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 bandmates and Stax star Otis Redding. She said some of the band members needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the band. 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. What's your biggest turn off? The Bar-Kays were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. 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. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. "[3], Cauley then unbuckled his safety belt which ultimately allowed him to separate himself from the wreckage. Then they hit, and he was loose in the water, terrified he. Year of Crash: 1967; Ben Cauley suffered hypothermia and shock following a plane crash that claimed the lives of four members of Bar-Kays and Ottis Redding, a legendary soul singer, in 1967. No one could play like him, she said. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. That day, Cauley, stood outside playing a requiem on his trumpet. He also directed the choir of Calvary Longview United Methodist Church, attended by him and his wife Shirley. Did Ben Cauley survive the 1967 plane crash? 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. 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. "He was just laying there with his eyes open. Cauleys eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. ', Connected: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 bandmates and Stax star Otis Redding. To some, Ben Cauley is the answer to a tragic trivia question: the trumpeter was the sole survivor of the plane crash Dec. 10, 1967, outside Madison, Wis., that claimed eight people, including Stax Records star Otis Redding, and Cauley's Bar-Kays bandmates Phalon Jones, Carl Cunningham, Jimmy King and Ronnie Caldwell. Tracey Cox asks men the Are YOU at risk of being cancelled? I tried. Plans for a memorial service are pending. At around 3:30 p.m., just a few minutes outside of Madison, Cauley woke to the plane's violent shaking. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. They formed a group called the Imperials, later changing their name to the Bar-Kays. "I went to the hospital, they had this metal going through his entire skull holding his head up," says David Porter. We said we was in school., By the spring of 1967, the group was Reddings backing band and recording at Stax Records. "I didn't know it, but my head was swollen and bleeding, and I remember I had only one shoe". 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. Bar-Kays bassist James Alexander, who'd volunteered to return the band's rental car in Cleveland and hop a commercial flight to Wisconsin, dropped them off at the hangar. All Rights Reserved. They would be picked up on a Friday, travel and play with Redding on the weekend and return to school for the week. 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. Cauley-Campbell said Cauley toured with Hayes, and also played on sessions for Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers, The Replacements and many others. 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. Cauley suffered hypothermia and shock, but he survived. On September 20, 1973, the chartered flight he and Muehleisen were aboard crashed, the result of what an investigation later revealed was pilot error. He died on September 21, 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. 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. This story has been shared 42,781 times. Yall bad. He asked what we were doing? Cauley urged him to hold on, but his attempts to get to his bandmates were defeated by the hard, lapping waters. His music was really his life. He's had some terrible, traumatic experiences throughout his life. Soundtrack: Dope. He had the beat: Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. He was 67. The Bar-Kays were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. Where was Otis Redding born? Mr. Cauley started playing with the Bar-Kays while attending Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Shop our favorite Women's Shoes finds at great prices. Cauley was separated from the plane and thrown out of an opening in the fuselage. 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. Several hundred people came and listened, and bathed him in appreciative applause. Cauley evaded one more close brush with death when he avoided a diabetic coma. As Cauley recalls, Otis Redding followed the band there to offer them a gig, We played at the Coliseum, said Cauley. He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman, Cauley-Campbell said. 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. Cauley started attending LeMoyne College in 1965, before becoming a professional musician.[1]. Bar-Kays bassist James Alexander had taken a different flight, as there was not enough room left on Redding's plane. 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. Find the best deals on Fitness Nutrition from your favorite brands. 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. Deals and discounts in Nails you dont want to miss. "It was a very distinct sound. "No one could play like him," she said. He was previously married to Shirley. 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 Fames website. ", 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. She said some of the musicians needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the band. Wade donated $100,000 to Stax Records that would be used to create the Ben Cauley scholarship, in his honor and to shed light on his accomplishments. 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. The effort to retrieve bodies, personal effects and the parts of the plane took place over 10 days. It was a pitch above the roof.". Shop the best selection of deals on Laptops now. On September 12, 2008, the scholarship was founded. Do you hate foreplay? I was shaking all over. 