Privacy Notice His music was really his life. "It's really that simple. "He was just laying there with his eyes open. Ben was the only survivor of the Otis Redding plane crash. In early December, Redding and the Bar-Kays were back out on the road, doing weekenders at colleges. Once he said that, I couldn't talk. Plans for a memorial service are pending. She said some of the band members needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the band. Cauley couldn't swim and said he didn't even try when he was thrown into the freezing water as the . Save up to 50% on Women's Accessories when you shop now. 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. It was a pitch above the roof.". The Bar-Kays joined the Stax studio by 1966, and were signed on to Stax's subsidiary Volt Records in the beginning of 1967. The plane was found nose-down about 48 feet below the surface. Cauley-Campbell said her father toured with Hayes, and also played with Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers and many others. 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. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. Logic or luck doesn't fully explain how Cauley escaped the plane crash or the waters that nearly consumed him 40 years ago. He played trumpet in Otis' band the Bar-Kays. They created their signature song, Soul Finger., [Jim Stewart] came back and said, Whats that yall played? Cauley said. Follow the link to order a copy.https://amzn.to/2LAuUicThis is an affiliate link. Then they hit, and he was loose in the water, terrified he. At around 3:30 p.m., just a few minutes outside of Madison, Cauley woke to the plane's violent shaking. Trumpeter Ben Cauley has died in Memphis at the age of 67. He was soon back playing his horn and performing, something doctors said he would never do. On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling on Redding's new twin engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. Anyone can read what you share. The effort to retrieve bodies, personal effects and the parts of the plane took place over 10 days. Shop the best selection of deals on Food Storage now. They told him he'd never play the trumpet again. Deals and discounts in Cookbooks you dont want to miss. Cauley, who'd never learned to swim, was now struggling in the waters of the frigid lake. Where was Otis Redding born? Debuting in 1968, the reconstituted Bar-Kays were a successful group, recording and playing sessions at Stax and frequently heading out on tour with groups like the Temptations. As the years passed, there was more sadness at Stax -- the company went bankrupt in 1975, and in 1989 they bulldozed the studio. The cushion kept the musician afloat until a police boat arrived. 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. Shop the best selection of deals on Cameras now. While he has long been known as the sole survivor of the crash that killed Redding, Cauley was a survivor in many other ways. The Bar-Kays had an immediate Top 20 hit in the spring of 1967 with Soul Finger, an instrumental that begins with the melody from Mary Had a Little Lamb before segueing into the gritty soul music Stax was known for. 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. ", Waiting at the airport in Milwaukee, Alexander eventually got word of the accident and arrived in Madison to find Cauley laid up in a hospital bed. Another band member, bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. Shop the best selection of deals on Fitness now. "But (the attendant) told us he couldn't crank it up because the battery was kind of low. I tried. At 65, he still writes and records songs at his home and gigs with the Bo-Keys. 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. Save up to 50% on Hair when you shop now. "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. On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling on Redding's new twin engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. Cauley had two young daughters to support, so he left the group in 1971, allowing him to continue performing on his own while being able to remain home with his family. This past Monday, with the anniversary of the crash approaching, Cauley did something he long promised himself he'd do: he returned to Madison, to the site of the crash. ", "We kinda looked at each other, as young fellows do, and said, 'The battery's low?' 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. Cauley suffered hypothermia and shock, but he survived. Despite the lingering scars of his past, Cauley continued to work and perform, his horn in demand for sessions in Memphis, Muscle Shoals, even Nashville. Find the best deals on Kitchen from your favorite brands. (his death) (2 children) Trivia (3) He survived the plane crash that killed Otis Redding. He was the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that claimed the lives of soul singer Otis Redding and four members of the Bar-Kays. Sitemap, Your California Privacy Rights Audience Relations, CBC P.O. There, he performed as part of a ceremony honoring Redding and the fallen Bar-Kays at the Monona Terrace, on the banks of the lake. 