Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, TN
A visit to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a must for any music fan. Located in Memphis, TN, the museum tells the story of soul music through exhibits and interactive displays.
Introduction
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a world-renowned museum located in Memphis, TN. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of American soul music. The museum features a wide array of exhibits and artifacts, including a replica of the famous Stax Records recording studio, a theater, and a library. The Stax Museum is a must-visit for any fan of American soul music.
History
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Memphis, TN, is a world-renowned music museum that was founded in 2002. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of soul music. The museum houses a collection of over 400,000 artifacts, including recordings, instruments, and clothing. The museum also offers a variety of educational programs and events.
Origins
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a museum located in Memphis, Tennessee, dedicated to preserving the legacy of Stax Records and its contribution to the development of American soul music. The museum is housed in the former Fried Chicken Building where the label’s first hit recording, “Cause I Love You” by Rufus Thomas, was recorded in 1958.
Stax Records was founded in 1957 by brothers Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton. The label’s name is a combination of the first initials of the two founders. The label’s first release was “cause I Love You” by Rufus Thomas. The record was a regional hit and helped to establish Stax Records as a major force in the music industry.
In 1961, Atlantic Records acquired a 50% interest in Stax Records. This partnership allowed Atlantic to provide much-needed financial backing for the fledgling label. It also gave Atlantic access to Stax’s talented roster of artists, which included Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Booker T. & the MG’s.
The 1960s were a golden era for Stax Records. The label enjoyed commercial success with a string of hits by its artist roster, which also included Isaac Hayes, Johnnie Taylor, and Albert King. The decade ended tragically however with the death of Otis Redding in a plane crash on December 10, 1967. Redding had been scheduled to perform at a concert in Madison, Wisconsin but his plane crashed into Lake Monona shortly after takeoff from nearby Truax Field Airport. He was 26 years old at the time of his death.
Growth
In just six short years, the museum has become not only a popular tourist destination in Memphis, but also a beloved cultural institution in the city. More than 300,000 people have visited the museum since it opened in 2003, and it has been named one of the “Top Ten Must-See African American History Sites” by Black Issues in Higher Education magazine.
The Museum
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a museum in Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of American soul music. The museum opened on February 23, 2003, and is located on the site of the former Stax Records studio.
Location
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is located in the original space of the legendary Stax Records, on the historic site of Soulsville, USA. The Soulsville Record Shop, where many great artists got their start, is also located on the museum grounds.
Collection
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music honours the artists, music and culture of the Stax label and its related entities. The museum contains a wide range of exhibits, including a replica of the famous recording studio, interactive displays, films, and much more.
The museum’s collection includes a number of significant artifacts, such as stage costumes, instruments, gold and platinum records, and personal belongings of some of the most iconic figures in soul music. The collection also contains a wealth of documents, photographs, and other ephemera detailing the history of the label and its artists.
Exhibits
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a world-class museum that preserving, interpret and sharing the legacy of Stax Records and its impact on music and culture worldwide. The Museum features permanent and rotating exhibits, interactive displays, iconic memorabilia, film footage, music listening stations, educational programming and more.
Permanent Exhibits:The Vision Wall; Resurrecting Soul; dedications to Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes & Civil Rights; Roots of Soul; The House That Soul Built
rotating Exhibits: Innovators & Influencers; Shelby Singleton Presents Stax/Volt 45s; MLK50:Songs for the Lorraine Motel
Conclusion
The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a must-see for anyone visiting Memphis, TN. It is an outstanding museum that chronicles the history of soul music and the civil rights movement. The exhibits are informative and interesting, and the staff is friendly and helpful. I highly recommend the Stax Museum to anyone interested in learning more about American soul music or the civil rights movement.
