PRESS RELEASE: CeeLo Green Packs the House at the Capitol Theatre for the Otis Redding Foundation "O'Tis the Season" Benefit Concert

Toy Drive Partnership with River Edge Behavioral Health Was A Huge Success

December 11, 2023, Macon, Georgia - The Otis Redding Foundation held their annual O’Tis The Season holiday benefit concert with a packed house at the historic Capitol Theatre in Macon, Georgia on Saturday night. The unforgettable night featured a stellar performance by five-time Grammy Award-winning artist CeeLo Green, who mesmerized the audience with his unmatched musical prowess. The event was hosted by Justin Andrews, Director of Special Projects, and Outreach at the Otis Redding Foundation together with radio host Charles Davis from 100.9 The Creek FM in Macon.

River Edge Behavioral Health joined forces with the Foundation for a heartwarming toy drive, in which attendees brought new, unwrapped toy donations for children ages 5-18. O’Tis The Season played a vital role in fundraising initiatives, with all ticket proceeds going to the Otis Redding Foundation’s student programs and the construction of the new Otis Redding Center For The Arts.

CeeLo's dynamic setlist featured, "Bright Lights Bigger City," his Grammy Award-winning song "Crazy," "Old Fashioned," "I'll Be Around," Otis Redding's classic "Merry Christmas Baby" and concluded with a soulful rendition of "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay." The event continued with special performances from the Otis Music Camp’s World-Famous Rap Room, Zach Wilson and the Otis Redding Foundation House Band and Reese Soul, who is also the Foundation’s chief audio-visual engineer.

"We kicked off the holiday season with an amazing ‘O'Tis The Season’ concert and want to thank CeeLo Green for an incredible performance," stated Karla Redding-Andrews, Vice President & Executive Director of the Otis Redding Foundation. “Everyone who purchased tickets and participated in the Toy Drive played an important role in the construction of the new Center and brought joy to the life of a child during this holiday season.”

The evening preceded the 56th anniversary of the untimely passing of Otis Redding, December 10, 1967, reminding everyone of the power of his music and his commitment to helping young people fulfill their dreams.

The Otis Redding Center for the Arts

The Otis Redding Center for the Arts is a multipurpose space open to students ages 5-18 who have a desire to explore their interest in all elements of music and the arts. Planning is well underway with a proposed opening in 2024. The Center will be staffed with Macon’s finest musicians offering private music lessons in areas such as piano, audio engineering, strings, and more. Lessons will be complemented by the curricula of various year-round programs dedicated to musical literacy, musical instrumentation, mathematical components of music, etc. Students are encouraged to go beyond and tap into their best effort. The Center believes in the vitality of music and the arts and continues to develop those avenues for youth.

Planning for the Otis Redding Center for the Arts has been made possible through the guidance and investments of organizations such as the Knight Foundation, Peyton Anderson Foundation, Community Foundation of Central Ga., Cox Communications and others who support the music and arts initiatives. The Otis Redding Foundation also has several regional and national partners such as GA Council for the Arts, Gretsch, Concord Music Group, Warner Music Group and South Arts. All of these partnerships align with the mission and goals of the Foundation.

About the Otis Redding Foundation

The Otis Redding Foundation’s mission is to empower, enrich and motivate all young people through programs involving music, writing and instrumentation. Each partnership and program sponsored since its inception in 2007 supports the philanthropic commitment of Otis Redding to empower and enlighten all young people to fulfill their dreams.

About River Edge Behavioral Health

The full continuum of River Edge Behavioral Health services provides state-of-the-art treatment and supports for children, youth, families and adults who experience mental illness, addiction, co-occurring disorders or intellectual or developmental disabilities. A repetitive national award winner identified for its exemplary leadership by its international accrediting body, River Edge services extend throughout Georgia, including Baldwin, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Macon-Bibb, Monroe, Peach, Putnam, Twiggs, Wilkinson and Fulton counties. Learn more at www.river-edge.org. For help, call 478-803-7600.