With the Stax/Volt label folding in 1975, the group signed with Mercury Records.
Lloyd Smith joined in 1973, and the band changed musical direction during the 1970s, forging a successful career in funk music. Ĭauley left the group in 1971, leaving Alexander, Dodson (vocals, vibes), Barry Wilkins (guitar), Winston Stewart (keyboards), Henderson (tenor sax, flute), Charles "Scoops" Allen (trumpet), and Alvin Hunter (drums) to create the album Black Rock. The group backed dozens of major Stax artists on recordings, including Isaac Hayes on his album Hot Buttered Soul. The re-formed band consisted of Cauley Alexander Harvey Henderson, saxophone Michael Toles, guitar Ronnie Gorden, organ Willie Hall, drums and later Larry Dodson (formerly of fellow Stax act the Temprees), lead vocals. Bassist James Alexander was on another plane, as the plane carrying Redding held only seven passengers. Trumpeter Ben Cauley was the only survivor of the crash. Redding and the band were scheduled to play their next concerts in Madison. On December 10, 1967, Redding and four members of the band-Jimmie King (born Jguitar), Ronnie Caldwell (born Decemelectric organ), Phalon Jones (born 1948 saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (born 1948 drums)-and their partner, Matthew Kelly, died when their airplane crashed into Lake Monona, near Madison, Wisconsin, while attempting to land at Truax Field. Their first single, " Soul Finger", was issued on April 14, 1967, reaching number 3 on the US Billboard R&B Singles chart and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jones, and the other members of Booker T. In 1967, they were chosen by Otis Redding to play as his backing band, and were tutored for that role by Al Jackson, Jr., Booker T. The Bar-Kays began in Memphis, Tennessee, as a studio session group, backing major artists at Stax Records.