Chuck D. has joined the ranks of performers who
will celebrate the grand opening of the Stax Museum of American Soul.
Al Green, Percy Sledge, Michael McDonald, Wilson
Pickett, Mavis Staples, Isaac Hayes and others will perform on Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday to pay homage to the only R&B label that rivaled Motown.
The legendary label was founded by Jimmy Stewart
and Marge Axton. They took the first two letters of their last names to come
up with the name, "Stax."
After recording a minor hit with Rufus Thomas,
the label inked a deal with Atlantic and had a national hit with 17 year-old
Carla Thomas’ "Gee Whiz." The record went to #5 on the Billboard charts.
Stax records grew to prominence in the mid 60’s,
rivaled only by Motown. In 15 years Stax placed over 167 hit songs in the top
100 on the pop charts and an astounding 243 hits in the top 100 R & B charts.
The label launched the careers of Isaac Hayes,
The Mad Lads, The Dramatics, Booker T. and The M.G.’s, Carla Thomas, Wilson
Pickett, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding.
Even Richard Pryor got his start with the label.
His album "That N#####’s Crazy," dropped on Partee, the comedy subsidiary
of Stax.
In 1972, the label was in financial difficulties.
The company’s national sales director, Al Bell, purchased the company from owner
Jim Stewart.
Troubles started in 1973. Bell signed a "handshake
deal" with President of Columbia Records, Clive Davis. Davis was fired
and Columbia reneged on their deal and the IRS came down on the label, after
an employee was found carrying $100,000 in cash through an airport.
These event eventually drove Stax into bankruptcy.
A judge ordered it’s closing on January 12, 1976.
Al Bell was overcome with joy as he toured the
museum last week.
"There’s another feeling I can’t explain.
I’m so happy and proud . . . the facility is here," Bell told Memphis newspaper
The Commercial Appeal.