Otis Redding III performed acoustic versions of some his father’s memorable songs at the unveiling of the Otis Redding Gibson Art Guitar. (photo by Randal Michelson)

The “King of Soul”, Otis Redding, was honored on Tuesday with a Gibson Art Guitar at the Whisky A Go-Go on the Sunset Strip. Redding’s son — producer, musician and recording artist Otis Redding III — autographed the nearly 10-foot tall art piece along with artist Raphael Saadiq, and performed acoustic versions of “I’ve Got Dreams to Remember” and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”, in tribute to his father.

The painted guitar sculpture was created by artists Saadiq and Upendo Taylor. It will be displayed in conjunction with “Gibson GuitarTown Sunset Strip” during the Sunset Strip Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 20 and Sunday, Sept. 21. The signing event recognized Redding’s West Coast debut at the Whisky A Go-Go in 1966, and the impact he made on the Sunset Strip.

“Gibson GuitarTown” is a public art project that was launched on the Sunset Strip in 2010. Ten-foot-tall fiberglass Gibson Les Paul model guitar art pieces have been placed in front of landmarks and businesses along The Strip in West Hollywood. Each guitar sculpture celebrates a musician, personality or artist unique to the Sunset Strip’s history and Gibson Guitar. A new round of guitars, with works created by Shepard Fairey, John Kosh, Risk, Tristan Eaton and other artists, was launched in 2012. For information, visit www.thesunsetstrip.com/guitartown.