Soul music museum in Tennessee, United States
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Soulsville Foundation CEO Pat Mitchell Worley joined Eric Barnes on The Sidebar to talk about the Stax Museum's first ever Power of Music Awards.
In early 1970, Booker T Jones was on sabbatical in California having grown disillusioned with confines of Stax Records and Memphis, when he heard the Beatles' latest effort, Abbey Road. So moved was he by the Beatles' genius and daring, that he sat down and drafted his own Memphis-style tribute to the group. The album, released later that same year, is titled McLemore Avenue, after the street where Stax's studio and headquarters were located. This week on BSC, we have Memphis' very own Booker T and The MG's tribute band, The Maitre D's, performing McLemore Avenue from start to finish in a performance captured on the cutting room floor of Studio A at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Rockshow episode 211 The Story of Stax RecordsStax Records was a pioneering American record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, that played a crucial role in the development of soul, R&B, and funk music. Founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart and his sister Estelle Axton, the label became synonymous with the gritty, raw, and deeply emotional sound that defined Southern soul.Stax was home to legendary artists such as Otis Redding, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett (through a deal with Atlantic), Isaac Hayes, and The Staple Singers. Unlike Motown, which had a polished and orchestrated style, Stax music was known for its raw energy, tight horn sections, and a heavy gospel influence.One of Stax's most defining characteristics was its integrated roster of musicians, producers, and executives during a time of deep racial segregation in the South. The studio band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, featured both Black and white musicians, which was groundbreaking in the 1960s.The label thrived throughout the 1960s but faced difficulties after the tragic death of Otis Redding in 1967 and the loss of its distribution deal with Atlantic Records in 1968. It experienced a resurgence in the early 1970s, largely due to Isaac Hayes' massive success with Hot Buttered Soul and Shaft. However, financial struggles led to Stax's bankruptcy in 1975.In later years, Stax was revived as a brand, and its legacy continues through reissues and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis. Its impact on music remains profound, influencing countless artists across multiple genres.https://staxrecords.com/https://youtube.com/@staxrecords?si=bPBfHvzs7kxHrb5Dhttps://staxmuseum.org/#StaxRecords #SoulMusic #MemphisSoul #OtisRedding #IsaacHayes #BookerTandTheMGs #SouthernSoul #RNB #ClassicSoul #SamAndDave #TheStapleSingers #SoulLegends #Funk #VintageVinyl #MusicHistory #StaxMuseum #RespectYourRoots
It's a holiday episode of Beale Street Caravan, featuring The Maitre D's bringing Booker T. & The MGs album In The Christmas Spirit to life. This week's episode was recorded live from the cutting floor of Studio A at the STAX Museum of American Soul Music - the same spot it was originally recorded 50 years ago!
On this episode of Blues In The Basement, we are live once agian from WYXR studios in Memphis as we celebrate Blues made at the legendary Stax Museum.
Deanie Parker has worn many different hats at Stax Records. From a songwriter, singer, arranger, collaborator, and publicist for the since the beginning of the label existence. Decades later continues to persevere the history of Stax. President and CEO of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Stax Music Academy and executive director of Soulsville Foundation. The Grammy Award winner joined us to discuss her legacy with the legendary label out of Memphis, Tennessee.
This week on Beale Street Caravan we feature Stax guitar heroes Harold Beane, Bobby Manuel, and Skip Pitts, in a special presentation of the Masters of the Soul Guitar, live from Studio A inside the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Grammy nominated blues man, Guy Davis, will be with us to deliver an installment of the Blues Hall of Fame, an exploration of the lives of the pioneers and innovators enshrined in the Blues Hall of Fame, here in Memphis, TN, brought to you by the Blues Foundation.
We have a lot in store for you this week on BSC! First we have The BoKeys performing in Studio A of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. We sit down and talk with Floyd Newman, founding member of The Memphis Horns. Then we head to the Beale Street Music Fest and catch a set from BSC perennial, Reba Russell.
As Executive Director of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, TN, Jeff Kollath oversees the world's only museum dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Stax Records and American soul music. Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooke, Booker T & the MGs and the endless Stax roster of musical icons produced songs that stirred our souls and shared our collective story, a story born of pain and glory, rags and riches, love and lust. Stax liberated our hearts and freed our hips to move like nobody was watching. Kollath, brandishing a BA and Masters in History, shares the complex STAX story everday, highlighting the granular details of each artist and the revolution they created. And overseeing magnificent installations that capture the moments when musical and cultural magic happened in a beaten up corner of Memphis. Kollath has researched and written extensively about soul music and Black culture during the Civil Rights and Black Power eras. Prior to arriving in Memphis in 2015, Kollath created dynamic public programming and exhibitions for the UW-Madison Center for the Humanities, the Milwaukee County Historical Society, and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. Memphis Magazine Interview Photo Max Gersh / The Commercial AppealShare your Swan Dive at www.swandive.us
In this episode of "Her Journey," host Joy Doss sits down with Pat Mitchell Worley, the CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, which encompasses the Stax Museum, Stax Music Academy, and the Soulsville Charter School. Pat shares her rich family history in media and her deep-rooted connections to Memphis, highlighting her journey through the worlds of media, music, and education. From overcoming stereotypes to navigating the challenges of being a black woman in various professional settings, Pat discusses the importance of embracing one's identity, the value of mentorship, and the impact of reading and curiosity on her personal and professional growth. Her story emphasizes the importance of diversity, resilience, and the pursuit of one's passions amidst the complexities of life and career. Pat's narrative is an inspiring testament to the power of staying true to oneself while contributing meaningfully to the community and breaking free from societal boxes. Proudly sponsored by NIKE, Black Community Commitment
On this very special episode of Great Minds we welcome Jeff Kollath, Executive Director of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
