monica Cauley-Johnson and Kimberly Garrett; and sons Phalon Richmond and Ben Wells. While he has long been known as the sole survivor of the crash that killed Redding, Cauley was a survivor in many other ways. He was a well-known session musician, and Cauley-Campbell said she often recognized the sound of his trumpet on records because it was so different from anyone elses playing. In the difficult aftermath of his stroke, Cauley's musical future seemed limited. Somehow, in between blacking out and rising to the surface of the water, he'd gotten hold of a seat cushion, which was keeping him afloat. That fall, Redding paused from the road to have some polyps removed from his throat, and to write and record what would prove to be his swan song, "(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay.". Cauleys eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. Save up to 50% on Smart Home when you shop now. Logic or luck doesn't fully explain how Cauley escaped the plane crash or the waters that nearly consumed him 40 years ago. When he was a senior, he would be picked up at high school on a Friday, travel and play with Otis Redding on the weekends and then come back to school the next week. He was a well-known session musician, and Cauley-Campbell said she often recognized the sound of his trumpet on records because it was so different from anyone else's playing. Cauley couldn't swim and said he didn't even try when he was thrown into the freezing water as the . The next morning we got up real early to go to the airport, on the way to Madison.". Cauley was playing with the Bar-Kays while still attending high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. Trumpeter Ben Cauley has died in Memphis at the age of 67. 3 on the Billboard R&B charts. They would be picked up on a Friday, travel and play with Redding on the weekend and return to school for the week. Another band member, the bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. After the crash, Cauley reformed the Bar-Kays, who celebrated their 50th anniversary this year. Shop our favorite Women's Shoes finds at great prices. The plane was found nose-down about 48 feet below the surface. Trumpeter Ben Cauley has died in Memphis at the age of 67. Privacy Notice 3. Save up to 50% on Trending when you shop now. See also. Ben Cauley on the plane crash that killed Otis Redding & the Bar Kays Memphis January 2015 Walkin' On The Blvd 7.98K subscribers Subscribe 240 32K views 7 years ago Pick up a copy of Elvis. 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For those inclined to believe in the sheltering hand of a Higher Power, Ben Cauley is as close to proof as you may ever find. Sarah Huckabee Sanders will BAN drag shows in the state to 'protect kids' - after already putting limits on teaching critical race theory in classrooms, REVEALED: Memo suggests Biden-appointed federal regulator WAS considering a ban on gas stoves - before igniting a firestorm by saying 'any option is on the table', Judge rules gay couple accused of raping their adopted sons will not be immune from testifying against each other, Chinese spy balloon the size of three buses is spotted floating over Montana for DAYS as U.S. mobilizes F-22 Raptors to intercept: Biden wanted to shoot it down but Pentagon advised him not tobecause of falling debris, Adnan Syed cries outside court after appeal judges question whether family of Hae Min Lee's have a case to appeal murder charges against him being dropped, Is this the end of the Tech Golden Age? His music was really his life. At the same time, the mostly underage band became a favorite at late-night clubs like the Hippodrome, adding their flashy step and dance moves into a repertoire of R&B songs. The plane crashed in icy Lake Monona. His death was confirmed by his eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. On December 8, 1967, Otis Redding and the Bar-Kays flew in Redding's twin engine Beechcraft H18 plane to Nashville, Tennessee, for three weekend gigs. Shop our favorite Dog Supplies finds at great prices. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. The group was originally named the Imperials, and later changed to the Bar-Kays in the mid-1960s. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. What's your biggest turn off? On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling on Reddings new twin engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. Five minutes after that,it got started -- but we were still thinking about that. Amid the waves, he lost hold of the cushion, but then another cushion floated by and he grabbed onto it. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The best seat in the house! Shop the best selection of deals on Cameras now. His music was really his life. Trumpeter Ben Cauley, a member of the Stax Records group the Bar-Kays and the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed most of his bandmates and legendary singer Otis Redding, has died in Memphis. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. "A lot of our fellow musicians cared about the Bar-Kays," says Cauley. Related news. I remember I got up, unbuckled my seatbelt to see what it was. ", After months of shock and mourning, Cauley and Alexander decided to try and pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and re-form the band. They created their signature song, Soul Finger., [Jim Stewart] came back and said, Whats that yall played? Cauley said. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Cauley evaded one more close brush with death when he avoided a diabetic coma. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Shop the best selection of deals on Food Storage now. He had struggled with health issues for years, including a stroke he suffered in 1989, but he persevered through all of it and continued to play his trumpet. Not music to our ears:Trumpeter Ben Cauley has died in Memphis at the age of 67, according toThe Commercial Appeal; here he is seen in 2009, His pal: Otis Redding looking dapper in a publicity still in the 1970s. In this Nov. 29, 2007, file photo, Ben Cauley, a member of the Stax Records group the Bar-Kays and the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed most of his bandmates and Stax star Otis Redding, poses for a photo in his home studio in Memphis, Tenn. (Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal via AP, File). She said some of the band members needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the band. But I went over and picked it up and started playing -- ba-de-dum-dum-ba-dum-dum," says Cauley, aping the first notes of "Soul Finger.". Another band member, bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. Instead of playing the organ, Cauley shuffled up to the microphone and performed an impromptu trumpet solo. In the chaos, confusion and cold, he glimpsed some of his fellow passengers: Carl Cunningham surfaced for a moment without speaking; Ronnie Caldwell cried out for help. "I saw Carl come out of the water, I saw (Redding's valet) Matt (Kelly) come up on the other side. "No one could play like him," she said. ", Martin Luther King, Junior accepts Nobel Peace Prize; Women get the right to vote in Wyoming Territory; America's first domestic passenger jet flight takes off; Soul singer Otis Redding, General Augusto Pinochet die. And it hadnt gone, Cauley said. Shop the best selection of deals on Fitness now. [2] As such they appeared as the backing band on numerous recordings for Stax artists such as Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, and Sam and Dave. Another band member, bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. Shop the best selection of deals on Beauty now. In early December, Redding and the Bar-Kays were back out on the road, doing weekenders at colleges. 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