stax records

Founded in 1957 in Memphis, Tennessee, by siblings Jim Stewart and Estelle Axton, Stax Records emerged as a defining force in American music. Originally established as Satellite Records, the label became a cultural powerhouse known for pioneering the gritty, emotionally resonant Memphis Sound. Operating out of a converted movie theater, Stax cultivated a deeply integrated environment during an era of intense racial segregation, bringing together Black and white musicians to create a distinctive blend of soul, gospel, funk, and rhythm and blues.

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