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On September 20, 1973, the chartered flight he and Muehleisen were aboard crashed, the result of what an investigation later revealed was pilot error. "Still, he had to do total rehabilitation," she says, learning how to read, write, walk, dress himself, feed himself, all from scratch. Cauley urged him to hold on, but his attempts to get to his bandmates were defeated by the hard, lapping waters. These are the best Small Pets Supplies deals youll find online. Cauley started attending LeMoyne College in 1965, before becoming a professional musician.[1]. [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. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. Bob Mehr, "Bar-Kays hornman Ben Cauley is a survivor", "Redding Was Sitting In Co-Pilot's Seat, Survivor Says", "Cause Of Crash Not Pinpointed By Officials: Credit Survivor's Life To Swift Police Action", "Ben Cauley, Founding Member Of Bar-Kays, Dies At 67 - NewsChannel5.com", Ben Cauley, Sole Survivor of Otis Redding Crash, Dies at 67, Ben Cauley Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2015), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_Cauley&oldid=1124352701, Survivors of aviation accidents or incidents, Accidents and incidents involving the Beechcraft Model 18, Articles needing additional references from June 2018, All articles needing additional references, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 November 2022, at 14:01. He then played some trumpet and sang elegiac renditions of Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" and "(Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay.". He was the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that claimed the lives of soul singer Otis Redding and four members of the Bar-Kays. Before long, the young Bar-Kays -- most of them, still in high school -- were a hit act, and being groomed to become Stax's second house band alongside Booker T. &the MGs. He survived the plane crash that killed Otis Redding. When those moments come, alone in the darkness, he tries to think instead of the music they made together; he tries to conjure the sweet sounds of soul and Stax, the things that have sustained him all the years since. However, the band made little money, as they did not have much work outside of being a house band for Stax, and frequently needed to tour with the artists they backed. Otis Redding was born on September 9, 1941 in Dawson, Georgia, USA as Otis Ray Redding Jr. No one could play like him, she said. On Dec. 10, 1967, Mr. Cauley and most of the other members of the band were traveling on Reddings new twin-engine Beechcraft when it crashed into Lake Monona, near Madison, Wis. According to James Alexander, Cauley was the best dressed of the group, always known to wear a suit, no matter the occasion. Chris Pleasance explains how Ukraine 'hits major Russian air base in fresh strike' a day after kamikaze drone crashed down just 68 miles Iran could make materials for a nuclear bomb in just 12 DAYS, US warns. "[3], Cauley then unbuckled his safety belt which ultimately allowed him to separate himself from the wreckage. Find the best deals on Fragrance from your favorite brands. Cauley evaded one more close brush with death when he avoided a diabetic coma. Former trumpeter of the band The Bo-Keys. And we said we're still in school, so we can't go on weekdays. "He's a guy, almost like a cat: He has nine lives. It was a very distinct sound. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. On June 6, 2015, Cauley was on hand to be inducted into the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in Clarksdale, Mississippi, along with the other Bar-Kays. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. "A lot of our fellow musicians cared about the Bar-Kays," says Cauley. He sang Reddings (Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay as part of a ceremony at the Monona Terrace on the banks of the lake. 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 just a real humble, debonair gentleman, Cauley-Campbell said. Cauley remembers the cabin of the plane was especially cold that morning. "I went to the hospital, they had this metal going through his entire skull holding his head up," says David Porter. In a way, the experience seems to have been a catharsis, providing Cauley some measure of peace. Save up to 50% on Skin Care when you shop now. He was previously married to Shirley. Inside the forest palace 'Putin shares with his gymnast lover and their secret children': Luxury estate Ukrainian military unit named after Boris Johnson 'is wiped out by Wagner troops', the Russian mercenaries How did Russia lose HALF of its 45,000 elite paratroopers in just seven months? 