The Stax Museum of American Soul Music turns 16 years old today. It is helping celebrate its birthday and this 200th birthday of the epicenter of American music, Memphis, Tennessee, with “BiSOULtennial,” a new contest to allow fans worldwide to vote on their favorite Memphis soul songs recorded between 1957 and 1975.
The Stax Museum staff has compiled a Spotify playlist of 200 Memphis soul songs from that golden era of music and is releasing it today to invite guests, fans, social media followers, and people from around the world to vote for what they consider to be their Top Ten.
BiSOULtennial voting kicks off Wednesday, May 15, 2019 during an event at Memphis’ Crosstown Arts in Crosstown Concourse, when the ballots will be released and an all-star panel of Memphis musicians, fans, DJs, scholars, and writers will discuss the song selections. Each panelist will select and discuss two songs from their choices for Top Ten.
The Spotify list of 200 songs and ballots for voting are available on the Stax Museum’s website at https://staxmuseum.com/. There will also be donation options to support the Stax Museum and Stax Music Academy during this special celebration.
Paper ballots will also be distributed that evening and then throughout the contest at the Stax Museum and other locations around Memphis. People may vote as often as they like between May 15 and June 30, when the voting ends and results will begin being tabulated.
“These are the 200 songs we feel best represent “Memphis Soul,” said Jeff Kollath, executive director of the Stax Museum. “Our only rules were no more than five songs per artist and it had to be predominantly recorded in Memphis between 1957 and 1975. 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, they can write something.”
Once voting closes, votes will be tabulated and the Top Ten will be announced during a special celebration at the Stax Museum on Thursday, August 15 at 7pm. Local DJs will spin Memphis classics all night long and current Memphis musicians will announce the Top Ten and present an award to a musician, writer, producer, or family member associated with each of the Top Ten recordings chosen.
In conjunction with the contest, Memphis artist Jamond Bullock will unveil ten original paintings that evening that interpret the music, message, and vibe of the Top Ten. Bullock’s artwork will be displayed at the Stax Museum through the early fall and will be for sale. Additionally, nationally known concert poster artist Marq Spusta will contribute a limited edition, Memphis-centric, original poster featuring the Top Ten recordings in his own unique, otherworldly style. Posters will be available for sale at the August 15 event and in the Stax Museum gift shop until sold out. The top ten Memphis soul classics will also become the core of a Stax Music Academy concert to be held in late October featuring both current students and alumni paired with Memphis music legends.
Special thanks to Memphis Brand Initiative and Crosstown Arts.
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