Among the many artists who scored hits on Stax and its Volt subsidiary during the Sixties were Rufus and Carla Thomas, Booker T. & the MGs (an interracial instrumental quartet that also served as the companys rhythm section and house band), Sam and Dave, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, and Otis Redding. The museum is located in the former headquarters of Stax Records, the label that produced the music of Isaac Hayes, Eddie Floyd, Otis Redding, and other legends. By checking this box I consent to the use of my information provided for email marketing purposes. He was 92. Stax Records and Satellite Record Shop in 1961 He The Stax and Snapping Fingers design are trademarks of Stax Records, a division of Concord. Jesse Jackson, Reverend Al Green, Gladys Knight, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Ike and Tina Turner, they all counted this place as their favorite. Soulsville, U.S.A. Instagram: instagram.com/staxrecords iTunes: itunes.com/stax Spotify: spotify.com from the Mar-Keys and with Al Jackson and they became the backbone of the "Stax Parcels, flash photography, pets, and audio/visual devices are never allowed at the museum. While the journey may seem far, hang in there; it's well worth the trip. named Volt. Remarkably, Otis Redding came to Stax as a driver/roadie for another artist but managed to score an audition during a session break. "Satellite" so rather than risking litigation, the name of the company was Some of the artists to release music on Stax over the years include: Atlantic Record's Jerry Wexler was a huge Stax Records fan and worked closely with the label throughout the 1960s (he even insisted some Atlantic artists record in Stax to get the signature sound). In 1975, Stax called it a day. side. Construction began on the Stax Museum and adjacent Stax Music Academy in April 2001. The foundation that runs the Stax Museum also oversees the Stax Music Academy, which ensures the next generation of artists get the support they need to keep making soul music. "Gee Whiz" went to Billboard #5 and became the first big national hit for Jim Along with Packy was Steve Cropper on guitar, Charlie Freeman on guitar, song she had written called "Gee Whiz". Despite the successes of Hayes, Wattstax, and some other Stax releases, Gulf and Western never capitalized on them, and the label went bankrupt. STAX RECORDS ARTISTS (not a complete list) Albert King Big Star Booker T & the M.G.'s Carla Thomas David Porter Eddie Floyd Frederick Knight Isaac Hayes Jean Knight John Gary Williams Johnnie Taylor Little Milton Mable John Mel And Tim Melvin Van Peebles Nathaniel Rateliff Ollie & The Nightingales Otis Redding Rufus Thomas Stax Records proudly supports the Soulsville Foundation; however, Stax Records may not necessarily share the views and opinions expressed in this program. These two companies were big for their times. 12 Review Quiz 12 Z201 Flashcards | Quizlet It made the charts in March of 1963 and in September of 1963, Otis came back Estelle stayed home for ten years raising her two children, before going He lost most of his Stax fortune in its collapse. Stax Records proudly supports the Soulsville Foundation; however, Stax Records may not necessarily share the views and opinions expressed in this program. Unable to find local investors, Axton again refinanced her house Atlantic. STAY SAFE, EVERYONE! It launched the careers of such legendary artists as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus & Carla Thomas, Booker T, & the MGs, and numerous others. copies were pressed with virtually no copies being sold on its only airplay was on KWEM, Concord continues to use the imprint. changed to "Stax", the ST from Stewart and the AX from Axton. Stewart's intentions were to become a banker, but Ellis loaned Stewart his first recording equipment, educated about the value of To make sure everyone who wanted to attend could, tickets were sold for $1 each. With its iconic wah-wah guitar and Hes a bad mother refrain, Isaac Hayes theme to the Gordon Parks-directed Blaxploitation film Shaft wasone of the eras biggest hits and earned Hayes an Oscar for Best Original Song. Stay up to date on the latest from Stax Records. The 60's were a rockin' time. New additions include Stax Records founder Jim Stewart's original violin he played in various bands around town before starting Stax Records, Skip Pitts' guitar and the wah-wah pedal used while recording Isaac Hayes' "Theme From Shaft," Floyd Newman's saxophone that turned 100 years old in 2017, and the Academy Award statue Hayes won for Best Musical Score for "Theme From Shaft" in 1972. The first track from the band's debut album. After signing the lease,they set about renovating the theatre. While Stax is renowned for its output of African-American music, the label . The catalog that was kept by Atlantic (see more info below) remains under their control, though some albums have been licensed to Rhino Records. Stax's motto for 1969 was 'getting it all together' - and they did, on 'Soul Explosion,' one of the great soul music compilations of all time. Updates? publishing and and taught him the basic mechanics of running a small independent record The deal marked a successful eight year The latter pairs string of irresistible hits included Hold On, Im Comin,I Thank You, and Wrap It Up, among many others. Jim Stewart made several attempts to negotiate a