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Stax Museum Launches biSOULtennial by Choosing 200 Memphis Soul Classics

The Stax Museum is celebrating its 16th birthday and Memphis’ Bicentennial by choosing 200 of the most soulful songs of the city. Music-lovers can join the celebration by voting for their top ten, May 15 through June 30.

The Stax Museum is turning 16, and celebrating the city’s 200 years by launching the “biSOULtennial.” To commemorate, they’re compiling a list of 200 soul classics recorded in Memphis during 1957 through 1975, and they’re asking Memphians to rank their top ten. Wilson Pickett, Rufus Thomas, Bobby Womack, and Otis Redding are only a few of the artists featured on the extensive celebratory list.
On Wednesday, May 15th, soul music lovers will get a chance to hear the full playlist at the BiSoultennial Celebration Kickoff listening party at the Green Room at Crosstown Concourse. The event will also feature an all-star panel of Memphis musicians, fans, DJs, scholars, and writers who will discuss the song selections. Panelists include Dr. Charles Hughes (Rhodes College), DJ Eddie Hankins (WEVL-FM), Tonya Dyson (Memphis Slim House), Kameron Whalum (Stax Music Academy artist in residence and Bruno Mars’ trombone player), and Jared Boyd (The Daily Memphian newspaper). The event also kicks off the biSoultennial voting, where people can rank their top ten songs from the list.
 
“We have created a list that goes across record label, studio, and era. Certainly, there are going to be some songs that the fans want to see represented, but just because it is not on the list doesn’t mean they can’t vote for it – just like a regular election, you can write-in! And we encourage everyone to share their ballots on social media and defend their selections!”-Jeff Kollath,  Executive Director, Stax Museum
 
Voting closes June 30. The selections will be announced during a special celebration at the Stax Museum, August 15, featuring live music and art exhibits from local artists. A Stax Music Academy concert will be held in late October featuring both current students and alumni paired with Memphis music legends.
 

You can hear the “biSoultennial” playlist here. Then vote for your favorite top ten songs on the museum’s website

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music’s‘biSoultennial’ is an official event of the Memphis Bicentennial celebration, A New Century of Soul. For more information, please visit mem200.com.

 

 

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