how did ben cauley survive plane crash

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 died on 21 September 2015 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Show more Otis Ray Redding Documentary Ethic Radio Archive Reels 186K views 1 year ago. On September 20, 1973, the chartered flight he and Muehleisen were aboard crashed, the result of what an investigation later revealed was pilot error. But surviving the impact of the crash was only the first hurdle. These are the best Smartphones deals youll find online. We filmed (the TV show) 'Upbeat,' and then played a concert. On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling on Redding's new twin engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. 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! Shop our favorite Plus Size Clothing finds at great prices. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal, via Associated Press. 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. 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. 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. In fact, Otis Redding took such a liking to the band that he chose them to be his touring back-up band in the summer of 1967. 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 . 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. Released in the spring of '67, the group's debut single for Stax, "Soul Finger", would reach No. Another band member, the bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. "He was just laying there with his eyes open. Another band member, bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. "Still, he had to do total rehabilitation," she says, learning how to read, write, walk, dress himself, feed himself, all from scratch. The group recorded for the Stax label and soon started touring as Reddings backup band. 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. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. Plans for a memorial service are pending. I was conscious at that time," says Cauley. 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. Follow the link to order a copy.https://amzn.to/2LAuUicThis is an affiliate link. "They had given him three days to live after his stroke," says Cauley's daughter Chekita. She said some of the band members needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the band. On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling on Reddings new twin-engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. After the crash, Mr. Cauley and Mr. Alexander rebuilt the Bar-Kays. "He really loved his music. The comments below have not been moderated. Save up to 50% on Women's Accessories when you shop now. No one could play like him, she said. 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. On a recent Sunday, the churchs Hammond B-3 organ was broken. And this guy just looked at me and said, 'Well, son, you're the only one alive.' The next morning we got up real early to go to the airport, on the way to Madison.". At 65, he still writes and records songs at his home and gigs with the Bo-Keys. Ben Cauley, the Bar-Kays' trumpet player is the only survivor of the crash that killed 8 passengers, including Otis Redding and the band's 3 other members. 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. One band member, Ben Cauley, survived. He survived the plane crash that killed Otis Redding. His music was really his life. "It's really that simple. 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. Shop the best selection of deals on Cameras now. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. Porter credits the popularity of Cauley's performances there with helping make the airport's later musical makeover possible. Cauley was separated from the plane and thrown out of an opening in the fuselage. In dreams, he feels the rush of the lake's icy water, the chill of fear, and the helplessness and hurt that followed. Plans for a memorial service are pending. "Ben is a miracle," says his friend and fellow Stax Records alum, songwriter/producer David Porter. 10,111, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved It was a pitch above the roof.". [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. No one could play like him, she said. "I went to the hospital, they had this metal going through his entire skull holding his head up," says David Porter. Deals and discounts in Tech & Electronics you dont want to miss. He's had some terrible, traumatic experiences throughout his life. 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 just a real humble, debonair gentleman, Cauley-Campbell said. "But (the attendant) told us he couldn't crank it up because the battery was kind of low. He also directed the choir of Calvary Longview United Methodist Church, attended by him and his wife Shirley. The group was originally named the Imperials, and later changed to the Bar-Kays in the mid-1960s. "I had to see it. 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. 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. It was a pitch above the roof.'. 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. 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. Ben Cauley was born on 3 October 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. 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. Bar-Kays bassist James Alexander had taken a different flight, as there was not enough room left on Redding's plane. He had struggled with health issues for years, including a stroke in 1989, but he persevered and continued to play his trumpet. 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. Yall dont know, but yall just cut a hit., The groups debut single reached No. Find the best deals on Home Gym from your favorite brands. The new version of the band backed Isaac Hayes on his landmark 1969 album, Hot Buttered Soul, and recorded several albums of its own. 3. 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. Plans for a memorial service are pending. We give Mehr's story encore presentation today. 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. His body was perhaps a couple minutes away from going into hypothermia when he was pulled from the waters. 'No one could play like him,' she said. While he has long been known as the sole survivor of the crash that killed Redding, Cauley was a survivor in many other ways. "[3], Cauley then unbuckled his safety belt which ultimately allowed him to separate himself from the wreckage. Where was Otis Redding born? Cauley was playing with the Bar-Kays while still attending high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. The lake had not frozen over, but water was chilly and divers were taxed. "I saw Carl come out of the water, I saw (Redding's valet) Matt (Kelly) come up on the other side. 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. The cushion kept the musician afloat until a police boat arrived. ", 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. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. Ben Cauley, musician and sole survivor in Otis Redding plane crash, dead at 67 | CBC News Loaded. Cauley-Campbell said Cauley toured with Hayes, and also played with Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers and many others. This story has been shared 42,781 times. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. Cauley suffered hypothermia and shock, but he survived. Save up to 50% on Skin Care when you shop now. 3 on the Billboard R&B charts. 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