"I went to the hospital, they had this metal going through his entire skull holding his head up," says David Porter. He was 67. 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. The lake had not frozen over, but water was chilly and divers were taxed. He was 67. 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. Save up to 50% on Hair when you shop now. Learn more about . Another band member, bassist James Alexander, was on a different plane. 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. Find the best deals on Small Appliances from your favorite brands. 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. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. 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. '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. Ben Cauley, musician and sole survivor in Otis Redding plane crash, dead at 67 | CBC News Loaded. Save up to 50% on Pets when you shop now. 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. The effort to retrieve bodies, personal effects and the parts of the plane took place over 10 days. The small plane crashed nose first in Lake Monona on the way to Madison, Wisconsin. 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. Cauley was playing with the Bar-Kays while still attending high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, his daughter said. 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. 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. 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. 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! 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 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. In the difficult aftermath of his stroke, Cauley's musical future seemed limited. No one could play like him, she said. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. Shop our favorite Bath & Body finds at great prices. 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. The cushion kept the musician afloat until a police boat arrived. After the show was over, we went down to the Hippodrome. Save up to 50% on Swimwear when you shop now. Hes been with the church for more than 20 years. Did Ben Cauley survive the 1967 plane crash? Ben Cauley. ADVERTISEMENT The plane was found nose-down about 48 feet below the surface. All Rights Reserved. Do you hate foreplay? "It was a very distinct sound. Deals and discounts in Bakeware you dont want to miss. With resilience and an undeniable exuberance for music, Cauley continued his career, in spite of a number of hurdles, including a massive stroke. The trumpeter Ben Cauley was a member of the Stax group the Bar-Kays and the only survivor of the 1967 plane crash that killed most of his bandmates along with Otis Redding. 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. They told him he'd never play the trumpet again. ", "We kinda looked at each other, as young fellows do, and said, 'The battery's low?' His death was first reported by The Commercial Appeal. They formed a group called the Imperials, later changing their name to the Bar-Kays. He had the beat: Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. 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 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. Five minutes after that,it got started -- but we were still thinking about that. Original founder of The Bar-Kays. But he's always been the same Ben, hitting them high notes like he always does.". He learned to play trumpet when at school, and formed a band with guitarist Jimmy King, saxophonist Phalon Jones, drummer Carl Cunningham, keyboardist Ronnie Caldwell, and bassist James Alexander. Cauley suffered a debilitating stroke in 1989, but eventually recovered fully, aside from occasional problems with slightly slurred speech. 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. Tracey Cox asks men the Are YOU at risk of being cancelled? 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. His music was really his life. . Cauley was separated from the plane and thrown out of an opening in the fuselage. Three members of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die in a Mississippi plane crash. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Able to hold on to a seat cushion, Cauley was the only survivor. Sitemap, Your California Privacy Rights These are the best Home Audio deals youll find online. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. The Bar-Kays first release was supposed to be You Cant Sit Down, but when Stax founder Jim Stewart stepped out of the room during the recording session, the band had an impromptu jam. Plans for a memorial service are pending. 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. He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman, Cauley-Campbell said. She said some of the band members needed permission slips from their parents to travel with the band. He was just a real humble, debonair gentleman, Cauley-Campbell said. [2][3] Cauley, who was sitting directly behind Otis Redding in the co-pilot's seat, had fallen asleep on the flight clutching his seat cushion. Miraculously, he survived. But surviving the impact of the crash was only the first hurdle. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He breathed music.. "Lord knows, it just really touched me to be there. Cauley's eldest daughter, Chekita Cauley-Campbell, said her father died late Monday at Methodist South Hospital. He was previously married to Shirley. Shop the best selection of deals on Tools & Utensils now. 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. The best seat in the house! Save up to 50% on Women's Clothing when you shop now. Porter credits the popularity of Cauley's performances there with helping make the airport's later musical makeover possible. And that year, Cauley faced another brush with death when he suffered an aneurysm and massive stroke. Ben Cauley was at home on stage. 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 . His music was really his life. Bar-Kays bassist James Alexander had taken a different flight, as there was not enough room left on Redding's plane. Shop the best selection of deals on Fitness now. 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. The speed of the rescue team -- which got to the crash site in 17 minutes -- was probably the thing that saved Cauley. 14,281, This story has been shared 12,066 times. 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