new distribution deal after the sale, first to join Atlantic in its buyout and then directly with Warner Bros. Estelle Axton. In 2019, Justin Timberlake and the Levi's Music Project visited the academy for several days and installed a permanent songwriting lab, which has led to the students creating more original music and studying music business. One such event was on August 2, 2022, to celebrate the Stax Museum's February 2022 inclusion into the United States Civil Rights Trail. One of the final displays is a hall of records where the walls are lined with all the singles and albums released by Stax from 1957 to 1975. Jean Knight, "Mr. Big Stuff". In 15 years, Stax placed more than 167 hit songs in the Top 100 on the pop charts, and a staggering 243 hits in the Top . However, he felt he could be the next best thing - a producer - despite having no experience or knowledge of the recording industry. Stax Museum of American Soul Music: The Complete Guide - TripSavvy Eventually he and a friend from a band that played at local square dances. Inspired by Sam Phillips, a Memphis radio technician who had started producing a few years earlier (and made a huge sum of money on Elvis Presley), Jim Stewart founded Satellite Records. That would be the Stax Records Museum. Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Stax had a number of these labels, including: All of the music on these labels was owned by Stax. the Royal Spades. Wexler offered Stax a deal - a contract for a master-lease agreement on all Rufus and Carla discs and handshake deal for first refusal rights on the distribution of all Stax releases. Located at the original site of Stax Records in the South Memphis neighborhood known as Soulsville USA, the nonprofit Stax Museum of American Soul Music is the world's only museum dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Stax Records, the Memphis Sound, and other American soul music labels. Ollie and Dexter Stewart ran a farm with Dexter also doing carpentry and brickwork on the recording would provide their first hit. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. The Stax and Snapping Fingers design are trademarks of Stax Records, a division of Concord. One of the most recognizable hits of Stax's later years, Jean Knight's danceable diatribe brought the singer acclaim as the first single off her debut album . Many of the songs of this era, along with members of the original rhythm section, resurfaced in the movie The Blues Brothers (1980). All Rights Reserved. Normal hours are Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In many ways, it was the beginning of the end. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Stax-Records-1688490. Stax Catalog and Reappearance of the Label, Gulf and Western, Atlantic Records, and One Bad Contract, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Founded by: Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, Closed: 1978 (although the company name and catalog was acquired by Concord Music Group in 2004 and the imprint is being used for some new releases). Site Information. The legacy of Stax Records is a unique one that spans more than half a century. Veltones. 1957, includes Volt Records and other subsidiary labels) Stax Records is synonymous with Southern soul music. that he took to Sun Records as well as a few other local labels. Booker T. & the M.G.'s - Wikipedia The bands were well received, but none of the Stax crew knew about the racial tension brewing Watts, or the meaning burn, baby burn would take the next day when the Watts Rebellion began. Many Stax records featured a distinctive horn sound, and their bass-heavy bottom end had a powerful impact when played on jukeboxes and in dance clubs. Suspect arrested after couple celebrating 50th wedding anniversary are found dead in Massachusetts home, Midwest air quality plummets as Canada wildfire smoke moves in, Supreme Court rejects controversial election law theory, Ground-breaking Inaugural Olympic Esports Week brings three days of live matches, Accelerate your way to a world of privileges, I tried Starbucks' 3 new frozen summer drinks, and I'll be ordering 2 of them again, Nicole Scherzinger announces engagement to Thom Evans see the pics. Jim twelve years younger, would later joined her in Memphis, where Atlantic Records (Staxs distributor) was sold to Warner Bros. in 1967. Some of Staxs artists were stuck in L.A., and others saw the smoke from the fires set during riots from their plane back to Memphis. Stax Records (1957- ) - Blackpast By 1998, the neighborhood had also fallen into a state of blight, and a group of concerned Memphis business people, anonymous philanthropists, and former Stax Records artists spearheaded a nonprofit revitalization effort for the area, which included a museum that would be a shrine to Stax Records and all American soul music, as well as a music school for urban youth. In 1960, Estelle refinanced her house again to fund the studios move west from Brunswick, Tenn. to a former movie theatre on McLemore Ave. in Memphis. Copyright Stax Museum of America Soul Music 2023. hit in Memphis. Be prepared to squirm with envy as you see his refrigerated mini bar, television, 24-carat gold exterior trim, and fur carpeting, all in the car. The Stax Museum is a proud part of the Soulsville Foundation. It also cemented Hayes nicknamed Black Moses as the undeniable leader of Staxs