STAX MUSEUM - Memphis

Memphis is known for its music so we decided to take a drive across town to the Stax Museum. The Museum is located in the ghetto, not the Warsaw one. The Museum is reconstructed on the former plot of the Stax recording studio, and the building facade is a replica of the original marquee. I was never a fan of soul music. Even when I saw it on TV, it just didn’t appeal. My folks never were into that music, they were not hip. While soul music started as a musical genera, it eventually took on a radical political/social flavor which led to its fall from the mainstream and eventual demise (and NO this was never spelled out anywhere, I just surmise this and will have to talk to some older hipper Memphians). I did not understand its origin until I visited this Museum.

Incidentally, admission is free to Shelby County residents on Tuesdays with ID. Most importantly, there is a large fenced (free) parking lot in the back – this $5 value ensures that your car and rims will be intact when you return.

Does it tell a story? I think that a museum should “tell a story”. Stax starts off by explaining the origins of soul music. It does not really explain how this musical style started in Memphis other than “it was here”, best I can gather it is because the music started in the Mississippi Delta and when people moved to the city they took their music with them. That city is Memphis. Stax does not explain what caused the downfall of soul music. The interesting phenomena is that most of the artists grew up in the neighborhood around the studio. One of my favorite things in the museum is a map of the neighborhood and the addresses of artists’ homes including photos of the houses (and their various states of disrepair).

The text explanations are voluminous- way too much to ever read. It would appear that whoever put the exhibits together was unable to distinguish what was important and what was not. Another pet peeve of mine about this museum is the noise level. Each musician has a small area with their music blaring at levels akin to that of a rocket launch. Headphones would be a much appreciated addition. Headphones would keep the ambient noise down and allow visitors to peruse the music at their own pace. The Experience Music Project Museum in Seattle, dedicated to the life and times of Jimmy Hendrix, whose grandmother allegedly lived four houses away from my family on Seward Park Avenue.

The museum has a wonderful collection of artifacts from many of the musicians and provides a great overview of the different singers and their sound.

OK, so what was my favorite thing in the museum? It was a HUGE custom Caddy in teal and 24K gold accents. This machine was given to Isaac Hayes for being Black Moses. This boat has a mini refrigerator in back. Between the front seats is “small TV”. What a high tech concept! Best of all, the car is on a rotating stand so that it can be seen from every angle.

Recommendation: Good activity for a rainy day but check out the other Memphis music museums.

http://www.soulsvilleusa.com/