the Reddings

{{Short description|American funk/soul/disco band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

|name= Reddings

|image=

|background= group_or_band

|origin= Macon, Georgia, U.S.

|genre= Funk, R&B, soul

|years_active= 1980–1988

|label= Believe In A Dream Records (division of CBS Records)
Polydor Records

|website=

|past_members= Dexter Redding
Otis Redding III
Mark Lockett

}}

The Reddings were an American funk, soul and disco band, founded by Otis Redding's sons Dexter (bass and vocals) and Otis Redding III (December 17, 1963 – April 18, 2023 age 59;{{cite web |url=https://otisreddingiii.com|title=Remembering Otis Redding III 1963-2023|date=|accessdate=April 29, 2023|website=otisreddingiii.com}} guitar) together with Mark Lockett (drums, keyboards, and lead vocal).{{cite book|last=Otfinoski|first=Steven|title=African Americans in the Performing Arts|url=https://archive.org/details/africanamericans0000otfi_l9o7|url-access=registration|year=2003|page=[https://archive.org/details/africanamericans0000otfi_l9o7/page/194 194]}}

Their most well-known songs include "Remote Control" (1980) / "Doin' it" / "Funkin on the One" / "Class (Is What You Got)" (1981) / "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" (1982) / "Hand Dance" (1983) and "The Awakening" (1980), a bass-drums-duet which is often performed live by Les Claypool (Primus) and on his album Highball with the Devil.

Their album The Reddings was released on November 26, 1988, and reached a peak position of #88 on the US Billboard album chart. It featured a hit single "Call The Law," which reached peak position of #16 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles Chart on November 26, 1988.

In December 1980, "Remote Control," from the first album by the Reddings (The Awakening), went to #6 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart,{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-reddings-mn0000495040/biography|title=The Reddings Biography, Songs, & Albums|website=AllMusic|access-date=19 April 2023}} and peaked at #89 on the Billboard Hot 100.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1980-12-13|title = The Hot 100|magazine = Billboard|date = 2 January 2013}} The tune was sampled in an episode of the 1980s television programme, WKRP in Cincinnati. Written by Nick Mann, Bill Beard, and Chet Fortune of the Washington, D.C.–based songwriting team of Last Colony Music,{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/171032-Nick-Mann|title=Nick Mann|website=Discogs.com|access-date=19 April 2023}} "Remote Control" continues to receive airplay in countries including Belgium, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. In 1979 to 1980, Dexter, Otis III, and Mark had recorded The Awakening with producers Russell Timmons and Nick Mann at the Believe in a Dream studio, which was located in downtown Washington, D.C.

On April 18, 2023, Otis Redding III died of cancer at the age of 59.{{Cite web|url=http://www.soultracks.com/story-otis-redding-iii-dies|title=Otis Redding III, star musician and son of soul legend, dies at age 59|date=19 April 2023|website=Soultracks.com|access-date=19 April 2023}}