Soulville, USA
Soulsville, USA is the nickname of the birthplace of artists like Aretha Franklin and Earth, Wind, and Fire founder Maurice White. This Memphis, Tennessee, neighborhood was also where legends like Otis Redding, Albert King, and Booker T. launched their careers at Stax Records recording studio and label.
Stax Records began as a modest record store in the Capitol Theater, but in 1959 it became a recording studio for several influential soul artists. It thrived for years, but after 1975 the only trace of the old studio was a vacant shell of a building. The surrounding neighborhood fell into disarray as well. However, in May 2003 the former site of Stax was transformed into the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, just one part of an effort to revitalize the Soulsville neighborhood.
“People will be amazed by the vastness of our collection,” says Tim Sampson, the museum’s communications manager. The museum has a lot of history to honor, and as a result it boasts more than 2,000 exhibits, including an impressive collection of artifacts, films, photographs, instruments, and other memorabilia. Stax spotlights more than just homegrown music talent. It also pays tribute to soul and R&B legends such as Ike and Tina Turner and Ray Charles.
The Stax Museum draws about 35,000 visitors annually. “The minute people walk in, they hear the music playing and they recognize the songs and the artists of Stax Records,” says Sampson. “Many people don’t realize how much music was recorded right here in Memphis.”
Among the exhibits at the Stax museum are a Pequot blue Cadillac that belonged to writer, arranger, and singer Isaac Hayes and a full-sized recreation of Studio A—the site where the popular soul sounds were made. Perhaps the most popular attraction is the Hall of Records, a winding hallway covered with more than 900 singles and almost 300 full-length albums. The display of music shows off Stax Records’ extensive “hit list” and allows visitors to admire the album artwork.
The museum also focuses on education, and it shares its name with a music academy right next door. This full-time charter school mentors inner-city youth, encouraging them to explore their musical talent and put their energy and strong emotions into something creative. With the help of frequent curious tourists, massive strides have been taken toward honoring the history of soul music and achieving the complete restoration of a historic neighborhood, preserving it for future generations.
For more information on the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Soulsville, USA, visit www.soulsvilleusa.com.
