Porretta 2006 card, courtesy Graziano Uliani
INDEX -- NEWS -- INFOS -- STAX TODAY -- FOCUS -- ADS -- LISTS -- LINKS -- PHOTOS -- CONTACT
STAX
NEWS
page 26
RUFUS
THOMAS TRIBUTE
(October 13,
2005)
Porretta 2006 card, courtesy Graziano
Uliani
A Rufus Thomas Tribute will take place at the New
Daisy theater on Beale Street, Memphis, next october 25,
featuring Isaac Hayes, David Porter, Carla, Vaneese and Marvell
Thomas, Steve Cropper and others. More details here
The Recording
Academy Honors
(October 11, 2005)
The Recording Academy's twelve Chapters will each host a program of events called "The Recording Academy Honors," acknowledging those whose achievements have significantly enriched both the greater music community and their specific home communities.
The event launched with the Pacific Northwest Chapter on Sept. 24 honoring the Kingsmen, Katie Becker, Julian Priester, and Sub Pop Records, which included performances by Herbie Hancock, the Kingsmen, Julian Priester, Smoosh, and Kinski.
Scheduled events include the Memphis Chapter on Oct. 22 honoring Craig Brewer, Isaac Hayes, David Porter, Justin Timberlake, and radio station WDIA with a special presentation by Lisa Marie Presley; and the Nashville Chapter on Nov. 7 honoring Alison Krauss, Tim McGraw, Earl Scruggs, and BeBe and CeCe Winans with special presentations and performances by T-Bone Burnett, Jimmy Jam, Gladys Knight, Ruben Studdard and many more. Other chapters will announce dates and honorees at a later time.
Recipients of "The Recording Academy Honors" award are selected in recognition of the excellence and integrity embodied in their work, as well as their willingness to support and participate in programs benefiting the music community. Proceeds from the events will go toward music education and professional development programs in each respective Chapter city.
More details at http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/10/07/144154.php
LITTLE
MILTON DIED
(August 4, 2005)
Gibson Lounge, Memphis (c)
Patrick Montier, 2003
Latest news from SoulsVille, USA:
We are sad to let you know that former Stax Records artist,
legendary bluesman, and great friend of Soulsville has passed
away after suffering a massive stroke on July 27th. We have lost
one of the greatest musical treasures in the world, and one of
the most beloved members of the Stax family. Please keep him and
his family in your thoughts and prayers. We do not have details
yet on memorial services, etc., but will let you know as soon as
we do. Our Last Mondays in Studio A concert with Little Milton,
which was scheduled for September 26th, will take place with an
artist(s) yet to be determined. It will be dedicated to Little
Milton and will be a celebration of his life.
NEXT MONDAYS IN
STUDIO A
(July 23, 2005)
Monday, July 25, 2005
Stax Records and Motown artist, and lead singer of Ray Charles’
backup singers the Raelettes, Dr. Mable John returns to Studio A
for a special tribute to blues diva and friend Etta James.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Memphis-based singer Barbara Blue, one of the most sought-after
Janis Joplin interpreters and original recording artist in her
own right, blends her own music and some of Joplin’s with
her five-piece band.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Incomperable blues artist and former Stax Records star Little
Milton Campbell lights up Studio A with his brand of blues.
Monday, October 31, 2005
The original house band for B.B. King's Blues Club on Beale
Street, The Famous Unkowns, bring there Delta Boogie
Blues to Studio A on Halloween night!
Monday, November 28, 2005
Hi Records star Don Bryant and band gets happy with a special,
high-energy gospel show
Monday, December 26, 2005
Come and be "Dedicated to the One You Love" with Stax
Records superstars, The Temprees.
