In September 2024, “Black Pumas” the psychedelic soul band from Texas brought none other than the rock star, Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam on stage for a soulful rendition of one of the classic song “Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay.” This unexpected duo suddenly started amassing thousands of views on YouTube within the first few days.
Eddie Vedder, known for his rock hits songs like “Even Flow” and “Alive,” beautifully adjusted his singing style to the calm and bluesy pop classic song. His heartfelt singing with Puma’s distinct style blended perfectly together showing a perfect mix between rock energy and smooth soul music.
Black Pumas + Eddie Vedder “Sitting On The Dock of the Bay”
The Black Pumas’ frontman and guitarist, Eric Burton, effortlessly strums the chords as the crowd realizes the treat they’re about to experience. There’s something genuinely magical about Eric’s performance—restrained yet passionate like Otis’ original—before Eddie (aged 58 at the time) blows everyone away with his flawless vocals. The audience erupts in surprise, especially after hearing Eric’s soaring high notes, clapping along with Eddie’s cues, and even whistling that legendary riff.
Not appearing in this video is the other half of the Austin, Texas duo, Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas. The eight-time Grammy nominee, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter co-founded the band with Eric and was undoubtedly part of The Black Pumas’ 2024 tour from which this video was recorded. However, he seemed to step back to let Eddie Vedder shine in this breathtaking cover.
Otis Redding – (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay
The Black Pumas released their self-titled debut album in 2019, followed by their second LP, “Chronicles of a Diamond,” in 2023. Eddie Vedder, meanwhile, launched his career with Pearl Jam back in 1991 with their debut album “Ten,” since releasing eleven more albums with the band, along with three solo projects as one of the most celebrated rock stars alive today, In 2017, Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam were inducted into the Rock and Ro ll Hall of Fame, and in 2024, they released their highly anticipated album, Dark Matter.
There is then the heady legacy of Otis Redding, not least his “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” It was one of the last songs recorded by the soul legend, supposedly just three days before his untimely death in a plane crash. It became the first posthumous single to hit #1 on the US charts, cementing its place in pop history for its vivid and timeless portrayal of a contemplative moment by the Californian waterfront rather than its tragic backstory.
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