The Stax record company has been honoured by the U.S. House of Representatives this week as it celebrates 50 years of soul music.
Resolution 154 passed unanimously, with representatives from both sides of the political coin commenting on the label's importance.Democratic Tennessean representative Steve Cohen boasted "Memphis has the only soul music museum in the world."
The company's rich musical history is not only an important part of music history, but it's an important part of American history.
The music that came out of Soulsville U.S.A. was made by black and white musicians working together without a second thought. While U.S. troops were fighting in Vietnam, many claim it was artists like Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett that got them through it.
While up north in Detroit Motown was rubbing out pop hit after pop hit, Stax did it dirty with hits like 'Shake', 'Mustang Sally' and one of the most recognizable instrumentals of all time, 'Green Onions'.
Those of you lucky enough to be in Memphis this Friday should make sure you have tickets to 50 Years of Stax: A Concert To Benefit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music which will be held at the history Orpheum Theatre.
Performing on the night will be Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MGs, Mavis Staples, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, the Soul Children, the Reddings (honoring the legacy of their father Otis Redding), and new Stax signings Angie Stone, N'dambi, Soulive and Lalah Hathaway. Hosting the show are Chuck D (Public Enemy) and Randy Jackson (Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Billy Joel, American Idol).