THE 31st annual
Jackson Music Awards
(July 20, 2005)
There was a great evening in Jackson, Missisippi to honor several Stax artists, including Frederic Knight. See the report by the Clarion Ledger newspaper at http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050719/FEAT0106/507190365/1023/FEAT05
CROPPER,
HAYES AND PORTER INDUCTED INTO THE SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME
(June 17, 2005)
Steve Cropper,
Isaac Hayes and David Porter who made their mark at Stax in
Memphis have been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last
June 8, 2005. Other inductees include John Fogerty, Richard and
Robert Sherman, and Bill Withers.
SOULSVILLE,
USA NEWS
(April 18, 2005)
Deanie Parker
(c) P. Montier
Parker named chief of new foundation; Willis replaces her at nonprofit
It takes focus to raise $10,000 a day. So Soulsville, the nonprofit agency that runs the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Stax Music Academy, formed the Soulsville Foundation at the beginning of the month.
As the nonprofit continues to run the facilities, the foundation will focus on local, national and international fund-raising for annual operations, growth, an endowment fund and a future.
The new foundation means a new job for Deanie Parker, who had been the nonprofit's president and chief executive officer. Now she is president of the foundation's new board, with its seven renowned trustees including Isaac Hayes and Steve Cropper. Marc Willis, who had been the academy's director, has taken her place.
"The organization has grown very fast," Parker said. "When we look at the fact that it requires an extraordinary amount of money to operate both of these entities, it demands a very focused effort."
Soulsville formed in 1999 to develop the museum and academy, a $20 million project to help revitalize the surrounding community also known as Soulsville USA. Both facilities are on the former site of the old Stax Records studio, 926 E. McLemore in South Memphis, a soul music hit-making machine.
Soulsville has 19 employees. Its total operating budget this year is $3.6 million, or about $10,000 a day.
The academy began in 2000 with a summer music camp. Now it has an after-school program, music performance programs and is opening a charter school in July.
The museum, opened in the spring of 2003, is expanding merchandise and distribution, ongoing membership drives, as well as school and community outreach programs.
From Pamela Perkins, The Commercial Appeal (www.commercialappeal.com)
RECENT
PRESS ARTICLES
(April 2, 2005)
Here are the links to some interesting articles about Stax and former Stax artists published in the press these last days:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,585-1548754,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1448818,00.html
A NEW RUFUS THOMAS CD, WEB SITE AND
BENEFIT CONCERT
(February 21, 2005)
A new Rufus Thomas CD: "Just
Because I'm Leavin..." will be issued in the next weeks by
Segue Records, Memphis, as well as a special web site and a
newsletter devoted to him. See more at www.seguerecords.com/rufusthomas. There is also a Rufus Thomas benefit
concert to happen at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis next May 24.
The event will be headlined by B.B. King and featuring
performances by Carla and her sister Vaneese Thomas, Eddie Floyd
and the Average White Band. Proceeds will benefit the Band Aid
Trust as well as the Rufus Thomas Scholarship Fund, which assists
music students in Memphis.
The CD was recorded at Sun studio more than 14 years ago. It will
features 11 tracks, including a duet with Thomas' daughter Carla
on "God Bless America" as well as "Old Dog, New
Tricks" (which references his classic, oft-covered "Walking
the Dog") and "I'll Be a Good Boy." It will be his
first studio release since 1988's "That Woman Is Poison!".
More details as soon as available.
SHANGRI-LA'S
ROCK & ROLL TOURS
(February 19, 2005)
Sherman Willmott (c) P. Montier
My friend Sherman Willmott at
Shangri-La, the best Stax second hand record shop in the world,
just a few steps from Ardent studios on Madison in Memphis (I
shot the above photo at Ardent), has developed the Memphis Rock'n
Roll tours and published several CDs of Memphis music as well as
a book about the "garage bands" in Memphis,
including those who recorded for Stax' HIP subsidiary label (great
Stax photos in this book). Follow the link at www.memphisrocktour.com
INDEX -- NEWS -- INFOS -- STAX TODAY -- FOCUS -- ADS -- LISTS -- LINKS -- PHOTOS -- CONTACT