Booker T & The MG's (Stax's studio band), Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Johnnie Taylor, Betty Wright, The Emotions, Isaac Hayes, The Soul Children, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, The Bar-Kays, The Staple Singers, Tyrone Davis, Albert King, The Mar-Keys, Eddie Floyd, Jean Knight, Shirley Brown, The Dramatics, Little Milton, William Bell, Judy Clay, Ruby Johnson, David Porter, The Astors, Linda Lyndell, Jimmy Hughes, The T.S.U. Tornados, The Temprees, Veda Brown
Stax Records, a name which is synonymous with Southern soul music, began as Satellite Records in Memphis in 1959. Founded by Jim Stewart, a former country fiddler, and Estelle Axton, whose son Charles "Packy" Axton was a saxophonist with the original Mar-Keys, the company had its first Top Ten hit in 1961 with "Gee Whiz" by Carla Thomas. During the next few years Stax developed a brand of music which was to have worldwide repercussions. With its house rhythm section, better known as Booker T. & the MGs, its tight horn section, which later became the Memphis Horns, and its gospel-rooted recording artists--Otis Redding, Sam and Dave--Stax virtually created contemporary soul music, both on its own records and as a Southern base of operations for Atlantic artists such as Don Covay and Wilson Pickett.
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The death of Otis Redding in 1967, following a triumphant European tour and a virtually cataclysmic appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival, signaled the end of the first Stax era. Sam and Dave disbanded around the same time, and although they continued to record as a unit, the members of Booker T. & the MGs did more administrative work than session playing. It was left to a new generation of artists and producers to carry on the Stax legacy, and the company did not find itself wanting in either department.
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The most innovative and successful of the new breed of Stax artists was Isaac Hayes who had been an important songwriter, producer, and session pianist during the company's earlier period; with David Porter, he was responsible for writing and producing Sam and Dave's "Hold On, I'm Coming" and "Soul Man." On his own, Hayes developed a unique blend, part jazz, part soul, part easy listening. He talked on his records in a mellow, bantering manner, and he used an orchestra to provide instrumental cushioning. In many ways Hayes was a founding father of the sweet soul of the 1970s.
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But Stax's roster ran the gamut of black popular music. Albert King did his own funky thing, playing his flying-V guitar with bluesy urgency. The Staple Singers were at their artistic peak when they recorded for Stax during the late 1960s and early 1970s, turning out records that blended a utopian social vision with rhythmic excitement. The great Johnnie Taylor was in his prime, testifying on the ins and outs of falling in and out of love with intense passion. Then there were the groups--the Soul Children, who said what was on their minds and attracted a fanatical following in England as well as a large black following in the States, and the smoother but still gritty Emotions. The music behind these singers was more varied than in the early days, and some of it was recorded outside Memphis. But the spirit of Stax was burning as brightly as ever.
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The new Stax producers were at least as important as the artists in determining the Stax sound. One of the most resourceful and versatile was Don Davis, who began a fruitful association with Johnnie Taylor which still continues. Al Jackson, Jr. the great soul drummer who was the backbone of Booker T. & the MGs, became a canny, astute producer, working, often in collaboration with Jim Stewart or other company personnel, with Albert King, the Staple Singers, and the Emotions. Jackson was still heard on drums on many Stax releases; other session musicians included guitarists Vernon Burch, now a recording artist in his own right, and Michael Toles, and keyboard player Marvell Thomas. Al Bell was an important creative force as well as an administrator.
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The thing that made Stax go was teamwork. When you visited the studio, which was a converted movie theater on East McLemore, you could feel it. The carpeted halls were always full of groups of people, who seemed to be going to and fro at will, dropping in on friends in their offices, heading down to Studio A to check on the progress of a mixing session, or out to the parking lot where Isaac Hayes's Rolls-Royce sat glittering in the sun. The cooperation between white and black musicians and producers was practically unprecedented; it was one of the secrets of the company's across-the-board success. But it would never have worked without that spirit.
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Although the spirit was beset by the blows of circumstance, it was in the music until the end, when Stax was adjudicated a bankrupt, in 1975. But by June 1977, virtually all Stax assets, including all masters, both completed and unfinished recordings, together with all Stax contracts, were purchased by a group which then licensed Fantasy Records to handle all Stax product.
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This is the « makinf off »
of our last recording session at theSound Suite Studio, with Treje
Refsnes.
Take a look on 20 minutes video of this
work in progress, growing step by step during 16 days . Soon will
come the mixing and the album « Love, birth and
disillusions »will release in January 2010. Thanks to
follow us in this project and broadcast it.
Bonjour à tous! Avec Laurence et Nicolas on a la joie et le
privilège de donner un coup de main sur scène à une légende vivante:
Henri-Paul. Il a fait le tour du monde avec Johnny Thunders,
poussé le riff dans les Maniacs, Little Bob Story, les Mavericks (avec
Jean-Paul Crunchy Prieur), côtoyé les Sex Pistols, Thin Lizzy, les Only
Ones, les Hot Rods, Sean Tyla, Willy Deville et plein que
j’oublie Venez mercredi, il se fera une joie de vous raconter
tout ça autour d’une bonne bière après le
concert!!!
Concert HENRI PAUL MAVERICKS
au Gambetta, mercredi 30 septembre 2009 à 20 h 104,
rue de Bagnolet 75020 Paris Métro Gambetta ou
Alexandre-Dumas PAF : 5
euros
Come check it out : this Friday October 2 - DCE willl be hosting the opening for the 2nd annual Derby City Espresso Tatto & Body Modification Art Show!
With LIVE suspentions by the kind folks at Twisted Images. Fire breathing, gravity pulls, henna tattoos & at 11pm Live music by Leftmore & The Funk Injection
THIS FRIDAY - reception starts at 6pm - suspensions at 8 - music at 11
Benefit for my Dad on September 27, 2009 Hi Everyone, My Father Peter Aguayo passed away on Tuesday 9-8-2009. He was a Steelworker for 30 years. The company he worked for went Bankrupt and they took his Life Insurance and Medical as well. I am trying to raise enough money to give him a proper burial. Please find it in your heart to come out to the Benefit, he so deserves it. There will be 5-6 AWESOME bands. The bands that are already booked for the show are: The Midnight Rendezvous, StellarDrive & Bazooka Jones. Special Guests: Charlie Allen Martin (Bob Seger) & Psychild - Robert Noll, Tyuawn Brown (A Michael Jackson Impersonator) and Bruce Race (Charlie Chaplin Impersonator). Location is: Scott Lake Banquet Center (Located inside the Waterford Elks) 2100 Scott Lake Road. Waterford, MI 48328 Admission is $20.00 Benefit will start at 2pm and will end at 10pm, or later. 50/50 Raffle Door Prizes Cash Bar & Food Auction Items The Benefit will also be filmed by Comcast for my friend Big L's The Music Room TV Show. This will be a great time and it's for a great cause. I am also trying to raise awareness to the retiree's that they should not assume that they are taken care of, this is happening to people every day. It has been devestating due to the company's Bankruptcy, my Father hasn't been buried yet. Hope to see you there. More info to follow as it becomes available. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Help us Honor our Dad, he was a son, a husband and a wonderful Human Being. God Bless Jer & Angel