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His death was confirmed by his eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell. She said some of the band members needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the band. In dreams, he feels the rush of the lake's icy water, the chill of fear, and the helplessness and hurt that followed. Cauley was playing with the Bar-Kays while still attending high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. Since the crash, Cauley has played with numerous bands, including a reconstituted Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes, and the Muscle Schoals Band. He breathed music. 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. Shop our favorite Plus Size Clothing finds at great prices. Ben Cauley, musician and sole survivor in Otis Redding plane crash, dead at 67 | CBC News Loaded. 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. Bar-Kays trumpet player Ben Cauley celebrated his 65th birthday this year, and he has much to celebrate. I just had to see the lake," says Cauley softly, his voice trailing off. He breathed music.. "It was a very distinct sound. Cauley was playing with the Bar-Kays while still attending high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. Cauley-Campbell said Cauley toured with Hayes, and also played with Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers and many others. He breathed music.. His body was perhaps a couple minutes away from going into hypothermia when he was pulled from the waters. Cauley did not know how to swim and was stuck in the freezing waters holding onto a seat cushion until a . Deals and discounts in Womens Active Shoes & Sneakers you dont want to miss. Cauleys eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. How Ben Cauley Survived The Bar-Kays Tragedy. "He's a guy, almost like a cat: He has nine lives. On a recent Sunday, the churchs Hammond B-3 organ was broken. He breathed music.. In 1989, Cauley suffered a massive stroke and aneurysm. On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling on Redding's new twin engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. Deals and discounts in Bakeware you dont want to miss. Trumpeter Ben Cauley has died in Memphis at the age of 67. 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. The cushion kept the musician afloat until a police boat arrived. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Kodak Black Arrest Warrant Issued in Florida Over Failed DrugTest, Brad Paisley Drops Song Featuring Ukrainian Pres. He was 67.. While he has long been known as the sole survivor of the crash that killed Redding, Cauley was a survivor in many other ways. On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling to a show near the University of Wisconsin on Reddings new twin engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wis. Cauley couldn't swim and said he didn't even try when he was thrown into the freezing water as the . Cauley was playing with the Bar-Kays while still attending high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. Cauley was thrown into the freezing water. He said that he then saw bandmate Phalon Jones look out of a window and say "Oh, no! 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. Cauley-Campbell said Cauley toured with Hayes, and also played with Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers and many others. The plane had gone into Lake Monona, on the banks of Madison, at a sharp 35-degree angle. Reputation management expert reveals why it doesn't just happen to Beijing warns Elon Musk 'don't bite the hand that feeds you' after the Tesla chief - who sells 40% of his Is YOUR lifestyle good for your heart? The new version of the band backed Isaac Hayes on his landmark 1969 album, Hot Buttered Soul, and recorded several albums of its own. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal, via Associated Press. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. "He still wanted to perform but was not mobile enough to do a lot of touring," says Porter, who set up Cauley gigging as a kind of one-man bandat his Da' Blues restaurant inside the Memphis International Airport. But we took off going to Madison with no problems. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 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. The cushion kept the musician afloat until a police boat arrived. Terms of Use Find the best deals on Home Gym from your favorite brands. 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. The Bar-Kays were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. The plane was found nose-down about 48 feet below the surface. 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. 'No one could play like him,' she said. 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. That summer of '67, the Bar-Kays started their work backing Redding with a 10-night stand at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and then proceeded to tour the country. Ben Cauley was born on October 3, 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. 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. Cauley died on September 21, 2015, at the age of 67.[6][7]. 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. In the difficult aftermath of his stroke, Cauley's musical future seemed limited. Related news. Sitemap, Your California Privacy Rights He survived the plane crash that killed Otis Redding. His music was really his life. His music was really his life. 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-~-~~-~~~-~~-~- One band member, Ben Cauley, survived. 3. Find the best deals on Gear from your favorite brands. Taken to the hospital, Cauley was finally told that he'd been the only one to survive. 