Amazing things happen in Memphis, Tennessee! Memphis is experiencing a renaissance: NBA Grizzlies arrived from Vancouver, new Convention Center/Symphony Hall, Peabody Place Shopping District, Autozone Park for the AAA Redbirds, Gibson Guitar/Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum and the revived STAX Museum and Academy by Soulsville, USA.

The Story of STAX Records

After cash flow problems are experienced by Stax in the mid-1970s, the deed for Stax is sold to Southside Church of God in Christ for $1 in 1981. In 2000 plans were announced for Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Music Academy, and Performing Arts Center.

Soul music was practically invented here. Many of the greatest soul performers came from or recorded in an area of downtown Memphis called Soulsville, USA. Both Stax Records and Hi Records, two former movie theaters converted into recording studios in Soulsville in the late 1950s, cut the hottest soul records of all time. Soulsville, a non-profit organization, will build the Stax Museum of American Soul Music as well as the Stax Music Academy for inner city youth at the corner of College and McLemore Avenues in the heart of Soulsville as a tribute to these studios, record labels, and their artists as well as the other gospel, blues, r&b, and jazz musicians coming from Soulsville.

Musicians who came from, recorded, lived and worked in Soulsville include Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, Maurice White, Phineas Newborn, Jr., Rufus Thomas, Otis Redding, Booker T. & the MGs, Al Green, Sam & Dave, Reverend Herbert Brewster, the Bar-Kays, O.V. Wright, Lucie Campbell, Charles Lloyd, Gene "Bowlegs" Miller, Memphis Minnie, Ann Peebles, and Willie Mitchell. The Stax Museum of American Soul Music is an exciting, educational tribute to their work.

Revival on the Original STAX Site

The re-creation of Studio A (the main studio), originally a movie theater, will feature the sloped floors and Voice of God speakers of the earlier studio. The Satellite Record Store will be rebuilt in its original location. Soulsville neighborhood children are given first preference on entrance to the Music Academy. This neighborhood encompasses one of the poorest in Memphis, Shelby County, and the whole United States.

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music will be built on the original site of the Stax studio at 926 E. McLemore. Adjacent to the museum will be the Stax Music Academy, which will develop and teach the future musicians of Memphis music.

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music will include displays of many of the elements that made Stax Records a uniquely integrated recording studio, label, and business during a decidedly non-integrated period of time in the United States.

The museum will show how all of the following contributed to Stax Records becoming one of the most influential record labels of all time and the 5th largest minority-owned business in the U.S. in 1974. Stax Records' strength relied on its policy which allowed anyone with any talent to come through the doors and contribute creatively. The "open door policy" of Stax Records was its trademark from day one and created long-lasting music careers for many people who would otherwise have had no opportunity in the music industry. Stax had an integrated group of employees in a time (especially in the South) when such integration was uncommon. Women had key roles in running the company many years before the equal rights amendment was enacted.

Visitors to the museum will tour through the re-creation of the main studio (Studio A) with its sloping floors (originally the studio was a movie theater) and Voice of God movie speakers. The museum will show how the Stax artists and writers created songs, brought them straight into the studio, and recorded them. Key players in the Stax, Hi, and Goldwax Records stories will tell their stories through documentary films and interviews. Soul fans will learn how soul music grew through the roots of gospel music, and memorabilia such as contracts, costumes, instruments, posters, and awards will be displayed.

Artifacts from the Stax and Hi record labels as well as other soul record labels will be presented. The Satellite Record store will be rebuilt in its original location, once again selling the Memphis Sound. The overall experience will immerse the visitor in the funky sounds of sweet soul music and show how the Stax sound has influenced music 30 years later.

While the Stax Museum of American Soul Music is a fitting tribute to the musicians from the Soulsville neighborhood and the works they achieved in the 1960s and 1970s, the Stax Music Academy is a musical laboratory for the future growth of Memphis musicians and Memphis music. Because of its geographical location as a melting pot for the great musicians coming up from the Mississippi Delta and from across the river in Arkansas, Memphis has always had great musicians.

However, Memphis has never had a place to nurture its finest export—its musicians. The Music Academy is a place where young children can come and learn a craft that will not only teach them life skills but also will take them to places throughout the world. The open door policy of Stax will be extended to Memphis children through the Music Academy.

The Music Academy will also house the archives of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Students of soul, gospel, jazz, and blues music will be able to visit the museum's constantly growing archives. Journalists and members of the media may also use these archives to research this subject matter.

Progression of the Design

The streetscape design of the Museum and Academy consists of accent paving and historic markers noting the famous artists such as Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas and Booker T. & the MGs who helped contribute to the rich history of STAX.

In 1999 design started on the STAX Museum and Academy campus. RWB & Associates (RWB) was selected to design the exterior grounds and hardscape facility and features and was hired by Victor Bucholz, AIA of Looney Ricks Kiss Architects (LRK) of Memphis, design team leader.

While working closely with LRK, RWB's challenge was to design an outdoor Amphitheater, Walk of Fame Plaza and Promenade linking the neighborhood to the north with the rear entrance to the 4.7 acre Campus.

As you approach the new Stax Museum and Academy, the streetscape design welcomes visitors with shade trees, planting beds, accent paving and historic markers. The streetscape leads to the Plaza which serves as a main gathering point for students and visitors. The Plaza links the Amphitheater and streetscape between the Museum and Academy. There are soft plantings with ornamental trellis' lining the Plaza. These trellis' will support climbing roses for accent and compliment the proposed structures and materials. Historic Markers have been incorporated identifying noted artists who have contributed to the development of STAX.

The amphitheater with a seating capacity of 500 will be constructed with Versa-Lok Wall Systems. The stage will be elevated while the seating levels rise to a height of 10 feet and will be faced with the Versa-Lok system. Repeating materials, textures and colors were used achieving harmony and balance throughout the site. Patrons and visitors will have comfortable sitting areas planted with turfgrass. The seating area will be illuminated and irrigated creating a lush environment for both day and night time events.

The Promenade and rear entrance is centered on the stage and amphitheater creating a strong axis and connector into the campus. The Promenade is lined by crape myrtles, shrub beds, accent paving and historic markers. The accent paving consists of broom finish concrete in various textures and brushed in varying directions. It acts as a safe ingress/egress point for students and visitors through the parking facility leading to the Academy and Museum.

Preservation of existing mature trees was a challenge on this site. A 24" southern magnolia and numerous 24" plus caliper oaks were high on the preservation priority list. Grading operations that were detrimental to root zones and sensitive areas adjacent to these mature trees were limited. In areas where encroachment could not be avoided, the use of the Versa-Lok Wall System was incorporated repeating its use from the Amphitheater.

The grand opening for this historic facility is scheduled for Fall 2002. Weekly construction photos and updates

can be viewed online at the STAX Web site at www.soulsvilleusa.com.