Memphis soul
Memphis soul | |
---|---|
Stylistic origins | |
Cultural origins | 1960s; Memphis, Tennessee (United States) |
Derivative forms | Funk |
Other topics | |
Stax Records |
Memphis soul, also known as the Memphis sound, is the most prominent strain of Southern soul. It is a shimmering, sultry style produced in the 1960s and 1970s at Stax Records and Hi Records in Memphis, Tennessee, featuring melodic unison horn lines, organ, guitar, bass, and a driving beat on the drums.
Many of the songs in this style were performed by vocalists backed by the house bands of
Overview/Memphis Soul
Soul music is an emotional genre that began by expression of the struggles within the African American community.[1] Soul is similar to genres like Motown or Rhythm and Blues but is unique because of its tonality and origin. Memphis musicians Willie Mitchell and Al Green collaborated to produce the basic sound of all soul music to emerge from Memphis. To this day, the entire genre of Memphis soul music is in accordance with their perfected sound of the 70s.
Characteristics
Memphis soul pulls stylistic influence from jazz, Motown, Rhythm and blues, gospel and Doo-wop music.[2] There is often a call and response between the lead vocalist and chorus. Other characteristics of Memphis soul include handclaps, funky rhythms, catchy melodies, and invigorating body movement by the performer. Brass and saxophones are common in much of Memphis soul instrumentation.[3]
Memphis soul is unique due to its uptown influence on Southern regional soul music. Soul was originally written by and for the black community in Memphis but eventually became popular across all racial groups. Soul was experimental and new. It transformed greatly from the 50s into the 70s. Soul is the backbone of all American music genres today. Soul music directly influenced Rock music in America.[4]
Memphis Soul Record Labels
Stax Records
For the next 14 years, Stax Records launched the careers and recorded hits for the likes of
Under the leadership of
Stax was one of the most successfully integrated companies in the country—from top management and administration to its artists. The company was founded by Stewart and co-owned by Axton. Al Bell eventually joined the team, becoming a co-owner of Stax Records in 1968. With 200-plus employees, Stax was one of the largest African-American-owned businesses in the United States in its time. Because of this, there was a large amount of influence from the African-American community, influencing the sound of Memphis soul music. By 1970, both Stax and Hi Records (described below) had African-Americans included in ownership.
The Stax rhythm section was the epitome of the label's integration. The M.G.'s represented racial harmony in Memphis during the Civil Rights era. Composed of
Hi Records
Hi Records was started by a trio of Sun Studio musicians—Ray Harris, Bill Cantrell and Quinton Claunch—and Joe Cuoghi, one of the owners of Poplar ("Pop") Tunes, a local record store, Hi Records' early releases were primarily rockabilly. While the label had success with this sound, rockabilly was declining in popularity, as was Hi Records. Finally, the label had its first hit, courtesy of Harris' friend, Bill Black.[6]
Just as The Mar-Keys "Last Night" grew Stax Records, the success of Bill Black's Combo changed Hi from a rockabilly label to an instrumental powerhouse during the early 60s. But as the decade wore on, Hi Records once again recognized a shift in the musical landscape, and, with the leadership of the producer, bandleader and songwriter Willie Mitchell, evolved into a successful soul music label.
The soul label first emerged on the national scene with Ann Peebles. Approached by Mitchell after an impromptu performance at the Rosewood Club, Peebles hit the charts in 1969 with "Walk Away" followed by "Part Time Love. She recorded "I Can't Stand the Rain" (1974) and the song was one of favorite song of John Lennon.[7]
After a chance encounter on tour in Texas,
Mitchell made a name for Hi Records by working with a number of big soul artists (such as Ike and Tina Turner) who were associated with other record labels.
Goldwax Records
Quinton Claunch was a hardware store owner who had previously worked as a country music guitarist, session musician at Sun Records, songwriter and record producer, and had co-founded Hi Records in 1957 before selling his stake two years later. Russell was a pharmacist who was interested in becoming involved in the music business.[8]
The label had its biggest successes with
Notable Memphis Soul Artists
- Booker T. & the M.G.'s
- Carla Thomas
- Eddie Floyd
- Johnnie Taylor
- Otis Redding
- Rufus Thomas
- Soul Children
- Al Green
- Don Bryant
- O.V. Wright
- Otis Clay
- Ann Peebles
- Quiet Elegance
- Syl Johnson
- Bill Black's Combo
- Willie Mitchell
- James Carr
- The Ovations
See also
References
- ^ Aby. "Soul Music and Motown – Swan Vocals". Retrieved 2021-04-12.
- OCLC 1026858630.
- ^ Jam, Professor (15 March 2021). "Soul Genre History". S.M.O.M.
- ISBN 978-1-77041-508-9.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link - ^ "A Brief History of Memphis Music". www.amromusic.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
- ^ "Memphis Street Railway". December 18, 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ^ I Can't Stand the Rain Retrieved 5 May 2021
- ^ "Goldwax Album Discography". Bsnpubs.com. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ^ "About". Weewilliewalker.com. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ "Quinton Claunch - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 April 2018.