The best way to learn about history is through music. Recently, my family had the opportunity to check out Stax Museum in Memphis. With being a homeschooling family, we thought this would be a great opportunity to not only educate ourselves, but also our daughter.
One thing I loved about visiting the Museum, is the short video we watched before entering to see the exhibits. The video was an eye opener to what is now. Satellite Records was started in the early 1957’s by Jim Stewart, then in 1960 Estelle Axton purchased a tape recorder for the studio and refinanced her home to fund the studio’s move from Brunswick, Tennessee to where Stax Museum sits now on McLemore Ave. in Memphis.
In 1960, Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton took the two first letters of their names and changed Satellite Records to Stax. Stax discovered so much talent out of Memphis, and went on to produce over 300 records and over 800 singles. The first single was “Cause I love You” which was a duet between Rufus and Carla Thomas.
Stax became the hangout place for those who loved soul. At Stax Records they seen no color, it was just people who loved soul music getting together, playing music and having a good time. Famous soul singers such as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, and Carla Thomas all recorded at Stax Records.
However, the success of Stax Records would be short, before the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. race played no role in the music industry. After his death Stax Records slowly declined, race was starting to play a role in the music industry and Stax Records lost their deal with Atlantic Records.
While, Stax Records went bankrupt and was no more, today it has turned into an amazing place full of knowledge. If you’re ever in the Memphis, TN area, Stax Museum is a place I would highly recommend as a place to learn more about soul music and the history behind it all.
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