But he's always been the same Ben, hitting them high notes like he always does.". 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. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. He breathed music.. 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. You know, for a long time I used to tell my kids, 'One day I'm going back.' Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. With a hit single and a tour with Redding, Cauley said the young band felt they were on their way, Things started looking up, from that point on., But six months later, five Bar-Kays and Otis Redding climbed aboard a small plane to fly from a show in Cleveland to Madison, Wisconsin. Thanks for contacting us. 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. His death was confirmed by his eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell. His death was first reported by The Commercial Appeal. 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 breathed music.". She said some of the band members needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the 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. Cauley-Campbell said Cauley toured with Hayes, and also played with Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers and many others. He breathed music.. The Bar-Kays were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. He played trumpet in Otis' band the Bar-Kays. It was around this same period that Stax's signature star, Otis Redding, caught the Bar-Kays in concert, and was taken by their sound. On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling on Redding's new twin engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Cauley started playing with the Bar-Kays while attending Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. Ben was the only survivor of the Otis Redding plane crash. 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. 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And this guy just looked at me and said, 'Well, son, you're the only one alive.' 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. But surviving the impact of the crash was only the first hurdle. 'He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman,' Cauley-Campbell said. On Dec. 10, 1967, they were traveling on Reddings new twin-engine Beechcraft when it went into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin. "That next night was in Cleveland, Ohio. Cauley did not know how to swim and was stuck in the freezing waters holding onto a seat cushion until a . 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! The best seat in the house! MEMPHIS, Tenn. 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 . Cauley was thrown into the freezing water. One band member, Ben Cauley, survived. Bar-Kays bassist James Alexander had taken a different flight, as there was not enough room left on Redding's plane. 'He really loved his music. Doctors gave him three days to live. "In my mind Ben's success was a big reason why there was no hesitation in not only incorporating music in the airport, but building the whole airport around the credibility of Memphis music.". These days, Cauley has recovered almost fully from his stroke -- the only reminder is some occasional difficulty with his speech. Cauley, who'd never learned to swim, was now struggling in the waters of the frigid lake. Although initially paralyzed, he relearned how to walk and talk (with occasional speech difficulty), and read and write. An original member of the Bar-Kays; lone survivor of plane crash that killed most of his fellow band members and Otis Redding. 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. Cauley-Campbell said her father toured with Hayes, and also played with Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers and many others. Yall dont know, but yall just cut a hit., The groups debut single reached No. Ben Cauley and James Alexander reformed the Bar-Kays and went on to record with Stax artists such as Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas and the Staple Singers, as well as appear at Wattstax, "The Black Woodstock". With resilience and an undeniable exuberance for music, Cauley continued his career, in spite of a number of hurdles, including a massive stroke. Save up to 50% on Smart Home when you shop now. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. 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 just a real humble, debonair gentleman," Cauley-Campbell said. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. 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. He said he'd rather have the pilot do it. "He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman," Cauley-Campbell said. "He really loved his music. These are the best Smartphones deals youll find online. His death was first reported by The Commercial Appeal. Since the crash, Cauley has played with numerous bands, including a reconstituted Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes, and the Muscle Schoals Band. 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. 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. The cushion kept the musician afloat until a police boat arrived. The next thing I remember, I came to and was in all this water.". Once he said that, I couldn't talk. He really loved his music. He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman, Cauley-Campbell said. On September 20, 1973, the chartered flight he and Muehleisen were aboard crashed, the result of what an investigation later revealed was pilot error. Otis went wild. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. Later that same evening, they played at a popular Cleveland club, Leo's Casino. Cauley-Campbell said Cauley toured with Hayes, and also played on sessions for Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers, The Replacements and many others. Every Sunday, Cauley attends Calvary Longview United Methodist Church where he sings with the choir. Apple sales drop 5% in biggest quarterly decline since 2016, Alphabet misses Q4 estimates, Amazon reports almost no profit and Google Ad revenue falls, US employers cut 102,000 jobs in January - a 440% jump from the same time a year ago: 'Tech wreck' spurred layoffs as expert warns 'we're on the other side of the hiring frenzy of the pandemic years', Estranged wife of Texas man accused of killing his Colombian DJ girlfriend transferred 'marital estate to an offshore trust' before she filed for divorce and abandoned the United States as a Wisconsin judge has now issued a warrant for his arrest, Nepo baby gets DENIED! We give Mehr's story encore presentation today. Ben Cauley - Plane Crash Plane Crash On December 8, 1967, Otis Redding and the Bar-Kays flew in Redding's twin engine Beechcraft plane to Nashville, Tennessee for three weekend gigs and used that city as a base to commute to additional gigs. 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. 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. "Phalon looked out the window -- what he saw, I don't know -- but he just said, 'Oh no!' At 65, he still writes and records songs at his home and gigs with the Bo-Keys. Ben Cauley was born on October 3, 1947 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Cauley was playing with the Bar-Kays while still attending high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. 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. 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. And we said we're still in school, so we can't go on weekdays. As Cauley recalls, Otis Redding followed the band there to offer them a gig, We played at the Coliseum, said Cauley. Terms of Use They created their signature song, Soul Finger., [Jim Stewart] came back and said, Whats that yall played? Cauley said. Another band member, bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. Deals and discounts in Bakeware you dont want to miss. People are also reading His body was perhaps a couple minutes away from going into hypothermia when he was pulled from the waters. 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. But we took off going to Madison with no problems. "I had to see it. He was previously married to Shirley. He didnt know how to swim, but he held on to a seat cushion, I couldnt swim, Cauley said, I didnt try.. Soundtrack: Dope. It was a pitch above the roof.. 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 is NOT fair': Teacher's union boss Randi Weingarten has complete meltdown over student debt outside Biden claims he had a nurse who would whisper in his ear and BREATHE on him to make sure there was a 'human House votes to block 'woke' Biden plan pushing retirement planners to invest in ESG in 401ks. The effort to retrieve bodies, personal effects and the parts of the plane took place over 10 days. Deals and discounts in Cookware you dont want to miss. Mike Maple/The Commercial Appeal, via Associated Press. "He's a guy, almost like a cat: He has nine lives. 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. The group was originally named the Imperials, and later changed to the Bar-Kays in the mid-1960s. His music was really his life. "He really loved his music. 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. "It was a very distinct sound. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. He was 67.. His death was first reported by The Commercial Appeal. Porter credits the popularity of Cauley's performances there with helping make the airport's later musical makeover possible. 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. Did Ben Cauley survive the 1967 plane crash? 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. Zelenskyy on Anniversary of RussianWar, R. Kelly Awaiting Fate in Child Pornography Case That Could Add Up to LifeSentence. 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. Cauleys eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. He then played some trumpet and sang elegiac renditions of Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" and "(Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay.". 3 on Billboards R&B chart. He was 67. Cauley died on . 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. 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. "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. Like, what's going on? 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. The cushion kept the musician afloat until a police boat arrived. While he has long been known as the sole survivor of the crash that killed Redding, Cauley was a survivor in many other ways. Shop our favorite Makeup finds at great prices. 14,281, This story has been shared 12,066 times. But surviving the. He'd raise his trumpet, close his eyes and with intensity signaled by the tightening of his brows send air flowing through his horn routinely causing goose Continued Find the best deals on Women's Handbags & Wallets from your favorite brands. 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. But in a greater sense, Cauley is the ultimate survivor -- someone who's become the living embodiment of both the triumph and tragedy of the Stax legacy. 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 Stax star Otis Redding, has died in. In 1989, Cauley suffered a massive stroke and aneurysm. Cauley urged him to hold on, but his attempts to get to his bandmates were defeated by the hard, lapping waters. He said that he then saw bandmate Phalon Jones look out of a window and say "Oh, no! Cauley had escaped with relatively minor cuts on his head and his foot; the others -- including Redding and pilot Richard Fraser -- had not been so fortunate. Published: 22:13 EST, 22 September 2015 | Updated: 03:00 EST, 23 September 2015. "A lot of our fellow musicians cared about the Bar-Kays," says Cauley. Shop our favorite Plus Size Clothing finds at great prices. Able to hold onto a seat cushion, Mr. Cauley was the only survivor. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. Cauley first picked up trumpet in the seventh grade and soon fell in with a group of neighborhood kids and Booker T. 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