move into black consciousness and culture in the early 70s. Steve Cropper became an . Marquee on the exterior of Stax Museum in Memphis. Stax Museum of American Soul Music - Wikipedia The labels success in Europe translated to the U.S., landing Otis Redding an invitation to perform at the Monterey Pop Festival in the middle of the Summer of Love. For adults the museum hosts panel discussions with Stax legends, book signings, and more. Stewart's father bought him a guitar when he was ten. Stax had a second high period with soul hits by Issac Hayes and other artists, but financial troubles led to the label's closure in 1976. Alabama Department of Archives and History, Click here to listen to these songs and more, How Black voices from the South made American music what it is today, From Memphis to Muscle Shoals, Wilson Pickett made his mark on soulmusic, Five quintessential songs recorded in Muscle Shoals, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In the wake of losing their masters, Stax lost the biggest artist on their label at that point, Otis Redding. He approached his older sister, a music-loving bank clerk named Estelle Axton, for help and she mortgaged her house to buy an Ampex 350 console recorder for the studio. Like everything Stax, the theatres conversion into a recording studio was a do-it-yourself project. Free Field Trips for Title 1 Schools Throughout 2023, Seniors 62+, Active Military, and Students with ID. A true soul anthem given an electric reading by the dynamic duo of Sam Moore and Dave Prater, Soul Man wasthe crowning achievement of Staxs prolific songwriting/production team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter. History. listen to the Grand Ole Opry and try to ply along with it. They recorded a local disc jockey named Rufus Thomas, who had had a minor The 20 Best Stax Records Songs - Paste Magazine fan of pop music, played the organ and sung soprano in the family gospel quartet.She came Author of. while working in a bank, he still played fiddle in Western swing bands around Memphis. stax records and craft recordings celebrate the 50th anniversary of the iconic wattstax benefit concert with a full suite of new releases available for pre-order today. The Stax Records faade on the home page is a photo of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, TN. Axton sold her share, Stewart retained his share but stepped out of the day to day running of the business, and Al Bell, label PR director, took the reins. Booker T. & the M.G.'s formed as the house band of Stax Records, providing backing music for numerous singers, including Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding. The days too when Steve cropper can be working at the connected record store and gradually become vital to the Stax . Carla Thomas' follow-up "Gee Whiz" put Stax on the national map and led to a distribution deal with Atlantic Records. Jim Stewart initially founded a record label called Satellite Records in 1957 - his sister Estelle Axton came on board the following year. Share Hallowed Sound with the music lover in your life. Although the neighborhood is pretty run down today, it's important to note its history. Stax Museum | Soulsville Foundation the Stax studio, and started hanging around. Influenced by the Western Swing of Bob Willis ant Texas Playboys, Pee After "Cause I Love You", Carla Thomas recorded a Stax Records is critical in American music history as it's one of the most popular soul music record labels of all time - second only to Motown in sales and influence, but first in gritty, raw, stripped-down soul music. drummer Terry Johnson baritone sax player Don Nix and bassist Donald "Duck" After Otis Redding died in a plane crash in 1967 and Atlantic Records took possession of Stax's song catalog in a 1968 contract dispute, Stewart, Axton, and Al Bell a Black partner Stewart brought on in 1965 sold the company to Gulf & Western. The most important things to keep in mind is the museum is closed every Monday as well as Thanksgiving Day, Easter Sunday, and Christmas Day. Until the mid-1970s, nearly all of the label's hits were recorded in this studio, with house band Booker T. and the MGs (who became stars in their right). By 1957 Stewart's interest in recording led him to tape a couple songs She organized the labels first promotional trip, sending some of the labels brightest stars - Carla Thomas, the Astors, Booker T. and the MGs, Rufus Thomas, William Bell, Wilson Pickett, the Mad-Lads and the Mar-Keys - to Los Angeles for two weeks of radio and TV appearances. creative youth development programming, travel, college preparedness training, and other opportunities. storehouse.They called their new label Satellite (probably because Sputnik, the Russians' Known as The Philosopher of Soul, Johnnie Taylor offered male listeners a shocking new perspective in this cheating song with a twist, which was a smash in the summer of 1968. Stax launched and supported the careers of artists such as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Sam & Dave, Booker T. & the M.G. 60s. Our Work | Soulsville Foundation The record went nowhere and Stewart received no After Stewart and Axton moved the recording studio to South Memphis' increasingly Black "Soulsville" neighborhood in 1959, StaxRecords became a place "where, during an era of racial strife, white musicians and producers worked alongside Black singers, songwriters, and instrumentalists to create the 'Memphis sound,'"The Associated Press reports. It also shared its operations with sister label Volt Records . Each year the Stax Museum showcases a rotating collection of artifacts, photographs, and documents in a temporary exhibit space. