Jim Stewart (record producer)
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Jim Stewart | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | James Frank Stewart |
Born | Middleton, Tennessee, U.S. | July 29, 1930
Died | December 5, 2022 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged 92)
Genres | Soul |
Occupation(s) |
|
Years active | 1957–1975 |
Labels | Stax |
James Frank Stewart
Life and career
Stewart was born on July 29, 1930.
Stewart was a part-time
In 1959, the label moved into the former Capitol Theatre in Memphis. The auditorium was converted to studio space, and the stage was made into the control room. To save money, Stewart did not level the floor. This created unique acoustics, which are noticeable in the recordings made there, with many featuring a heavy, bassy sound.
Although Stewart initially recorded country music and some rockabilly, several local R&B musicians, including Rufus Thomas, found their way to Stax and also began recording there. With the success of Thomas' "Cause I Love You", Stewart made a distribution deal in 1960 giving Atlantic first choice on releasing Satellite (later Stax) recordings.[8]
After selling millions of records during its history,[9] Stax went bankrupt in 1976. Stewart kept a low profile and intensely protected his privacy. When he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, he sent his granddaughter Jennifer to the induction ceremony to accept the award on his behalf.
In 2018, Stewart made a rare public appearance at the
Stewart died on December 5, 2022, at the age of 92.[1][11]
Work
Some of the R & B artists who worked with Stewart include:
References
- ^ a b c Friskics-Warren, B. (2022), "Jim Stewart, Unlikely Entrepreneur of Soul Music, Dies at 92", New York Times, retrieved 8 December 2022
- ^ Grace Lichtenstein, "U.S. Details Payola Plot Of $406,737", New York Times, August 22, 1973. Retrieved 6 December 2022
- S2CID 162379706.
- ^ a b Madarang, C. (2022), "Jim Stewart, Stax Records Co-Founder, Dead at 92", Rolling Stone, retrieved 8 December 2022
- ^ "Stax Records founder Jim Stewart, who helped produce the "Memphis sound," is dead at 92", Music Times, retrieved 8 December 2022,
Stax's 15 years of service led the company to push more than 167 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
- ISBN 0-8118-3394-1. Cf. pp. 65–66.
- ^ "Stax Records founder Jim Stewart, who helped produce the "Memphis sound," is dead at 92", The Week, retrieved 8 December 2022
- ^ Bowman, Rob (1997). Soulsville USA. p. 12
- ^ Press, T. A. (2022), "Jim Stewart, co-founder of Stax Records in Memphis, dies at age 92", NPR, retrieved 8 December 2022,
Stax and its affiliated record labels released 300 albums and 800 singles between 1959 and 1975, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- ^ Mehr, B., "Stax Records alumni salute founder Jim Stewart during emotional museum event", The Commercial Appeal, retrieved 8 December 2022
- ^ Mehr, Bob. "Stax Records co-founder, Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Jim Stewart dies at 92". The Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
External links
- Biography from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame web site
- Allmusic
- Jim Stewart discography at Discogs
- Jim Stewart at IMDb