Center for Southern Folklore | Memphis, TN
Founded in 1972, the Center for Southern Folklore is an American non-profit cultural organization whose mission is “to preserve, defend, protect and promote the music, culture, arts, and rhythms of the South.” The Center produces documentary films and maintains a large archive of video and audio recordings of music and narratives, contemporary and historical photographs, film and slides, and selected artifacts and art. The Center also has a gallery that shows regional folk art and photographs, a cafe featuring live performances by local blues, folk, Latin, and jazz musicians, and a folklore store selling art, photographs, posters, and CDs by Memphis-area musicians. It is also sponsors the annual Memphis Music and Heritage Festival, which is held each Labor Day weekend.
Center for Southern Follklore
Address: 119 South Main Street Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: (901) 525 3655
Official Website: www.southernfolklore.com
Map & Driving Directions
Stax Museum of American Soul Music | Memphis, TN
If you are a soul music lover, make sure you get to Soulsville, USA, aka Stax Museum of American Soul Music when you visit Memphis. Built almost to the exact specifications of the original Stax recording studio, housed in the former Capitol Theatre, the Stax Museum features hundreds if not thousands of videos, films, photographs, original instruments used to record Stax hits, stage costumes, interactive exhibits, and other items of memorabilia.
The museum’s most memorable exhibits include an authentic replica of an old Mississippi Delta church demonstrating soul music’s roots in gospel; the Soul Train dance floor (with TV show clips), Isaac Hayes’ restored 1972 gold-trimmed, peacock-blue El Dorado Cadillac; and case after case of artist bios, costumes, performance footage and the actual Stax recording studio itself. Definitely a must see when visiting the city with the nearby Rock n Soul Museum running a close second.
Stax Museum of American Soul Music
870 E McLemore Ave Memphis, TN 38106
Tel: 901-946-2535
Official Website: Soulville USA
Map & Driving Directions
Stax Records “Soulville USA” | Memphis, TN
Known as the home of Memphis Soul or southern soul, Stax Records released some of the most influential recordings of the 1960’s, including such hits as “Soul Man,” “Respect”, and “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay” among many others. Although its stable of music artists consisted almost entirely of African Americans, the label was also home to several popular ethnically-integrated bands, including the label’s house band, Booker T. & the MG’s. Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Johnnie Taylor, the Staple Singers, and Isaac Hayes are just a few of the artists who called Stax home. Recent perfomers who have recorded for the label include Angie Stone and Lela Hathaway.
For more information on the history and music of Stax Records, be sure to visit the label’s official 50th anniversary website.
Stax Records studio session: From left, the musicians Sam Moore, Isaac Hayes, Andrew Love, Wayne Jackson, Dave Prater, Jim Stewart and Steve Cropper, around 1970.
