Stax Museum of American Soul Music

FREE outdoor showing of the classic 1973 concert film featuring Rufus and Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, the Bar-Kays, and many more Stax artists. Bring lawn chairs to enjoy the show; food trucks will be on hand. DJ Bizzle Bluebland will play Memphis classics and deep cuts before the film starts. Limited parking […]

Lecture and discussion with author Emily Lordi and Edwin Mims, Professor of English, Vanderbilt University Free Admission In The Meaning of Soul, Emily J. Lordi proposes a new understanding of this famously elusive concept. In the 1960s, Lordi argues, soul came to signify a cultural belief in black resilience, which was enacted through musical practices—inventive cover […]

Les Paul Thru the Lens explores the life of pioneering musician and innovator Les Paul. Through a series of 24 photographs, visitors will see a chronicle of Paul’s life, career, and achievements: his early performances as Red Hot Red, his marriage to and work with Mary Ford, his explorations in the recording studio and with the […]

Conversation, listening session, and book signing with authors Bob Beatty and Timothy Hoover One of the greatest collaborations of the late 1960s was between King Curtis Ousley, the R&B saxophone master, and Duane Allman, the slide guitar prodigy whose musical vision transcended genre. Their paths crossed when both were highly sought-after sessions musicians for Atlantic […]

Admission-free Family Day falls on the second Saturday of each month. We offer live music, arts & crafts, games & activities, snacks, and much more for young people of all ages. While we are open to all Shelby County residents free on Tuesdays from 1-5 pm, this is our way of offering youth-friendly programming at […]

Join us for this special event with Chuck Berry biographer RJ Smith. In Chuck Berry, biographer RJ Smith crafts a comprehensive portrait of one of the great American entertainers, guitarists, and lyricists of the 20th century, bringing Chuck Berry to life in vivid detail. Based on interviews, archival research, legal documents, and a deep understanding of […]

Wed, December 14, 6-8 pm Soul & Spirits Brewery 845 N. Main 38107 Live Music by Memphis' only Booker T. & the MGs cover band Food trucks, libations, drink specials, games for kids, dancing, & more

Alan Copeland was as much of an artist as a musician. Often seen with a camera around his neck at concerts throughout Memphis, Copeland’s photographs, largely taken between 1965 and 1990, show a love for music and the men and women who made it. The Stax Museum now holds the entire Alan Copeland Collection that […]

Join us for a special happy hour conversation and Q&A with legendary hip-hop, R&B, and jazz producer Easy Mo Bee. The Brooklyn native has worked with artists as diverse as Big Daddy Kane and Miles Davis, and is best known for his landmark production work with The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac. In 2003, he won […]

Please join us for this book event celebrating Matthew Ruddick’s new biography of The Funkiest Man Alive, RUFUS THOMAS! We will have a DJ playing Rufus’ best-known songs, deep cuts, and other Memphis dance hits. The author will give a short reading and then be available for signing books. Soul & Spirits Brewery will be […]

The Stax Museum of American Soul Music announced that it will continue with its free-admission “Family Day” on May 13, 2023, 1-4 pm as part of the month of May’s Stax Museum’s 20th Anniversary celebration. Admission during that time is free for everyone. Children of all ages are treated to: This Family Day, we are […]

What do Little Richard, James Brown, and Otis Redding Jr. have in common? Not by simply being three sons of the South, their lives also intersect at Macon, Georgia’s famed Douglass Theatre, where the three superstars made their way to the stage. The Douglass Theatre was constructed and owned by an African American, Charles Henry […]