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 learned to play trumpet when at school, and formed a band with guitarist Jimmy King, saxophonist Phalon Jones, drummer Carl Cunningham, keyboardist Ronnie Caldwell, and bassist James Alexander. The Bar-Kays were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. Later that same evening, they played at a popular Cleveland club, Leo's Casino. The Bar-Kays were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. The Bar-Kays first release was supposed to be You Cant Sit Down, but when Stax founder Jim Stewart stepped out of the room during the recording session, the band had an impromptu jam. On the eve of the crash's 40th anniversary, the 60-year-old Cauley sits in his home recording studio in Southeast Memphis with two of his daughters, Chekita Cauley-Campbell and Shuronda Cauley-Oliver, talking emotionally and candidly about his remarkable life. His death was first reported by The Commercial Appeal. The lake had not frozen over, but water was chilly and divers were taxed. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. What bands died in plane crash? The young, energetic Bar-Kays and the tireless Redding proved a perfect musical fit. Cauley got his musical start singing in church with his mother and picked up the trumpet in seventh grade. And while he. Shop our favorite Bath & Body finds at great prices. Ben Cauley, Sole Survivor of Otis Redding Plane Crash, Dies at 67, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/25/arts/music/ben-cauley-sole-survivor-of-otis-redding-crash-dies-at-67.html. The speed of the rescue team -- which got to the crash site in 17 minutes -- was probably the thing that saved Cauley. These are the best Home Audio deals youll find online. 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. His body was perhaps a couple minutes away from going into hypothermia when he was pulled from the waters. It was a pitch above the roof.. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Just WHO was Tom Brady speaking to during furious phone call - as lip reading analysis reveals retired QB screams 'stop calling me', rages about 'sounding stupid' and demands to know 'what am I supposed to do? She said some of the band members needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the band. Plans for a memorial service are pending. You know, for a long time I used to tell my kids, 'One day I'm going back.' They would be picked up on a Friday, travel and play with Redding on the weekend and return to school for the week. Bar-Kays would continue and prosper with new members after 1967 tragedy. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. See also. 10,111, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved In 2007, Bob Mehr told the story of Ben Cauley, trumpet player for the Bar-Kays, who was the lone survivor of the crash. He was a member of the Stax Records group the Bar-Kays and the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed most of his. While he has long been known as the sole survivor of the crash that killed Redding just as his career was peaking, Cauley was a survivor in many other ways. He breathed music.. I just had to see the lake," says Cauley softly, his voice trailing off. Otis went wild. Deals and discounts in Womens Active Shoes & Sneakers you dont want to miss. "Lord knows, it just really touched me to be there. "I had to see it. It was first reported by the Memphis newspaper The Commercial Appeal. "Honestly, I didn't even know what it was. 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Shop our favorite Plus Size Clothing finds at great prices. Cauley-Campbell said Cauley toured with Hayes, and also played with Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers and many others. Save up to 50% on Swimwear when you shop now. As Cauley recalls, Otis Redding followed the band there to offer them a gig, We played at the Coliseum, said Cauley. The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. 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. Terms of Use He breathed music. He breathed music.". Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. It was a very distinct sound. Pick up a copy of Elvis Presley's new album, Where No One Stands Alone. Plans for a memorial service are pending. Ben S. Cauley, Jr. (October 3, 1947 - September 21, 2015) was an American trumpet player, vocalist, songwriter, and founding member of the Stax recording group the Bar-Kays. 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. Madison Police Inspector John Harrington was quoted as saying that a person without insulated SCUBA gear "wouldn't live longer than 20 or so minutes" in the icy water.[4]. The group was originally named the Imperials, and later changed to the Bar-Kays in the mid-1960s. He was 67. Another band member, bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. "I thank God," says Cauley of his unlikely survival. Deals and discounts in Pet Parents you dont want to miss. Shop the best selection of deals on Laptops now. Another band member, bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. Find the best deals on Women's Handbags & Wallets from your favorite brands. 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