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a museum located in Memphis, Tennessee, at 926 East McLemore Avenue, the original location of Stax Records. He was 92. It has also been routinely named by USA Today as one of the best music attractions in North America. Because the Stax Museum is one of only a handful of museums in the world dedicated to soul music (the Motown Museum in Detroit is another), it not only celebrates the legacy of Stax Records and its artists such as Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, the Staple Singers, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Booker T. & the MGs, Rufus and Carla Thomas and others, but also features other soul music labels such as Motown, Hi Records, Atlantic Records, and Muscle Shoals. Booker T and the guys playing host to many greats in a studio in Memphis that was formerly a movie theater, slanted floor still intact. The organ-fueled groover would become a top #3 smash and the groups signature song. Equally an international tourist destination and community-focused museum, the Stax Museum not only receives visitors from every corner of the world, but also offers year-round, free programming thats open to neighborhood residents and the general public including concerts, lectures, book signings, films, exhibit openings, panel discussions, celebrity appearances, listening parties, and free-admission family days designed for children. The tempo, tone and technique of "Green Onions" make it one of the most recognized soul instrumentals. hit with Sun Records earlier called "Bearcat". The Stax Museum is a replica of the Stax recording studio, the former Capitol Theatre, down to the sloping floor of studio A. Jim Stewart was born July 29, 1930 in Middleton, Tennessee. The Stax Music Academy, which had started programming at a nearby elementary school on June 1, 2000, opened in 2002 and the museum opened May 3, 2003. On the Road. The Stax Records Museum in Memphis, TN - Unsung Melody Stax Records proudly supports the Soulsville Foundation, however, the views and opinions expressed in this program may not necessarily be shared by Stax Records. his record company, she took out a $2500 second mortgage on her home, bought a one-track Stewart and Bell bought it back in 1970 and Bell bought out Stewart in 1972. Ahmet Ertegun All of the following are characteristics of Motown's assimilation into white culture EXCEPT: Overarching influences from gospel and blues Many Stax recordings depended on their studio band called.? Artists. Jail officials let Jeffrey Epstein make an unmonitored call on the night he died by suicide. Leave them at home. The schedule of events vary month to month so check the website before your visit. While arguments could be made for dozens, if not hundreds, of songs as being crucial to the companys rich history, heres a selection of five key Stax sides. The new studios first single, a duet between Rufus and Carla Thomas called Cause I Love You, became a local hit through radio airplay and the 40,000 copies it sold regionally drew the attention of Atlantic Records Jerry Wexler. Visitors are treated to vintage video footage of non-Stax artists such as Aretha Franklin, Al Green, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Ann Peebles, The Jackson Five, Patti LaBelle, Parliament-Funkadelic, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Ike & Tina Turner, and others. Jeff Kollath is the Stax Museum's executive director. important producer for Stax and both wrote songs and produced many other acts for Jim Although the renovations only cost $200 - $250, they again found A service of the SOULSVILLE Foundation, a catalyst for the development of SOULSVILLE USA. While the Stax Museum of American Soul Music doesn't have it's own cafe, locals recommend heading to The Four Way Soul Food Restaurant for some grub before or after your visit. Free Field Trips for Title 1 Schools Throughout 2023, Seniors 62+, Active Military, and Students with ID. Atlantic Records, he leased the record and obtained a five year option for future To make sure everyone who wanted to attend could, tickets were sold for $1 each. Stewart, the founder of Stax Records, died Monday surrounded by family, the Stax Museum of American Soul Music said Tuesday. Thomas's "Cause I Love You." BlackPast.org. returned to Middleton to become her brother's first grade teacher. photo courtesy Stax Museum of American Soul. daughter Carla recorded a duet titled "Cause I Love You" and it became a local on echo and a drum stand was built. As luck would have it, their next After Stax had gone bankrupt, the back catalog of the label and the Stax name was bought by Fantasy Records, who released albums under the imprint until they sold their rights to Concord in 2004. The museum hosts a variety of special programs for children. A service of the SOULSVILLE Foundation, a catalyst for the development of SOULSVILLE USA. Motown had Barry Gordy, who made the artists go to . In 1960, Atlantic's Jerry Wexler contacted Stax about l;easing Carla The floors were sloped to allow for auditorium style seating, creating a unique acoustic environment for recording. In the final days, Stewart remortgaged his home to keep the label alivehe lost it when the label collapsed. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The start of Stax Records's 1968 was overshadowed by the loss of its greatest star on . Motown and Stax had very different ways of running their business. The festival, which featured primarily psychedelic and rock music, is remembered for the legendary performances of two of its acts: Jimi Hendrix and Otis Redding. Memphis State University she met her husband to be Everett Axton. Stewart the co-founder of Memphis' Stax Records died on Monday at the age of 92. Copyright Stax Museum of America Soul Music 2023. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/stax-records-1957/ Source of the author's information: Rob Bowman, Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records (New York: first earth satellite, was launched in October, 1957, and dominated the news). No part of this website may be reproduced without Stax Museum's express consent. to get another $4000 of badly needed operating capital. Since 2008, all seniors enrolled in the Stax Music Academy have been accepted to college and since 2021 all seniors have received music scholarships to college. Wexler made a deal that allowed Atlantic to distribute Stax both nationally and internationally; he also was the catalyst for several milestone records made by singers from out of town: Respect (1965) by Otis Redding (from Georgia), whose records were released on the subsidiary label Volt; In the Midnight Hour (1965) by Wilson Pickett (from Alabama by way of Detroit), released on Atlantic; and Soul Man (1962) by Sam and Dave (from Florida). hit. that they paid professionals to do. Jr.). Contemporary artists who have recorded for Stax Records include Ben Harper & Charlie Musselwhite, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and others. In . The California trip also included a concert, a two-night affair at the 4-5 Ballroom in Watts, hosted by DJ Magnificent Montague in front of a packed house that greeted the bands chanting his signature catchphrase, burn, baby burn. The studios releases were doing well, but Axton, who had been managing Staxs promotions from the record store counter, wanted more listeners. Stewart is survived by three children and two grandchildren. The full experience will take you about three hours, and you'll be grooving the entire time. It is a 17,000-square-foot (1,600m2) museum with permanent and changing interactive exhibits, videos, films, photographs, original instruments used to record Stax hits, stage costumes, vintage recording gear, and more than 3,000 other items of memorabilia including personal items that belonged to Stax Records stars. from Memphis State University majoring in business management and Musicians apply to be part of the academy, and they get training, mentors, and other resources to help them succeed. With over 2,000 exhibits, the museum hardly ever gets crowded. 1962: L-R: Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson, Jr., Lewis Steinberg, 1965 (L - R: Donald Dunn, Booker T. Jones, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson decided to convert the candy counter into a record shop to generate additional He joined up with Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn History - Stax Records Some of the standout exhibits include an authentic circa-1906 Mississippi Delta church from Mississippi, reconstructed in the museum to help show the gospel roots of soul music; the Soul Train dance floor, Isaac Hayes' restored 1972 gold-trimmed, peacock-blue Cadillac El Dorado; and a near-exact recreation of the original Stax Records recording Studio A. Stewart. The museum has a vast permanent collection where you can listen to never before released tunes by Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye. Subsequently the company spawned a new crop of hit-makers, among them Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, and the Dramatics. association between the two companies. In 2019 for example, the museum displayed the photo collection of Don Nix, an American songwriter, musician, and author who was influential in creating the "Memphis soul" sound. At one point it was the home of Aretha Franklin, Memphis Slim, Memphis Minnie, and Booker T. Jones. The Soulsville Foundation also operates The Soulsville Charter School, an academically rigorous, musically rich college prep school where students study math, language arts, science, social studies, and other academic subjects of a classical education, along with strings orchestra, band, and choir. The floors slant helped deaden the sound, a way of trying to control the rooms acoustics on the cheap that would ultimately become a signature part of the Stax sound. The success of Staxs early hits and California tour also gave Jim Stewart the financial security he needed to finally quit his day job at the bank. Stax Museum (Memphis) - Visitor Information & Reviews Stax '68: Easing A Nation's Sorrows, One Song At A Time Jim Stewart began fooling around recording music in his wife's uncle's His parents The record came out on Satellite, but Stewart and Estelle Axton. With the deal, Atlantic took over Staxs distribution, making it easier to for the label to get their records into stores.
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