"It was here, on the banks of the Mississippi River, where music changed the world." In Memphis, music has always been more than a melody and lyrics - it's a movement. This is a city that launched some of the world's most beloved musicians, from Otis Redding to Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, Elvis Presley, and more. And in the midst of segregation and racial tension, the music of Memphis became a powerful tool for bringing people together - and creating the sound of a civil rights movement that would move the world. Join host Aaron Millar and step into some of the world's most famous recording booths all around the city. It's in these rooms where the greats of soul and rock n' roll have shed blood, sweat and tears for decades. You'll hear how Elvis Presley was discovered completely by accident at Sun Studios; learn about Otis Redding and the joyous growth of soul at the Stax Museum; and go behind the scenes of pop music with Bruno Mars at Royal Studios. WANT MORE TENNESSEE MUSIC? Tennessee Music Pathways is a guide that connects visitors to the rich musical heritage of the state. Visitors can curate their own path based on interests using an interactive guide at TNmusicpathways.com. Follow the conversation on social using or searching hashtag #tnmusicpathways. Thank you to our guests and musicians: Hal Lansky, Lansky Brothers Clothing lanskybros.com Crockett Hall, Sun Studio sunstudio.com Jeff Kollath, Stax Museum of American Soul Music staxmuseum.com Boo Mitchell, Royal Studios boomitchellmemphis.com and royalstudios.com Dr. Noelle Trent, National Civil Rights Museum civilrightsmuseum.org Visit Memphis memphistravel.com SOCIAL Share the show with your friends! Subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook, check out Armchair Explorer's website, armchair-explorer.com, and learn more about APT Podcast Studios on their website at APTpodcaststudios.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The tour bus delivers our travelers for two days in historic Memphis, Tennessee. The National Civil Rights Museum rests on the site of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King lost his life to an assassin's bullet while standing on the balcony with his trusted friends, Jesse Jackson, Ralph Abernathy, and Andrew Young. The Museum is housed in a comprehensive series of buildings that outlines the history of Slavery from 1619 to the present day. Exhibits feature the story of resistance and the champions of the Civil Rights Movement. Our tour explores the I AM A MAN Memorial Park and the Sanitation Worker's Strike of 1968 that brought Dr. King to Memphis. Then, we move on to the Burkle House, commonly known as the Slave Haven, a stop on the Underground Railroad. STAX RECORDS in Memphis launched American soul music, celebrated in the STAX Museum where careers were launched including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and many others. Spoken word artist Rev. Jesse Jackson and comedians Moms Mabley and Richard Pryor got their start in the STAX studios. We end this edition of TRUTH QUEST on Beale Street, the home of B.B. King, Ida B. Wells, and The Memphis Blues. The grand boulevard became the inspiration for James Baldwin's fifth novel If Beale Street Could Talk. SHOW NOTESIn this episode, we happily introduce Sasha Lunginbuhl.Meet our contributors.Listen to the entire series - TRUTH QUEST: Exploring the History of Race in America - in their own words.Support the show
SUMMARYStax Records legend Deanie Parker talks about writing songs for Otis Redding, Albert King, William Bell, and Carla Thomas, dives deep on what made the Stax environment so special, and shines a light on the recently-released box sets of forgotten Stax songwriter demos. PART ONEScott and Paul discuss the wild story behind the monumental box set Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos.PART TWOOur in-depth interview with Deanie ParkerABOUT DEANIE PARKERWhile still in high school, Deanie Parker won a Memphis talent contest and an audition for Jim Stewart at Stax Records. He signed her and released her debut single, on the Volt label, in 1963. The self-penned “My Imaginary Guy” became a regional hit, but the life of a touring artist was not for Parker. She became the first Black employee at Stax's Satellite Record Shop before joining the label staff as the company's first publicist in 1964. Learning on the job while studying journalism at Memphis State, Parker eventually became the company's Vice President of Public Affairs. One of the first female publicists in the music industry, she worked closely with Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MG's, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, and others. Wearing many hats at Stax, Deanie continued to write songs with colleagues such as Steve Cropper, Booker T. Jones, Eddie Floyd, Bettye Crutcher, Mack Rice, Mable John, and Homer Banks, with whom she penned the soul classic “Ain't That a Lot of Love.” The list of Stax artists who recorded her songs includes Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, and more. Her other writing skills were put to use penning liner notes for classic albums such as Sam & Dave's Hold On, I'm Comin', Albert King's Born Under a Bad Sign, Otis Redding's Live in Europe, and Shirley Brown's Woman to Woman. From 1987 through 1995, Deanie served as the Assistant Director of the Memphis in May International Festival. A tireless champion of the Stax legacy, she became the first President and CEO of Soulsville, the nonprofit organization established to build and manage the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Stax Music Academy, and the Soulsville Charter School. She was appointed to the Tennessee Arts Commission in 2004 and, in 2009, was awarded two Emmy awards for the I Am a Man documentary short, for which she was an executive producer and the title song composer. The list of artists outside the Stax family who've covered Deanie Parker's songs includes The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello, Darlene Love, Taj Mahal, Three Dog Night, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Band, New York Dolls, Simply Red, Hall & Oates, and many others. She is a co-producer and co-liner notes writer of the seven-CD collection Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos, and was recently announced as a 2023 inductee into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.
On this Episode, host Tony Fletcher is in conversation with his old London friend Richard Heard about the latter's recent Great American Road Trip from Chicago to New Orleans, setting out to trace the Story of the American Blues. Covering 1300 miles in 10 days, Richard and his American road partner also visited the Stax Museum of American Soul in Memphis, took in revered Country revue show the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, attended Jazz Fest in New Orleans, traveled through the Robert Johnson Crossroads in Clarksdale, and saw the destruction wrought by a recent tornado in Rolling Rock, Mississippi. As Richard says, "Once I lifted the bonnet [translation: the hood] on the road trip, I thought, 'This is not just about music, this is a really really interesting part of American culture and social history which I didn't really know a lot about.'"Subjects include:Planning an American Road Trip around musicChoosing the right travel partnerFocusing on four cities: Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, New OrleansLearning about The Great MigrationThe Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, with Isaac Haye's gold-plated Cadillac, the Soul Train disco ball, the recreated sloping studio - and a history of Black American Music from Gospel on through.The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and the Stax songwriters wrote many of their hits.Seeing Buddy Guy jump on stage to jam at his Buddy Guy's Legends Club in Chicago - on the first night of their road trip.Why doing the Tourist Trail in these cities is no bad thingThe best live music of the whole journeyFrenchman Street in New Orleans, with a live music bar every 20 yardsThe Johnny Cash Museum in NashvilleThe magic of Sun Studio in MemphisDriving Highway 61 from Memphis to New Orleans, via the Blues capital of Clarksdale.Planning a return journey: Detroit, Cleveland and so much moreShort videos from Richard's trip can be seen at: https://www.instagram.com/rh64.2022/Tony Fletcher's books on:Wilson PickettEddie FloydMusic from the Streets of New York, 1927-77One Step Beyond Socials:Instagram is OneStepBeyondPodcastFacebook is One Step Beyond with Tony FletcherE-mail us at onestepbeyond@ijamming.net.Tony's other podcast, the [Jamming!] Fanzine Podcast is available via https://wavve.link/JammingPodcast/episodes (Richard was a guest on the first episode)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/onestepbeyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Memphis- Tina Turner, Nutbush/Brownsville Music Icon across the World, tribute from Chris Herrington w/Geoff Calkins on 929 FM ESPN (picture) Jeff Kollath, the museum director for the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, climbs up a ladder to finish spelling out Tina Turner s name on the museum s marquee in remembrance of her and Floyd Newman in Memphis, Tenn., on Thursday, May 25, 2023. Turner, a two-time Rock 'n Roll Hall of Famer, a 12-time Grammy winner and one of the most enduring hitmakers in history, and Newman, a baritone saxophonist and key figure in the development of Stax Records, both died earlier this week.
