Black History Month paid tribute to many past performing artists and their incredible contributions to the world. And, for anyone who’s curious, cool and stylish was probably invented by the likes of Miles Davis, Sammy Davis Junior and just about anyone who went to the Cotton Club.

Black History Month was started 80 years ago so Arrowsmith Shoes thought it would be cool to mention it here in the popular blog. Style is a inner thing and cool is an observation by others. Some people think they’re cool but those people are so obviously not cool that it just doesn’t work at all. Some people are naturally cool and you can instantly tell by the large crowd of people that usually hang around them.

The first thing you notice when you see someone is how they’re dressed and the first impression you have of them is probably correct. You think cool or not cool. At least that’s what I do.

Who was cooler than Otis Redding (above). He played music and had that voice and probably never worked a day job in his life. He looked cool and he dressed cool because he knew he was cool and it worked for him. He wasn’t faking it.

Tragically, on December 10, 1967 on a cold and foggy day, he was killed when a small airplane he was riding in crashed into Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin killing him, his manager, the pilot and four members of his band. There was one survivor, Ben Cauley who was also a band member.

Otis was 26 years old at the time. The plane crashed about 100 yards off shore and urban folklore that still lives today was that a brief case full of cash was never discovered.

Even in death, Otis Redding was cool. Sitting on the dock of the bay was recorded three days before Redding died.

So in honor of Black History Month, all of us would like to give a nod and a toast to one of the coolest and most stylish person ever, Otis Redding.

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