Stax Records

Stax Records was a Memphis record label whose house band, artists, and distinctive studio sound shaped Southern soul from the late 1950s through the 1970s.

Stax sound: A style of soul marked by raw performances, prominent horns, strong rhythm, and the sound of Stax’s Memphis studio. It names the musical character produced by Stax’s musicians and recording environment.
Satellite Records: The Memphis record label founded by Jim Stewart that became Stax Records in 1961. Satellite was Stax’s original name before the label adopted its lasting identity.
Otis Redding: An American soul singer and songwriter whose impassioned performances made him one of Stax’s defining artists. His recordings became central to Stax’s reputation and international reach.
Stax/Volt Tour: A 1967 European concert tour featuring Stax and Volt artists, including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Booker T. & the M.G.'s. The tour showcased the label’s performers abroad shortly before a major shift in its fortunes.
Booker T. & the M.G.'s: An instrumental soul group that served as Stax’s house band and recorded hits including “Green Onions.” The group supplied much of the label’s instrumental foundation and played on many sessions.
Estelle Axton: An American record executive who co-founded Stax Records with her brother Jim Stewart. Axton helped finance the label and built a direct connection with local record buyers.
Sam & Dave: An American soul duo best known for recordings such as “Soul Man,” released through Stax and Atlantic. Their hits brought Stax’s sound to a broad audience in the 1960s.
Soul music: A popular music genre combining elements of gospel, rhythm and blues, and other Black American musical traditions. Stax helped define one of soul’s most influential regional sounds.
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section: A studio ensemble of Alabama musicians who backed numerous soul and pop recordings at FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound studios. Its polished Alabama session sound offers a close regional comparison to Stax’s Memphis approach.
Rufus Thomas: An American singer and entertainer whose early Stax recordings included “Cause I Love You” and “The Dog.” His 1960 hit “Cause I Love You” helped establish the label’s early success.

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