Stax Records is a staple of great soul music but the legendary label doesn’t always get its proper due.
A new documentary series from HBO called “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” will soon shine a light on the storied Memphis, Tennessee label that launched the careers of some pretty big names in the history of the musical genre including Booker T & the M.G.’s, Isaac Hayes, and Otis Redding to name a few.
Directed and produced by filmmaker Jamila Wignot (“American Masters”, “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.”), the four-part documentary will tell the story of the label’s humble beginnings and how the racially diverse group of executives and musicians navigated the turbulent and often violent racial tensions of the day.
Per the network’s synopsis:
STAX: SOULSVILLE U.S.A. chronicles the audacious group of individuals who dared to make music on their own terms, smashing racial barriers and defining an era and leaving an enduring musical legacy in their wake. Driven by a striking collection of restored and remastered archival performance footage and intimate interviews with key players in the label’s remarkable history, STAX: SOULSVILLE U.S.A. details the unlikely origin story of Stax Records and pays tribute to its complex music library and the legendary artists that emerged from the iconic studio.
Founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart and co-owned with his sister, Estelle Axton, the company drew upon a mix of young, local talent – musicians, songwriters, and producers – who would create the unforgettable Stax sound. Against the backdrop of the American south of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, white and Black artists worked together, defying segregation, and producing hits such as “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay,” “Soul Man,” “Green Onions,” and the Oscar(R)-winning “Theme from Shaft.”
“Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” is scheduled to premiere on HBO with back-to-back episodes on May 20 with the remaining two episodes airing the next night. The series will also stream on HBO Max.
Check out the trailer below.
