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The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group which began performing
in 1966 and continue to perform today, although with only one original
member. They began in Memphis, Tennessee as a favorite recording studio
session musician group, backing major artists at Stax Records. They were
chosen in 1967 by Otis Redding to play as his backing band.
On 10 December 1967, Redding, his manager, and band members Jimmy King (b.
1949; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (b. 1948; organ), Phalon Jones (b. 1949;
saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (b. 1949; drums) died in a plane crash in
Lake Monona while on their way to a performance in Madison, Wisconsin.
Trumpeter Ben Cauley survived the crash and bassist James Alexander (who
missed the flight due to returning a rental car) rebuilt the group. The
reformed band consisted of Cauley; Alexander; Harvey Henderson, saxophone;
Michael Toles, guitar; Ronnie Gorden, organ; Willie Hall, drums and later
Larry Dodson, lead vocals. The gr
