Jim Stewart founded Satellite Records in Memphis, TN in 1957. As an amateur musician, Stewart took on the role of producer and his sister, Estelle Axton, invested in the studio. In 1961, (St)ewart and (Ax)ton moved Satellite into an old movie theater on McLemore Avenue, Stax Records Studio was born.
Stax is critical in music history as one of the most popular soul music record labels of all time. Known for gritty, raw, stripped-down soul music, Stax placed more than 167 hit songs in the Top 100 on the pop charts, and a staggering 243 hits in the Top 100 R&B charts. It launched the careers of such legendary artists as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus & Carla Thomas, and the interracial house band, Booker T & the MGs.
By the 1980s, Stax had gone bankrupt and the building on McLemore fell into disarray. A historical marker commemorating Stax Records was unveiled in 1991. As the surrounding community fell into decay, community members, philanthropists, and former Stax employees came together to revitalize the building. Today that effort has amounted to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the Stax Music Academy, and the Soulsville Charter School.
Sankofa Impact visits the Stax Museum of American Soul Music on our Pilgrimage to the South. This museum offers celebration of Black culture through soul music, and offers one of the many moments of celebration and joy on our trips. In visiting this historic space, we uplift the remarkable contributions made by Black artists to the music industry.
