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STAX NEWS
page 24


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Steve Cropper presented with the 2004 Arts and Humanities
Award for Lifetime Achievement in Performing Arts
(october 9, 2004)


Steve Cropper (c) P. Montier

Steve Cropper will be presented with the 2004 Arts and Humanities Award for Lifetime Achievement in Performing Arts.  

The 12th annual Germantown Arts Alliance (GAA) black-tie gala will be held on Saturday, November 6 at 6:30pm.  The evening includes dinner at the Ridgeway Country Club, dancing to the music of Magi and a silent auction with many unique items.  Reserved seats are $100 and can be purchased by calling 901.757.9768.

Germantown Arts Alliance is an advocacy and funding organization whose mission is to promote, enrich and celebrate the communityıs cultural arts environment.  GAA Arts and Humanities Awards honor persons born to or long serving the Mid-South who have achieved notable and distinguished careers in the Arts and Humanities through vision, dedication and devotion to the highest standards of excellence.  

 

WAYNE JACKSON'S MEMORIES SOON AVAILABLE
(september 12, 2004)


Wayne Jackson (c) P. Montier

"In My Wildest Dreams" A Collection of Rock n' Roll Tales/Volume One will be available in about a month.  100% Wayne Jackson... No one else trying to tell his stories for him.  From Stax to Sting's mansion, Wayne will take you on a magical ride through music history from his eyes.  And this volume will include his definitive account of the 1967 Stax/Volt Tour.  In addition to the story, he took each journal entry he made on the tour and then expanded it to re-live noted moments of the day. There will also be an "On The Record" section, featuring Wayne taking a song title and recalling either the sesssion or the artist.  If you're looking for a "people perspect", you're going to like this.

This will look as a bound manuscript complete with photos.  Each one will be personalized, autographed and stamped with a seal of authenticity.  So in essence, this will be a collector's edition manuscript.

Great news and a fine opportunity to see Stax from the inside, through the eyes of a man who was there and quite on every recording from the very first days.

 

BOBBY BLUE BLAND TO RECORD IN THE STAX STUDIO
(June 25, 2004)

Great news! The Stax Museum is planning to have an actual recording session in the rebuilt Stax studio with Bobby Blue Bland, presently a Malaco artist. You can hear some of BBB's recent recordings excerpts here: www.shopmalaco.com/blues/Bobby_Blue_Bland.html.

One of the premier rhythm & blues vocalists, Bobby "Blue" Bland is second in stature only to B.B. King as a product of Memphis' Beale Street blues scene. In fact, the two performers have been inextricably linked over the decades, recording and touring together in a friendship that dates back to the early Fifties. He was born in 1930 in the nearby town of Rosemark. More later.

 

A WILLIE MITCHELL BOULEVARD IN MEMPHIS
(June 20, 2004)


Royal studio (c) P. Montier

From the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, South Lauderdale Street, between McLemore Avenue and South Parkway East, where the Hi / Royal Recording Studio is located has been renamed to Willie Mitchell Boulevard, in honor of this great producer, composer and musician. Learn more  through Pamela Perkins' article at  http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local_news/article/0,1426,MCA_437_2974600,00.html.

When will E. McLemore Ave. be renamed to Stewart-Axton Avenue?

For a visit of Royal Recording Studio, go to http://staxrecords.free.fr/hi.htm.

 

MABLE JOHN TO SING AT THE STAX MUSEUM
(June 14, 2004)

On June 26, thanks to Stax veteran Mable John, last in town for the museum's 2003 grand opening gala. Dubbed "Soul to Soul," the month-capping finale, 6:30-9 p.m., will offer a history lesson on the art form, though it's the living history of John that folks won't want to miss. Best-known for her Stax classic "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)" - arguably one of the finest soul numbers to ever come from the pen of Isaac Hayes and David Porter - John will give a special live performance and lecture.

Initially signed to Motown and afterwards a member of Ray Charles's famed backup singers the Raelettes, John made the most of her brief time at Stax in the mid-'60s. Many consider her body of work among the label's best. These days a Los Angeles-based pastor, Dr. Mable John has planned a tuneful revue for her Bluff City visit by artists she has admired and/or performed with, from Charles and her late brother Little Willie John (of "Fever" fame) to Etta James and B. B. King.

"And, of course, she can't leave without doing 'Your Good Thing (Is About to End),'" says Parker.

The event will be $10 adults  and take place at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, 926 E. McLemore. Call 942-SOUL or visit www.staxmuseum.com for more info.

 

A STAX MUSEUM AUDIO FILE
(May 19, 2004)


 

Click here to listen to a 19' 48 long audio clip about Stax and the Stax Museum in real audio.
And another 12'54 long about Rufus and Carla Thomas
 

JOHN WHITEHEAD DIES
(May 12, 2004)

John Whitehead, members of the Epsilons who had a single on Stax (distribution deal) in December 68 (Stax STA-021) was killed yesterday in a shooting incident near his home in Philadelphia while working on his car. He is the one with the black jacket in the above picture.
At age sixteen, he toured with Otis Redding, who also managed him along with his group, "The Epsilons" who had a single on Stax (distribution deal) in December 68 (Stax STA-002). After Otis' death, John was managed by Guilda Woods, the wife of popular Philadelphia disc jockey Georgie Woods. John and his group made his first recording on the Stax label entitled, "The Echo," a record that brought the group local fame. Gene McFadden and John Whitehead were the remaining members of The Epsilons, whose name later changed to the "The talk of the Town". John then became affiliated with the production team of Gamble and Huff and the "Sound of Philadelphia". The rest is history. The team of McFadden and Whitehead wrote their first hit, "The Backstabbers" for the O'Jays, which became a gold record. It would be the first of many (37) Gold and Platinum hit records for the team of McFadden and Whitehead.
Whitehead also wrote songs for Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, The Intruders, Billy Paul, Teddy Pendergrass, The Jacksons, Archie Bell and The Drells,  Lou Rawls, Freddie Jackson and Melba Moore.
Look at the web site at
http://www.letfreedomringinc.com/john-whitehead-bio.htm.
 

A STREAMING VIDEO INTERVIEW OF JAMES ALEXANDER
(March 23, 2004)


 

If you have a fast internet connection, you can watch and listen to a fine interview of James Alexander, Bar-Kays' bass player, in streaming video. Go to the following page and click on the two links at the back of the page: http://svt.se/svt/jsp/Crosslink.jsp?d=8352.

 

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