A Look Inside the Stax Museum of Soul Music
Contents
A look inside the Stax Museum of Soul Music in Memphis, Tennessee – one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.
Introduction
The Stax Museum of Soul Music is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, located in Memphis, Tennessee, at the original site of Stax Records. The museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret the legacy of Stax Records and Soulsville, USA.
Stax Records was an American record label based in Memphis, Tennessee, founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton. It was home to some of the greatest soul musicians of all time including Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the MGs, The Staple Singers and many others.
The museum opened its doors on May 25th, 2003. Since then, it has welcomed over 500,000 visitors from all over the world.
The History of Stax Records
Stax Records was founded in Memphis, Tennessee in 1957 by Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton. The label was originally named Satellite Records, but was changed to Stax Records after the owners realized that there was another label with the same name. The label became known for its distinctive sound, which was a mix of soul, R&B, and blues.
The Early Years
Like many great stories, the history of Stax Records begins with two simple but fateful decisions. In 1957, a white record store owner in Memphis, Tennessee named Jim Stewart decided to open a recording studio in the back of his store. At the same time, a black Radio DJ named Satellite Records and decided to start his own record label. Together, these two men would change the course of American music.
Stewart and Satellite began by recording local talent, including gospel groups and blues singers. But it was a young woman named Carla Thomas that caught their attention. Thomas was only 17 years old when she recorded her first single for Stax, “Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes),” which became a huge hit.
With the success of Thomas’ record, Stewart and Satellite realized they had something special on their hands. They began to experiment with different sounds and genres, working with soul singers like Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. The results were electrifying, and soon Stax was known as the premier destination for soul music.
The Rise of Stax
Stax Records was founded in 1957 in Memphis, Tennessee. The label was originally known as Satellite Records, but changed its name to Stax Records in 1961. The name “Stax” was a combination of the first names of the label’s co-founders, Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton.
The early years of Stax were defined by a purity of sound that was unrivaled in the music industry. Stewart, a former radio DJ, used his knowledge of sound engineering to create a unique recording process that resulted in a clean and crisp sound. This “Stax sound” would become one of the defining characteristics of the label.
In its early years, Stax focused on releasing soul and R&B records. The label’s roster included artists such as Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and Booker T. & the MGs. These artists would go on to achieve massive success both on the charts and at awards shows. In 1968, Stax held its own music festival, called the “Stax/Volt Revue”, which featured many of the label’s biggest stars.
The 1970s were a turbulent time for Stax Records. The death of Otis Redding in 1967 was a devastating blow to the label, and financial difficulties led to the sale of Stax to Atlantic Records in 1969. While Atlantic owned the rights to the Stax name and logo, Stewart and Axton retained control of the studio and continued to release records under the “Enterprise” banner.
Despite these setbacks, Enterprise had some major successes in the 1970s with artists like Johnnie Taylor and The Staples Singers. In 1979, Stewart sold his stake in Enterprise to Axton, who then sold her stake to Concord Bicycle Music in 2004. The Stax name and logo are currently owned by Concord Music Group, which is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California.
The Fall of Stax
The fall of Stax Records began in the late 1960s. The company was hemorrhaging money, and its artists were chafing against the creative control that Moore and Axton exerted. Isaac Hayes, one of the label’s most successful artists, walked out in 1969 after a dispute over back royalties. Dozens of other artists, including Johnnie Taylor, William Bell, and Albert King, followed suit. By the end of the year, Stax had lost more than 40 percent of its roster.
In an effort to stay afloat, Stax sold its share of Atlantic Records back to Wexler and Ahmet Ertegun for $3 million in early 1970. The move gave Atlantic a controlling interest in the company—and put Wexler in charge of both labels’ artistic direction. (Moore would continue to run Stax’s day-to-day operations.) The sale saved Stax from bankruptcy—but at a steep price. Many felt that Moore had sold out the company he’d spent years building.
The rift between Moore and Wexler deepened in 1971 when Wexler proposed that Atlantic buy out Stax entirely. Moore refused, but the damage was done: Wexler left Atlantic later that year to start his own label, taking some of Stax’s biggest stars—including Aretha Franklin and Bette Midler—with him.
With its two biggest revenue sources gone, Stax was forced to declare bankruptcy in December 1974. Its assets were sold off at auction, and the once-proud label ceased to exist.
The Stax Museum of Soul Music
The Stax Museum of Soul Music is a museum in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The museum is dedicated to the history and legacy of the Stax Records label and its artists. The museum contains a number of interactive exhibits, a theatre, and a gift shop.
The Museum’s Collection
The Stax Museum of Soul Music is home to an incredible collection of artifacts, documents, and recordings that tell the story of soul music. The museum’s collection includes over 1,000 items on loan from the Smithsonian Institution, as well as a number of items from private collections.
One of the highlights of the museum’s collection is the original contract that was signed by Otis Redding and Booker T. Jones in 1966. This contract allowed Redding to record his now-classic album, Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul. Also on display is a recording of Aretha Franklin’s first studio session, which took place at Stax Records in 1967.
In addition to artifacts and recordings, the Stax Museum of Soul Music also houses a research library with a wealth of information on the history of soul music. The library is open to the public and includes a wide variety of resources, including books, magazines, and newspapers.
The Museum’s Exhibits
The Stax Museum of Soul Music is a very special place. It is not only a place to learn about the history of soul music and the civil rights movement, but it is also a place to feel the music and the spirit of those who created it.
The museum’s exhibits are divided into three main sections: The American Soul Revolution, The Birth of Soul, and The Legacy of Soul. Each section features artifacts, photos, video, and interactive displays that tell the story of soul music and the people who created it.
The American Soul Revolution exhibit chronicles the social and political changes of the 1960s that led to the rise of soul music. The Birth of Soul exhibit explores the roots of soul music in blues and gospel. And The Legacy of Soul exhibit celebrates the continued influence of soul music on popular culture.
Visitors can also enjoy live performances in the museum’s theater, listen to recordings in the listening room, or browse the museum’s collection of artifacts.
Conclusion
The Stax Museum of Soul Music is a great place to learn about the history of soul music and its impact on American culture. The museum offers a variety of exhibits that showcase the work of famous soul musicians, as well as the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement. The museum also has a theater where you can watch performances by current soul artists. If you’re a fan of soul music, or if you’re interested in learning more about American history, the Stax Museum of Soul Music is definitely worth a visit.
