After losing most of the Stax catalog when its relationship with Atlantic Records ended, Stax Vice President Al Bell set out to rebuild the catalog. In 1969, Bell recorded 30 singles and 27 albums in eight months, a period of time known as THE SOUL EXPLOSION. Read more about the music of the Soul Explosion here.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
All points of interest below are mapped from the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, just steps from the bollards and FedExForum.
Drive 9 minutes
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
Carla and Rufus Thomas. Booker T. & the MGs. Isaac Hayes. Sam & Dave. Eddie Floyd. With talents like these, the Memphis Sound was born at Stax. Tour the museum to dive into the history and legacy of Memphis soul music.
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Drive 9 minutes
Soulsville, USA
The Soulsville neighborhood surrounding Stax is where many of the label’s artists were born and raised. Today, the Soulsville Foundation carries on the Stax tradition through the Stax Music Academy, developing the next generation of Memphis musicians. Be on the lookout for performances and workshops by the academy’s talented students.
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Drive 5 minutes
A Tour of Possibilities
Book a tour with this company that illuminates the stories of Memphis’ Black heritage. Every tour journeys through Soulsville, sharing the neighborhood’s stories and playing a hit or two.
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Explore the people, stories and places behind the bollard art outside FedExForum. Use this slider to sneak a peek at everything soul-, funk- and R&B-related, from the art itself to local points of interest.