This week on Beale Street Caravan, listen to a special anniversary performance from Booker T. Jones and Stax Music Academy Alumni, the Franklin Brothers. The performance celebrates the 60th anniversary of Booker T. & the M.G.'s hit, “Green Onions”, as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of Stax Museum. Grammy nominated blues man, Guy Davis, will be with us to deliver an installment of the Blues Hall of Fame, an exploration of the lives of the pioneers and innovators enshrined in the Blues Hall of Fame, here in Memphis, TN, brought to you by the Blues Foundation.
"It was here, on the banks of the Mississippi River, where music changed the world." In Memphis, music has always been more than a melody and lyrics - it's a movement. This is a city that launched some of the world's most beloved musicians, from Otis Redding to Isaac Hayes, Carla Thomas, Elvis Presley, and more. And in the midst of segregation and racial tension, the music of Memphis became a powerful tool for bringing people together - and creating the sound of a civil rights movement that would move the world. Join host Aaron Millar and step into some of the world's most famous recording booths all around the city. It's in these rooms where the greats of soul and rock n' roll have shed blood, sweat and tears for decades. You'll hear how Elvis Presley was discovered completely by accident at Sun Studios; learn about Otis Redding and the joyous growth of soul at the Stax Museum; and go behind the scenes of pop music with Bruno Mars at Royal Studios. ABOUT THE SERIES Produced in a documentary style, the Tennessee Music Pathways series takes listeners on a more than 1,000-mile road trip, from Bristol and the birth of country music to Memphis and the start of rock n' roll. Along the way, listeners will hear bluegrass played fast as lightning and traditional Appalachian music performed live in the Great Smoky Mountains. Follow along as host Aaron Millar shops in Elvis' favorite clothing store, bangs drums in the studio that made Uptown Funk, learns to play the spoons and drinks whiskey in a distillery housed in a more than 100-year-old former prison. WANT MORE TENNESSEE MUSIC? Tennessee Music Pathways is a guide that connects visitors to the rich musical heritage of our state. Visitors can curate their own path based on interests using an interactive guide at TNmusicpathways.com. Follow the conversation on social using or searching hashtag #tnmusicpathways. TNvacation.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Thank you to our guests and musicians: Hal Lansky, Lansky Brothers Clothing lanskybros.com Crockett Hall, Sun Studio sunstudio.com Jeff Kollath, Stax Museum of American Soul Music staxmuseum.com Boo Mitchell, Royal Studios boomitchellmemphis.com and royalstudios.com Dr. Noelle Trent, National Civil Rights Museum civilrightsmuseum.org Visit Memphis memphistravel.com This series was produced by Armchair Productions, the audio experts for the travel industry.
Herrington from DM Stax Museum 20th Celebration, Booker T, & Best Sandwiches with Jennifer Biggs
The tour bus delivers our travelers for two days in historic Memphis, Tennessee. The National Civil Rights Museum rests on the site of the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King lost his life to an assassin's bullet while standing on the balcony with his trusted friends, Jesse Jackson, Ralph Abernathy, and Andrew Young. The Museum is housed in a comprehensive series of buildings that outlines the history of Slavery from 1619 to the present day. Exhibits feature the story of resistance and the champions of the Civil Rights Movement. Our tour explores the I AM A MAN Memorial Park and the Sanitation Worker's Strike of 1968 that brought Dr. King to Memphis. Then, we move on to the Burkle House, commonly known as the Slave Haven, a stop on the Underground Railroad. STAX RECORDS in Memphis launched American soul music, celebrated in the STAX Museum where careers were launched including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and many others. Spoken word artist Rev. Jesse Jackson and comedians Moms Mabley and Richard Pryor got their start in the STAX studios. We end this edition of TRUTH QUEST on Beale Street, the home of B.B. King, Ida B. Wells, and The Memphis Blues. The grand boulevard became the inspiration for James Baldwin's fifth novel If Beale Street Could Talk. SHOW NOTESIn this episode, we happily introduce Sasha Lunginbuhl.Support the show
Real Talk Show! Summer is here and people are traveling again! Here is an idea: Visit Black history sites! Many of these places are unknown. Others are ignored. Terrible shame! These sites are informative, exciting, and affordable. The Espresso Talk Today team is joined by educator Kirk Wadi for another Real Talk show. We discuss great historical sites such as the Buffalo History Museum in Houston, the Stax Museum of Soul Music in Memphis, and the Mammoth Mountains in Kentucky. We also discuss other ways to learn history such as talking with the Elders. Join us for some Real Talk today!
Born in Dawson, Ga., Otis Redding, Jr. and his family moved to Macon when he was two years old. At an early age, he began his career as a singer and musician in the choir of the Vineville Baptist Church. On this episode, we will discuss this legend that left us all too soon. If you are anywhere near Macon, GA and are looking for something for a musically-interested young person to do this summer. Check out all the programs and camps available through the Otis Redding Foundation: https://otisreddingfoundation.org Book mentioned: "Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life" by Jonathan Gould, https://amzn.to/3wgbnKH Otis Redding Museum: https://otisreddingfoundation.org/about-us/visit-us/ Stax Museum: https://staxmuseum.com Best of all, take a listen, Otis Redding playlist: https://spoti.fi/3LbxLZH Want to connect? Join our Patreon Community of supporters for a Southern Sister Chat BONUS episode, perks and SWAG: https://www.patreon.com/steelmagnolias Sign up for our mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/e3cef217a5e7/sweetnews Instagram @SteelMagnoliasPodcast Transcript available at: https://steelmagnoliaspodcast.com/
Some of the most memorable experiences on the American Music Bucket List are tours of the very places where the music was born. Aretha Franklin's first big hit was recorded in the FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Bill chats with Rodney Hall, son of legendary FAME founder Rick Hall. Bill also takes a trip to Memphis to visit Sun Studio and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music which sits on the very site of Stax Records - home to greats like Sam & Dave, Al Green, Booker T & The MGs and more.
In today's episode we're bringing you the heart and soul of Memphis! Libby Ridenhour and Kate Staggs from the American Heart Association share personal stories and how to recognize risk factors and potentially prevent heart disease before it starts. Then, we hear from Kimberly Hooper-Taylor who spear-headed Stax Museum of American Soul's virtual Black History Month offerings. This is chock full of life-saving information for your mind, body, and soul. The take-aways are profound and you won't want to miss it! This episode is brought to you in partnership with Independent Bank.
Join my guest Sarah and I as we revisit the St. Jude's marathon and half marathon, an annual December race series held in Memphis, Tennessee. We also discussed points of interest we visited including the Stax Museum, the Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, and Elvis's Graceland home. After the break, Sarah and I recall winning the lottery--the New York City Marathon lottery that is!--and how we both loved so many aspects of the big city race. And before wrapping up our time together, Sarah shares her favorite running shoe by Brooks, her favorite tech gear as well as which races are on her bucket list. And we conclude with talking about the Bling Era, when race medals grew to the size of dinner plates! Join us for an entertaining and informative show in which we discuss a wide range of running topics! Support 50 State Finish Lines! Please share the show with friends! National Civil Rights Museum- https://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/ Stax: Museum of American Soul Music-https://staxmuseum.com/ St. Jude's Memphis Marathon-https://www.stjude.org/ New York City Marathon - https://www.nyrr.org/tcsnycmarathon Running gloves with lights https://www.mangatalites.com/collections/full-gloves Runner's Alley Running Store https://runnersalley.com/ This podcast series was recorded at The Podcast Lab, WSCA 106.1 Portsmouth, N.H.
This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Tuesday "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with IFWTWA features Milton Howery of Memphis Tourism. Home of The Blues, Soul and Rock'n Roll, hear how Memphis is the ultimate destination for music lovers with famous sites like the Beale Street Historic District, Blues Music Hall of Fame, Graceland, Memphis Music Hall of Fame, Memphis Rock ‘n' Soul Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sun Studio, and the W.C. Handy Home and Museum. Spring is the ideal time of year to visit this musically rich city with a full calendar of events and festivals, black history sites and museums, and all kinds of attractions and outdoor activities to enjoy, along with luxurious lodgings and a fantastic food scene. More at: https://www.memphistravel.com/ Special thank you to the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) - https://www.ifwtwa.org/
This episode of Big Blend Radio's 2nd Tuesday "Food, Wine & Travel" Show with IFWTWA features Milton Howery of Memphis Tourism. Home of The Blues, Soul and Rock'n Roll, hear how Memphis is the ultimate destination for music lovers with famous sites like the Beale Street Historic District, Blues Music Hall of Fame, Graceland, Memphis Music Hall of Fame, Memphis Rock ‘n' Soul Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sun Studio, and the W.C. Handy Home and Museum.Spring is the ideal time of year to visit this musically rich city with a full calendar of events and festivals, black history sites and museums, and all kinds of attractions and outdoor activities to enjoy, along with luxurious lodgings and a fantastic food scene. More at: https://www.memphistravel.com/Special thank you to the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) - https://www.ifwtwa.org/
Jeff Kollath, Executive Director of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, shares how music forms a common thread through history, culture, art and humanity. Jeff shares with Business Class host, Stephen Ekstrom, how an incredible tale of the Stax story, came to life and grew into a powerful exhibit. Plus, Jeff talks about his own career growth and his hopes for the future of Stax. RELATED: Science Says We Love To TravelRELATED: 6 Reasons Why eLearning Costs Less Than Traditional TrainingBusiness Class is made possible by Group Travel Odyssey.Support the show
It's Mempho Time! ------------------------------The 2021 Mempho Festival is FINALLY here! What a couple of months since the last Panic shows - the Wilmington shows were epic, the Asheville shows serviceable, and then Napa and NYC got canceled, and JB got COVID. But, everyone is healthy and the fans are ready for the Memphis heat! Aside from the Panic, the festival lineup is pretty great, with the Avetts, Nathaniel Rateliff, Black Pumas, Liz Brasher, City Champs, and more gracing the stages at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. We are so excited to have you come to town! Check out this episode for a Mempho preview, some setlist wishcasting, and Jeff's very extensive dining, drinking, doing, and watching recommendations to keep you and yours occupied during a busy SEC Saturday. Go visit that Stax Museum of American Soul Music, too! Even though Harvey only listens to JRAD these days, Jeff has a couple of Panic show recommendations for you from fall 94 and 99 - enjoy! ****Links below go to whole show streams from Relisten powered by Panicstream*27 September 1994 - Jacksonville, FL - Memorial AuditoriumMaggot Brain > Chilly Water26 September 1999 - Clemson, SC - Littlejohn ColiseumPapa Legba > PAYMH > Pleas > Conrad See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Host J.D. Reager talks to Sherman Willmott about the newly opened Memphis Listening Lab and the vast collection of music it houses, the journey from selling Stax bricks at Shangri-La Records to the creation of the Stax Museum, making the professional wrestling documentary Memphis Heat, and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives him. J.D. also makes a big announcement about a Back to the Light event at the Memphis Listening Lab in August. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
Over the past five years, U.S. diplomats, soldiers and CIA officers working overseas reported sudden neurological illnesses. Now, there are reports of White House officials being affected on U.S. soil. Edward Wong of the New York Times joins us. And, Jeff Kollath, executive director of the Stax Museum, discusses a rare collection of classic 'sweet soul' music.
As the executive director of Stax Museum in Memphis, Tenn., Jeff Kollath is surrounded by the history of American soul music every day. He shares the story of STAX Records and the powerful message of educating young people by using songs from the greats, such as Jimi Hendrix, Creedence and Otis Redding. In this episode, listeners will enjoy hearing about the “happy accidents” that came from the little recording studio on East McLemore Avenue in Memphis.
Join Nancy J. Reid and Lisa D. Smith, the mother-daughter travel team and publishers of Big Blend Radio & TV Magazine and Parks & Travel Magazine, for Big Blend Radio’s 2nd Friday Food, Wine & Travel Show with the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). This episode features Milton Howery of Memphis Tourism who shares what there is to see and do, year-round, in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is home to over 60 unique attractions like the Memphis Pyramid, and famous musical destinations such as the Beale Street Historic District, Blues Music Hall of Fame, Graceland, Memphis Music Hall of Fame, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sun Studio, and the W.C. Handy home and Museum. There are plenty of indoor and outdoor art galleries, museums and cultural districts to explore such as the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis Botanic Garden, and CrossTownArts. It’s also active outdoor community with 166 parks including Shelby Farms Park and Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, plus, the Mississippi, Ghost, and Wolf Rivers. And when it comes to food, the city has over 100 barbecue restaurants, world-famous fine dining, rich soul food, and more. Featured music is "Soul Deep" by memphis legends “The Box Tops”.
Pat Rainer is an integral figure in the history of Memphis music. She is renowned for her photography, which was honored with an exhibit at the Stax Museum of American Soul! She explains more about the exhibit and Memphis music in this interview with Pat Mitchell-Worley of Beale Street Caravan. Recorded March 2018 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jeff Kollath, the head of the Stax Museum talks about plans for reopening – and contemplates when live music and events will happen again.
You've already opened your box by now, and now you're probably wondering what you're doing here. Well, Stax closed in 1975, as we established on the last episode, but the road to Stax as it is today: A label and a thriving museum and music academy, has 45 years of history for us to catch up on. As I mentioned in the first episode, the Stax complex at 926 E. McLemore Ave. in Memphis today is not the same Stax that was there in 1975. It took a lot of work--mainly by a Stax writer and office worker named Deanie Parker--to deliver what I think is the best music museum on earth: The Stax Museum of American Soul Music. In this, our sixth and final episode of the season, I sit down with the museum's executive director Jeff Kollath to talk about the museum's mission, and how Stax went from a studio to a pile of rubble to a museum.
Larry Dodson is a multi-gold and platinum selling, singer, songwriter, and producer who for more than 47 has been the lead singer of one of music's most influential Funk and R&B bands, The Bar-Kays. With a career that has rewarded him with 10 top ten singles, 10 top ten albums, 5 gold albums and 1 platinum album from the 29 albums that he has recorded with The Bar-Kays, Larry has proven that he is a musical icon. Having been inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame, the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, having a music note on world famous Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee and pieces of his stage garments exhibited in the Stax Museum, the Smithsonian Institute, and in museums all over the world, Larry has surely left his legacy in the music industry. In addition to being the lead singer of the legendary Bar-Kays, Larry gives back to the community by supporting HBCU colleges through The Bar-Kays Scholarship Fund and The Bar-Kays Foundation whose mission statement is simply "To help those who cannot help themselves." Larry Dodson is truly a living legend. In addition to being an author, Larry Dodson is a multi-gold and platinum selling, singer, songwriter, and producer who for more than 47 years has been the lead singer of one of music's most influential Funk and R&B bands, The Bar-Kays. You can purchase Larry Dodson book at https://www.amazon.com/Band-Plays-Story-Dodson-Bar-Kays/dp/0999268112/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=9780999268117&linkCode=qs&qid=1574120227&s=books&sr=1-1 --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/gena-heelz/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/gena-heelz/support
Week One wraps up with an epic Father's Day in Memphis. While some days are living simply (or simply living), others are as full as they possibly could be. Or maybe that's just Dan and Janice's stomachs as this fathers day featured not just a big breakfast at the Waffle House, but also a huge mid-afternoon dinner of Memphis-style barbecue. But the main attraction was a visit to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, built on the site of the legendary label Stax Records. Long on Dan's list of places he wanted to visit, he finally got his chance. And it wasn't just Dan that was blown away by it, everyone was--even the three-year-old got down on the dance floor at the museum. An important piece of music history, black history, and Memphis history, the museum managed to cover it all in a way that felt both reverential and celebratory. It was a wonderful day and a great way to wrap up the first week of the trip. There's still so much more to come, so subscribe and tell your friends! Follow along on Instagram @tincanevangeline Follow Dan on Twitter @dansinker Follow Janice on Twitter @janicedillard
It is Black History Month and the perfect time to honor the Civil Rights heroes by planning a trip through the South. Today we talk to Mia Henry from Freedom Lifted about which civil rights sites to visit, how to plan a trip, and what to expect along the way. If this type of trip isn't on your radar, be sure to listen to hear why it should be and the powerful impact it can have on you and your kids. ON THE PODCAST 00:32 - Talking with Tamara about her Civil Rights road trip 08:08 - Talking with Mia Henry 12:03 - Top Civil Rights destinations 20:47 - Sample Itinerary 22:30 - Combining your trip 28:52 - Touring on your own vs. with a guide 36:27 - What age to take your kids 38:30 - Books and Documentaries 44:25 - Mia’s favorite travel gear 47:30 - Thank You!!! ABOUT MIA HENRY Freedom Liftedhosts customized Civil Rights tours for groups through the Deep South. They work with students, teachers, and large family groups to plan and lead educational experiences to Alabama, Mississippi and more places connected to the movement. For more information, see www.freedomlifted.com. Follow Mia on Facebook, Instagram, Youtubeand Twitter. TIPS FOR VISITING CIVIL RIGHTS SITES If you are thinking about visiting some civil rights sites, here are six must visit places to add to your itinerary. National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motelmay be the first item on many lists, but you may think about making this a last stop on your tour of civil rights sites. This site really pulls moments of the Civil Rights movement together. Equal Justice Initiativehas opened some new sites in Montgomery, Alabama, like the Peace and Justice Memorial which honors more than four thousand documented lynchings across the country, along with the thousands more that are undocumented. There is also the Legacy Museumthat really lays out the context of the black freedom struggle. Edmund Pettus Bridge is a national monument that symbolizes the pain of Bloody Sunday but also the triumph and beginning of the Selma to Montgomery March (or the 5-Day March). The Rosa Parks Museumis fantastic for families to visit. With the guided tour you will learn facts about how collective action was at the core of the Montgomery bus boycott. The Fannie Lou Hamer gravesitein Mississippi is a favorite. She was a leader in the Mississippi Democratic Party. She famously testified at the Democratic National Convention in 1964. The Whitney Plantationis a great site to visit so that you understand the long freedom struggle in the country and the history of slavery. If you are planning your trip around civil rights sites, you should make sure to have at least four days to spend exploring and visiting these national sites. You may think about making a trip to Alabama or maybe just starting there. You could spend a day in Birmingham, a half a day in Selma, a day and a half to two days in Montgomery. All of these areas are within an hour and a half of each other so you could easily visit them without changing where you are staying. Unless you have at least a week you shouldn’t try to combine Memphis and Alabama. Due to the distance, you will be spending a lot of time of your trip driving if you did combine them. You could combine Memphis with Mississippi by spending some time in Memphis first and explore some music related places first, like the Stax Museum. Then move onto some site in the Mississippi Deltalike the BB KIng Museumor the Fannie Lou Hamer gravesite. Then you could head to the new Mississippi Civil Rights Museumwhich is a massive museum and the first Civil Rights museum in Mississippi. If you would like to get a first hand account of the Civil Rights Movement, you can look into Civil Rights Movement Veteranswhich is a website that has a list of all the people of the movement that have registered with them. These people are willing to meet and talk to groups or you can just click through the list and read their stories. You may want to think about visiting some of these historic sites in a tour group rather than alone because there are some places like the 16th Street Baptist Churchwhich usually only opens for groups. If you are traveling with children you may want to think about whether they are old enough to really understand and respect the events of history they will be learning about. Though you may decide your child needs to be older to visit these sites, around 12 years old is a good age for some. This is an age they may be starting to learn about this in school so it would be great for them to get more in depth information and see the historic sites first hand rather in photos. Depending on the age of your kids you should look into having them read some books on Civil Rights or even watching some documentaries as a family so that you all can get a little more informed before taking your trip. If you are going to Mississippi you should watch the documentary Freedom Summer. For visiting the Delta and Memphis you should watch The Murder of Emmett Till. You should definitely watch Selmabefore you take your trip and walk across the bridge. FAVORITE TRAVEL GEAR Mia loves to wear Eileen Fisher Crepepants and a pair of Crocsin the summertime. Since she the temperature is constantly changing and the bus temp can fluctuate she like to make sure she has layers including scarves. MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST 15 Civil Rights Sites Civil Rights Road Trip National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel Equal Justice Initiative Peace and Justice Memorial Legacy Museum Edmund Pettus Bridge Rosa Parks Museum Fannie Lou Hamer gravesite Whitney Plantation Stax Museum Mississippi Delta BB KIng Museum Mississippi Civil Rights Museum Hidden History Tours Civil Rights Movement Veterans Self-Guided Tour Resources Pies from Nowhere Eyes on the Prize Freedom Riders Freedom Summer The Murder of Emmett Till Selma Soundtrack for a Revolution FOLLOW US AND SPREAD THE WORD! If you liked this show, please be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, orGoogle Playand leave us a review! Have a question or comment? Send us an email or leave us a voicemail at +1.641.715.3900, ext. 926035#. You can also follow our travels on Stuffed Suitcaseand We3Travel, or follow the Vacation Mavens on Instagram, Facebookor Twitter. Thanks for listening!
On this episode of Memphis Musicology, we sit down with the Stax Museum’s Jane White to discuss the new exhibit “Give a Damn!” on display now at Crosstown Arts. The exhibit focuses on Stax’s late-era legacy of political activism, both through the label’s music and direct action, and shines a particular light on co-owner Al Bell who spearheaded the change. Following the interview, we survey some of the best songs from this particular era from artists like the Bar-Kays, Johnnie Taylor, and John Gary Williams.
We have a lot in store for you this week on BSC! First we have The BoKeys performing in Studio A of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. We sit down and talk with Floyd Newman, founding member of The Memphis Horns. Then we head to the Beale Street Music Fest and catch a set from BSC perennial, Reba Russell.
Thanks for joining us, this is part two of The Memphis Destination Guide.Now, if you already haven't figured out, Memphis is huge when it comes to music and there is no better place to visit than the Sun Records Studio, where rocknroll all began. Sun Studio is known worldwide as “The Birthplace of Rock’n’roll”. It is the discovery location of musical legends and genres of the 50’s from B.B. King and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis; from Blues and Gospel to Country and Rock’n'roll.You will be able to stand in the very same spot that Elvis first recorded. Your tour guide will tell you the inside stories of B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf and Ike Turner, Elvis, JohnnyCash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, & Roy Orbison who were all drawn to the new SunSound.You'll get to see the priceless memorbillia from the musical legends that blended blues and country music to explode in the "big bang" of Rock'n'roll.The funny and entertaining tour includes outtakes from recording sessions from early Blues to Elvis himself.The studio is open for 45 minute guided tours every day from 10am to 6pm. The tour is $14 for adults, $12 for students and free to kids ages 5-11. Insider tip: There is free, limited parking behind the studio and the Sun Studio also operates a free shuttle service to and from Graceland, The RocknSoul Museum and of course Sun Studio.You should arrive early for your tour, to get tickets in hand, because this place can fill up quickly, especially when a bus tour arrives. Make your way into the Sun Studio Cafe (located next door) and have a seat on the iconic barstools and order up a malt milkshake. A lot of online review sites mix up this restaurant for the one at the airport (which, according to reviews should be avoided). But don't worry, this little cafe is pretty decent. While you wait for your tour time there are some artifacts on the walls, souvenirs to buy and a small old record collection to dive into and staff are friendly and attentive. You will be relieved to have a seat and cold drink when the room fills in up wall to wall.The tour takes you upstairs and into various rooms to show artifacts and tell the story of Sun Records. It eventually ends in the Sun Records Recording Studio where the energy and vibe of that Sun Sound hits everyone. Even though the cafe is swarming with bodies, each tour only accepts a certain amount of people, so it doesn't feel overly crowded.Next up, another great museum dedicated to music, hustle and talent – The Stax Museum of Soul Music. You start your tour in the true birthplace of soul music – a modest country church. Just as Stax’s music found its roots in the sounds of Southern gospel music, the museum opens in a real, circa-1906 Mississippi Delta church that has been carefully reassembled inside the museum. As the museum tour progresses you'll find yourself in a dance hall where you are encouraged to dance and singalong. You will move along toward a large collection of period recording equipment in the control room, then stand in Studio A, an exact replica of the legendary converted movie theater where Stax artists cut records. Next, you'll see the wall of sound – literally thousands of hit records recorded at Stax. But there is something even more flashy just around the corner.The Superfly! Isaac Hayes’ glittering custom Cadillac Eldorado, which was purchased as part of his renegotiated deal with Stax in 1972. The car, which was purchased for $26,000 (or, $143,000 in 2013 dollars), is fully equipped with unique amenities like a refrigerated mini-bar, television, 24-carat gold exterior trim and white fur carpeting on the floorboards. Admission is $13 and free for those under 8.Even though Isaac Hayes could afford a six figure automobile with gold trim, the color of his skin ultimately determined his social status. Our next stop is the National Civil Rights Museum. Slavery. Separate but equal. Boycotts. Assassinations. Black power. The museum tells of the history of the uprising that pushed national and international civil rights forward. The Museum is located at the Lorraine Motel, the site of the assassination of Martin Luther King. The museum offers 260 artifacts, more than 40 films, oral histories, interactive media and external listening posts that guide visitors through five centuries of history — from the beginning of the resistance during slavery, through the Civil War and Reconstruction, the rise of Jim Crow, and the seminal events of the late 20th century that inspired people around the world to stand up for equality. Admission is $16 and there is parking on site.On our next episode we'll go easy on your wallet and showcase some more relaxing activities that are also good for families with younger children. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Welcome to the Memphis Travel Guide Part OneOn the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, Memphis is Tennessee's largest city and home to the historic birthplace of blues, barbecue, and rock ‘n’ roll. Memphis just doesn't attract tourists, it creates pilgrimages from all over the world.You will often find tourists stating they are on their third, 10th or even 100th visit to Memphis and who can blame them? – fantastic BBQ pulled pork, spicy dry rubbed ribs, exceptional live blues entertainment, often free, and the home of the king of rock n roll himself – The big E. --- Elvis Presley.And as much as Memphis is about Elvis, there is a lot more going on there culturally and historically that can be explored. Don't worry, we'll cover the Elvis attractions, but we will also go more in depth in a special episode giving you tips and information on visiting Graceland.One of the great things about Memphis is that it is relatively affordable to visit if you know when and where to go. In these next few episodes we will cover tourist attractions, where to stay and where to eat. We'll also give tips on how to stay on budget, and ideas for families and solo travelers.Let's start off with some recommended attractions. Even though Memphis is a large city, there are a great number of attractions situated in relatively small geographical location making it easy to see and do a lot of things in a short amount of time. One of the biggest draws to Memphis is because of its rich history in music so let's start here.Depending on when you arrive in Memphis the first stop on anyone's list should be historic Beale Street and the home of the blues. The main drag is lined up and down for several blocks of blues joints, honkytonks, great restaurants bars and tourists shops. In the evening, almost every venue hosts free live music, from Mississippi Blues to Jerry Lee Lewis tribute bands. Also at dusk, the lights turn on to the many wonderfully designed neon lights and makes for iconic photos. Drinks and food are priced moderately, even though this is a top tourist attraction. We recommend the Beale Street Tap Room and The King's Palace Restaurant where not only you can get a good beer but also some great BBQ including ribs, Voodoo Chicken and Cajun Faire.Now a lot of the action may be happening inside, but there is a lot going on outside. Street performers, acrobats and magicians sometimes perform down the main strip to the delight of onlookers. Handy Park, is usually a great place to listen to a blues band or solo artist, while enjoying the historical significance of the park.Even though Beale St. Is lined wall to wall with drinks and individuals drinking walking down the street, it is totally safe. The Memphis police department controls the entranceway's into the thoroughfare and actively patrol the street keeping everyone in check. Police monitor those underage as well and anyone under 21 is not permitted on Beale Street after 10pm – when things get a little wilder.Now if you prefer it a little slower, you can go during the day or into the evening and still enjoy Beale Street, especially if you enjoy visiting museums and historic attractions.WC Handy is considered to be the "Father of the Blues" and is one of America's most influential songwriters ever and you can take a tour of WC Handy's humble beginnings at his turn-of-the-century home on Beale Street. Admission is $6 but be aware they run a limited schedule of Tues-Sat from 10-5 in the summer months and 11-4pm in the winter months. You can find the museum at the corner of Beale St. And 4th.Another great museum to learn about Memphis' Music past is the RocknSoul Museum. The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum is at the corner of historic Beale Street, and legendary Highway 61 (Third Street), also known as the “Blues Highway”. The museum is located on the plaza of the FedExForum, Memphis’ premier sports and entertainment complex, and home to blockbuster concerts and the NBA Memphis Grizzlies. The museum tells tells the story of musical pioneers who, for the love of music, overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create the music that shook the entire world. The museum offers a comprehensive Memphis music experience from the rural field hollers and sharecroppers of the 1930s, through the explosion of Sun, Stax and Hi Records and Memphis’ musical heyday in the 70s, to its global musical influence. The museum’s digital audio tour guide is packed with over 300 minutes of information, including over 100 songs, and takes visitors at their own pace through seven galleries featuring 3 audio visual programs, more than 30 instruments, 40 costumes and other musical treasures. The museum is open daily, 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $9.50 for youth age 5-17.Getting to Beale Street is pretty easy from anywhere in Memphis. Good Parking, however, can quickly fill up. But the good news is that Memphis has the lowest parking rates in the United States. There are 12 main lots near Beale Street and a number of smaller lots. Prices range from $10 to $20 per day, depending on distance and security.But, here is an inside tip. There is a lot located at 110 Peabody Place, between Main St. And 2nd St. South that offers an incredibly low rate of only $3.On our next episode we'll continue our guide with stops at Sun Records, The Stax Museum of Soul Music, The National Civil Rights Museum and some other fantastic locations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Joseph Cavalieri is an award-winning native New York artist and educator. His work can be seen in the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design, the Leslie-Lohman Museum, the Italian American Museum, and the Stax Museum. He has exhibited in the US and Europe, most recently a solo show at the Ivy Brown Gallery in Chelsea, New York. Cavalieri has produced private and public art commissions including an MTA Arts for Transit public art installation at the Philipse Manor Train Station in Westchester, New York. Cavalieri works in a material with a powerful spiritual history: painted stained glass. Since 1997, he has taught workshops around the world, and has been invited to over 12 artist residencies. In 2015, he was the keynote speaker for the Glass Society of Ireland and NCAD Glass Conference.Cavalieri's aim is to merge contemporary imagery with the time-honored processes of painted stained glass, a material with a powerful spiritual history. His work is based of historic fables, contemporary pop art and human and architectural icons.
Joseph Cavalieri is an award-winning native New York artist and educator. His work can be seen in the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design, the Leslie-Lohman Museum, the Italian American Museum, and the Stax Museum. He has exhibited in the US and Europe, most recently a solo show at the Ivy Brown Gallery in Chelsea, New York. Cavalieri has produced private and public art commissions including an MTA Arts for Transit public art installation at the Philipse Manor Train Station in Westchester, New York. Cavalieri works in a material with a powerful spiritual history: painted stained glass. Since 1997, he has taught workshops around the world, and has been invited to over 12 artist residencies. In 2015, he was the keynote speaker for the Glass Society of Ireland and NCAD Glass Conference. Cavalieri's aim is to merge contemporary imagery with the time-honored processes of painted stained glass, a material with a powerful spiritual history. His work is based of historic fables, contemporary pop art and human and architectural icons.
In this episode of Memphis Type History: The Podcast, Caitlin talks about WDIA, the first all-Black radio station in the U.S.A. We learn about how the transformation of this station into all-black programming and on-air talent exposed some of the best local talent to become major music icons we recognize today. On June 7, 1947, WDIA transmitted onto the radio waves for the first time from its 2074 Union Avenue studio... one of just six Memphis radio stations at that time! Owned by John Pepper and Bert Ferguson, two white guys, the station played pop and country western music… and it headed towards bankruptcy very quickly. However, in October of 1948, they hired high school teacher and columnist Nat D. Williams, who started the first radio show for black listeners in the country on WDIA and saved the station. Williams' show, Tan Town Jubilee, catapulted WDIA to 2nd most popular radio station in Memphis. The station then became the TOP station in Memphis after switching to all-black programming and all-black on-air talent. In 1954, the station increased to 50,000 watts, which meant it reached into the MS Delta, a bit of Missouri, and down to the Gulf Coast… which reached the ears of 10% of the black population in the US at that time. The station would go on to be known as the Starmaker Station because of the amount of exposure it provided local talent. One thing that was really instrumental in the station’s success was that Williams was friends with Rufus Thomas, and got him onto the station… Thomas actually kept up his show until his death in 2001. Their ties to Beale Street got BB King’s career off to a start on the station as well as many other musicians. After Beale began declining, WDIA was really a big source of musical influence (even inspiring good ol’ Elvis Presley). Another famous show on the station was called Goodwill. It covered civic news, missing children announcements, and raised money for community projects like scholarships, a bus for disabled kids, little league teams, and an orphanage, to name a few. The show turned into big fundraisers hosted by the WDIA DJ’s called the Goodwill Revue and the Starlight Revue. Big time local and national musicians like BB King, Rufus Thomas, Bobby “Blue” Bland, the Spirit of Memphis, Elvis, Sam Cooke, Muddy Waters, and Ray Charles performed for free. The local black community received about $100,000 a year from all of the Goodwill efforts. Even though black talent and programming made WDIA so popular, and the staff was integrated in 1950 (rare for the South), it wasn’t until 1972 that Chuck Scruggs became the first black general manager and vice president. Under his 12-year service, the station helped raise money to preserve the Lorraine Motel and create the National Civil Rights Museum, and participated in the revitalization of Beale Street and the creation of the Stax Museum. For full show notes go to memphistypehistory.com/WDIA
In early 1970, Booker T Jones was on sabbatical in California having grown disillusioned with confines of Stax Records and Memphis, when he heard the Beatles’ latest effort, Abbey Road. So moved was he by the Beatles’ genius and daring, that he sat down and drafted his own Memphis-style tribute to the group. The album, released later that same year, is titled McLemore Avenue, after the street where Stax’s studio and headquarters were located. This week on BSC, we have Memphis’ very own Booker T and The MG’s tribute band, The Maitre D’s, performing McLemore Avenue from start to finish in a performance captured on the cutting room floor of Studio A at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
This week on BSC we feature Scott Sharrard performing with Memphis' own Bo-Keys in Studio A at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Hi Records legend Don Bryant joins in for a couple of songs. Also BSC contributor Preston Lauterbach continues his series the Chitlin’ Circuit and The Road to Rock n Roll.
Tim Sampson is communications director for the Soulsville Foundation which runs the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the Stax Music Academy, and the Soulsville Charter School in Memphis. We discuss the history of Stax Records including artists Booker T. Jones, Otis Redding, Jean Knight, the Staple Singers, and Isaac Hayes as well as the establishment and operation of Soulsville which Tim has been involved with since day one.
Blues/soul upstarts Southern Avenue are with us in a inspired performance from the cutting room floor in Studio A at The Stax Museum of American Soul Music. In the interview they share their unique perspective on what Memphis music is all about. BSC contributor John Paul Keith returns for another installment of Something On The Side. This week he talks with Jerry and Halley Phillips about their family's incredible legacy and their ongoing efforts for Memphis music.
With over 50 years in the music business, The Bar-Kays have a career total of 29 albums, including 1 platinum album, 5 gold albums, and 20 top ten singles. The Bar-Kays music has been sampled by everyone, from Coolio to Will Smith, to old schoolers like Cameo. Their career has been documented in music institutions such as The Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame. The Bar-Kays recently were asked to donate iconic stage garb and musical equipment to the esteemed Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Funk, R&B, and Soul music is their genre. Listen in for some of their old stories and newest hits! Listen and learn today on Brunch in the Basement With JaVonne
From the Smithsonian's Rock and Soul Museum, to the Stax Museum of American Soul, to the National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis is a city rich in music, art, culture.
Born in Mississippi, Deanie arrived at the Stax studio on McLemore Avenue in 1963 becoming one of Stax Records’ first artists. Deanie went on to perform practically every role, from singer, to composer, to liner notes writer, photographer, editor, publicist, press correspondent, documentalist, and most notably, the Soulsville Foundation’s first President and CEO, a nonprofit organization that helped build the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
Born in Mississippi, Deanie arrived at the Stax studio on McLemore Avenue in 1963 becoming one of Stax Records’ first artists. Deanie went on to perform practically every role, from singer, to composer, to liner notes writer, photographer, editor, publicist, press correspondent, documentalist, and most notably, the Soulsville Foundation’s first President and CEO, a nonprofit organization that helped build the Stax Museum of American Soul Music
The President and CEO of the Stax Museum, Ms. Deanie Parker, talks about her introduction to the label and her esteemed career at Stax.