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 was previously married to Shirley. Al Jackson, Jr. the drummer with Booker T & the MGs, took a particular interest in the young members of the Bar-Kays and groomed them to become the second house band for Stax after Booker T and the MGs. 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. 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. Once he said that, I couldn't talk. His death was first reported by The Commercial Appeal. 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. What bands died in plane crash? The loss of Redding and the promising Bar-Kays was a devastating blow. See also. 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.". 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. The group recorded for the Stax label and soon started touring as Reddings backup band. 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. ', Drama on set! Suggest an edit or add missing content. Cauley was the sole survivor of the plane crash that claimed the lives of Otis Redding and four band members of the Bar-Kays outside of Madison, Wisconsin, on December 10, 1967. He then played some trumpet and sang elegiac renditions of Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" and "(Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay.". On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling on Reddings new twin engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. 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. See for yourself by trying this new quiz devised by cardiologists 'They told me anyone wearing Trump has to go now': Ron DeSantis book signing event in Florida turns ugly Another close call! Although he continued to tour, Cauley didnt return to the site of the plane crash until 40 years later. 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. 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. Plans for a memorial service are pending. Shop the best selection of deals on Cameras now. The effort to retrieve bodies, personal effects and the parts of the plane took place over 10 days. 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. 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. Nor do they divine how, in later years, after suffering a massive stroke -- when none of his doctors thought he would live for more than a few days -- Cauley was soon up and playing his horn. Ben S. Cauley, Jr. was an American trumpet player, vocalist, songwriter, and founding member of the Stax recording group the Bar-Kays. "They had given him three days to live after his stroke," says Cauley's daughter Chekita. (his death) (2 children) Trivia (3) He survived the plane crash that killed Otis Redding. Save up to 50% on Maternity Clothing when you shop now. Thanks for contacting us. 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. It was a very distinct sound. Other victims, including Redding, were found still attached to their seats. 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. Review: Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle by Griffin Theatre asks, how do relationships happen? 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. Another band member, bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. 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. We filmed (the TV show) 'Upbeat,' and then played a concert. "He really loved his music. Mr. Cauley had various health problems in recent years, including a stroke he suffered in 1989, but he continued to perform. Find the best deals on Women's Handbags & Wallets from your favorite brands. Ben Cauley. "I saw Carl come out of the water, I saw (Redding's valet) Matt (Kelly) come up on the other side. 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. And that year, Cauley faced another brush with death when he suffered an aneurysm and massive stroke. 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. He was 67. But, Cauley, who had a growing family, left the band in 1972. "Still, he had to do total rehabilitation," she says, learning how to read, write, walk, dress himself, feed himself, all from scratch. Deals and discounts in Tech & Electronics you dont want to miss. While he has long been known as the sole survivor of the crash that killed Redding, Cauley was a survivor in many other ways. It was a pitch above the roof.'. He didn't really know he was there at that point. 'He really loved his music. ", On Cauley's first day home after months of rehab, he saw his trumpet lying on the couch. 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. The young, energetic Bar-Kays and the tireless Redding proved a perfect musical fit. In recent years he's become an important presence at the Stax Museum of American Soul, both at ceremonial functions and its school for children. "That next night was in Cleveland, Ohio. Cauley was playing with the Bar-Kays while still attending high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. ADVERTISEMENT The plane was found nose-down about 48 feet below the surface. Save up to 50% on Women's Accessories when you shop now. Do not sell or share my personal information. His music was really his life. Save up to 50% on Skin Care when you shop now. He didn't know how to swim, but he held on to a seat cushion, "I couldn't swim," Cauley said, "I didn't try.". Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. He died on 21 September 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. 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As label co-founder Jim Stewart later put it, "The company was never the same to me after that. He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman, Cauley-Campbell said. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines.