The Story of Stax Records & Its First Three Flagship Artists
In the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, where gospel, blues, and country music blended into something entirely new, a small, unassuming record label
would go on to define Southern soul music and rival even the mighty Motown. This was Stax Records, a company born out of passion, grit, and an unshakable love for raw, unfiltered soul music.
But before the label became legendary, it was just a dream shared by two unlikely partners—a country music-loving white banker and his classically trained musician sister—who had no idea they were about to change music history forever.
The Beginnings of Stax:
A Garage, A Vision, and a Name Change
The story of Stax begins in 1957, when Jim Stewart, a country fiddle player and banker, started a small recording venture called Satellite Records in his wife’s uncle’s garage in Memphis. At first, the label focused on country and rockabilly, but Stewart soon realized that the real energy of Memphis wasn’t in country—it was in soul and R&B.
In 1959, Jim’s sister, Estelle Axton, joined the business, helping finance it by mortgaging her home. Together, they purchased a small movie theater at 926 E. McLemore Avenue, converting it into a recording studio. The former theater’s sloped floor created an odd acoustic environment that, by chance, gave their recordings a distinctive rich, deep, and raw sound.
But there was a problem. Another label was already using the name "Satellite," so in 1961, they rebranded as Stax Records, combining the first two letters of their last names: Stewart and Axton.
With a new name and a unique sound, Stax was ready to make history.
The First Three Flagship Artists of Stax Records
Every great label needs great artists. While Stax would go on to discover and define some of the biggest names in soul music, three key artists laid the foundation and put Stax on the map in the early years.
1. Rufus & Carla Thomas: The First Breakthrough
In 1960, Stax’s first major signing was Rufus Thomas, a Memphis radio DJ and blues singer, and his daughter, Carla Thomas.
Carla, just 17 years old, recorded "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)"—a sweet, sophisticated ballad that became Stax’s first national hit, reaching #5 on the R&B charts and #10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Rufus followed with "Walkin' the Dog", a funky blues number that became one of the first defining records of the Stax sound.
Carla Thomas would go on to become the "Queen of Memphis Soul," and Rufus, with his deep-rooted showmanship and humor, became a guiding figure in shaping Stax’s identity.
2. Booker T. & The M.G.’s: The Sound Architects of Stax
Stax wasn’t just about great singers—it was about a sound, and that sound wouldn’t have existed without Booker T. & The M.G.'s.
In 1962, a group of Stax session musicians, led by Booker T. Jones on organ, Steve Cropper on guitar, Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass, and Al Jackson Jr. on drums, came together to record "Green Onions."
The track was an instrumental masterpiece, driven by its unmistakable Hammond organ riff and tight, bluesy groove.
It became an instant classic, hitting #3 on the pop charts and establishing Stax’s house band, who would go on to back almost every major Stax artist.
Beyond their own hits, Booker T. & The M.G.’s became the backbone of Stax, shaping the label’s distinctive raw, funky, and deeply Southern soul sound.
3. Otis Redding: The Voice That Defined Stax
No artist would come to embody Stax more than Otis Redding. His arrival in 1962 was almost accidental—he was just a driver for guitarist Johnny Jenkins, who had a recording session at Stax. When Jenkins struggled in the studio, Otis was given a last-minute chance to record a song.
That song was "These Arms of Mine."
Released in 1962, it changed everything. Otis’s aching, emotional, and deeply expressive voice became an instant sensation, and he quickly became the face of Stax Records.
Over the next few years, he delivered hits like "I've Been Loving You Too Long," "Respect" (later made famous by Aretha Franklin), and "Try a Little Tenderness."
By the mid-60s, Otis was Stax’s biggest star, and his live performances were legendary for their raw energy and emotional power.
Otis Redding wasn’t just a singer—he was a force of nature. And thanks to him, Stax Records went from being a regional label to a global phenomenon.
The Birth of a Soul Empire
With Carla Thomas, Booker T. & The M.G.’s, and Otis Redding leading the way, Stax Records cemented itself as a powerhouse of soul music.
The label’s artists weren’t just making records—they were creating a movement, blending gospel roots, blues grit, and pure emotion into something entirely new.
As the 1960s progressed, Stax continued to grow, signing legendary artists like Sam & Dave, Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, and Wilson Pickett, expanding their influence, and rivaling Motown’s polished pop soul with their gritty, deeply Southern sound.
But it all started with a dream, a garage, and three trailblazing acts that proved Memphis wasn’t just a city of blues—it was the home of soul.
Stax Records:
The Golden Era (1963 – Mid-1970s)
By 1963, Stax Records had firmly planted its roots in Memphis, Tennessee, and was quickly becoming one of the most influential record labels in American music. What had started as a small family-run label was now rivaling Motown, creating a raw, deeply emotional sound that embodied the Southern soul movement.
But Stax wasn’t just a record label—it was a cultural force. It gave voice to the Black experience in America, became a beacon of creativity during the Civil Rights Movement, and built a musical empire that would shape the future of R&B, funk, and even hip-hop.
This is the story of Stax’s golden years, from its meteoric rise in the 1960s to its struggles and reinvention in the 1970s.
The Mid-1960s: The Stax Sound Takes Over
The Atlantic Partnership (1961–1965)
At first, Stax was a small, independent label with limited national distribution. In 1961, to expand its reach, Stax struck a deal with Atlantic Records, which agreed to distribute Stax releases in exchange for rights to the master recordings. It seemed like a good deal at the time, but it would later become one of the biggest mistakes in Stax history.
Otis Redding Becomes a Superstar
By 1964, Stax’s biggest artist was without a doubt Otis Redding. His gritty yet tender voice, combined with the raw energy of Stax’s house band, Booker T. & The M.G.’s, defined the Stax sound.
"Mr. Pitiful" (1964) and "I've Been Loving You Too Long" (1965) cemented his place as a soul icon.
He performed at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, where he stunned a mostly white audience with his electrifying performance.
His biggest crossover success came in 1967 with "(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay", recorded just days before his tragic death in a plane crash on December 10, 1967.
His death was a devastating blow to Stax, but his music immortalized the label and gave it a global audience.
1965–1968: The Stax Family Grows
As Otis Redding rose to superstardom, Stax continued signing new talent, shaping the raw, horn-driven, church-infused soul music that set them apart from Motown’s slicker, pop-oriented sound.
Sam & Dave: The Dynamic Duo
One of Stax’s most successful acts was Sam & Dave, whose high-energy, gospel-infused duets became defining records of the 1960s.
Hits like "Hold On, I'm Comin'" (1966) and "Soul Man" (1967) made them household names, combining powerful call-and-response vocals with the unmistakable Stax groove.
Backed by Booker T. & The M.G.’s and The Mar-Keys horn section, they delivered some of the most electrifying performances of the era.
Isaac Hayes Steps into the Spotlight
Behind the scenes, Isaac Hayes had been writing and producing some of Stax’s biggest hits (including many for Sam & Dave). But by 1969, he stepped out as a solo artist with his breakthrough album "Hot Buttered Soul."
His deep, smooth voice, extended orchestral arrangements, and spoken-word intros redefined soul music.
In 1971, he released "Theme from Shaft," a revolutionary mix of funk, jazz, and orchestration that won an Academy Award and became one of the most iconic movie themes of all time.
Isaac Hayes wasn’t just a singer—he was a cultural icon, setting the stage for the rise of funk music and influencing generations of artists, from Barry White to hip-hop producers decades later.
The Tragic Turning Point: The Loss of the Atlantic Deal (1968)
Everything seemed to be going right for Stax—until 1968, when the label faced its biggest crisis yet.
The Loss of Its Master Recordings
When Stax’s distribution deal with Atlantic Records ended in 1968, co-founder Jim Stewart expected to regain full control of the label. But there was a horrible clause in the contract that he hadn’t fully realized: Atlantic owned the rights to all Stax master recordings up until 1968.
Every single song Stax had ever recorded—Otis Redding’s catalog, Sam & Dave’s hits, Booker T. & The M.G.’s instrumentals—was now owned by Atlantic.
Overnight, Stax lost its entire back catalog and had to start over from scratch.
To make matters worse, in April 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, just blocks from Stax. The city was in turmoil, and Stax, which had always been a symbol of Black excellence and racial unity, found itself struggling to survive.
The Stax Rebirth: 1969–Mid-1970s
The Rise of The Staple Singers & A New Era
Despite the setbacks, Stax refused to die. Under new leadership from Al Bell, the label launched a bold new campaign in 1969: "We’re rebuilding Stax, one record at a time."
One of the biggest successes of this era was The Staple Singers, a gospel-soul group led by Roebuck "Pops" Staples and featuring Mavis Staples, whose powerful, deep vocals defined the 1970s soul revolution.
Hits like "Respect Yourself" (1971) and "I'll Take You There" (1972) became anthems of Black empowerment and social justice.
The Staple Singers gave Stax a new identity, blending gospel, funk, and soul into something fresh and deeply spiritual.
The Wattstax Festival (1972): Stax’s Answer to Woodstock
In 1972, Stax organized Wattstax, a historic concert in Los Angeles, often called "the Black Woodstock."
The event drew over 100,000 people and featured performances from Isaac Hayes, The Staple Singers, The Bar-Kays, Albert King, and others.
It wasn’t just about music—it was a celebration of Black pride, resilience, and culture, reinforcing Stax’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.
The Mid-1970s: The Fall of Stax
Despite its resurgence, financial troubles began creeping in by the mid-1970s. Stax expanded too quickly, and Al Bell took on too much debt. The label was struggling to pay its artists, and by 1975, Stax was collapsing under financial pressure.
In 1976, Stax officially went bankrupt, marking the end of an era.
The Legacy of Stax Records
Though Stax closed its doors in the 1970s, its music never died.
Hip-hop producers would later sample Stax records, keeping the sound alive in rap, R&B, and funk.
In the 1980s and 90s, artists like Prince and D’Angelo carried forward the Stax legacy of gritty, emotional soul.
In 2003, Stax was revived as a label, and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music opened in Memphis, honoring the label’s legendary artists.
Stax wasn’t just a record label—it was a movement.
It gave the world Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & The M.G.’s, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, and countless other artists who changed music forever.
The Legacy of Stax Records: A Soul Revolution That Still Echoes Today
Stax Records was more than just a record label—it was a cultural movement, a beacon of Black excellence, and a sonic revolution that forever altered the landscape of music.
The label’s impact transcended generations, influencing not only the soul and R&B of its time but also shaping the rise of funk, hip-hop, neo-soul, and modern-day music production.
Here’s how Stax’s legacy continues to live on:
1. The Stax Sound: A Lasting Influence on Music Production
The raw, unfiltered, deeply emotional sound of Stax was built on live instrumentation, tight rhythm sections, punchy horn arrangements, and gritty, heartfelt vocals. Unlike Motown’s polished, radio-friendly pop-soul, Stax music felt alive, urgent, and deeply connected to gospel and blues traditions.
🎶 Who It Inspired:
Prince – Adopted Stax’s blend of funk, soul, and rock into his own Minneapolis sound.
D’Angelo – His neo-soul sound, especially on Voodoo (2000), heavily reflects Stax’s influence, particularly from Booker T. & The M.G.'s and Isaac Hayes.
Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak (Silk Sonic) – Their 2021 album An Evening with Silk Sonic channels the gritty funk and soul energy that Stax pioneered.
Leon Bridges – His retro-soul sound is a direct callback to Stax greats like Otis Redding and The Staple Singers.
2. Stax and the Birth of Funk & Hip-Hop
Stax’s house musicians, particularly Booker T. & The M.G.'s and The Bar-Kays, laid the groundwork for the funk explosion of the 1970s. Isaac Hayes and The Bar-Kays' heavy bass grooves, wah-wah guitars, and syncopated rhythms became the blueprint for funk, later shaping hip-hop’s DNA.
🎤 Hip-Hop and Sampling:Hip-hop owes much of its production style to Stax Records. Many of its iconic tracks have been sampled across decades:
Isaac Hayes’ “Walk On By” – Sampled by The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, and Wu-Tang Clan.
The Bar-Kays’ “Soul Finger” – Sampled in various hip-hop beats, particularly in West Coast rap.
Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness” – Sampled by Kanye West for Jay-Z’s “Otis” (2011), introducing a new generation to Stax soul.
Booker T. & The M.G.'s’ tracks – Used widely in hip-hop production, influencing beats from Dr. Dre to OutKast.
🔥 Who Stax Helped Inspire in Hip-Hop & Funk:
James Brown & Parliament-Funkadelic – While James Brown pioneered funk, Stax’s musicians helped develop its foundation, influencing George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic.
Dr. Dre & The Roots – Dre’s G-Funk sound in the ’90s was directly influenced by the soulful, orchestral funk of Isaac Hayes. The Roots brought that live Stax-style instrumentation into hip-hop.
OutKast & Kendrick Lamar – Both incorporated Southern soul influences reminiscent of Stax into their storytelling and beats.
3. Stax and the Civil Rights Movement: A Symbol of Black Excellence
During the Civil Rights Movement, Stax was more than a music label—it was a voice for Black America. It was one of the few integrated studios in the South, with white and Black musicians working side by side in a time of segregation.
🏛 Cultural Impact:
The Wattstax Festival (1972), often called "the Black Woodstock," wasn’t just a concert—it was a powerful statement of Black pride and self-determination.
Songs like The Staple Singers’ “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There” became anthems of empowerment.
Public Enemy, Tupac, and Kendrick Lamar carried forward this tradition of using music as a form of resistance and storytelling.
📢 Who Stax Inspired in Activism & Music:
Public Enemy – Their politically charged music in the late '80s took cues from the Black empowerment messages of The Staple Singers and Wattstax.
Tupac Shakur – His mother was a Black Panther, and his music continued Stax’s tradition of soulful, revolutionary storytelling.
Kendrick Lamar – His album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) is drenched in Stax-style instrumentation, funk grooves, and socially conscious lyricism.
4. The Stax Model: Independent Labels That Followed
Stax proved that a Black-owned, independent label could rival major corporations like Motown and Atlantic Records. This set a blueprint for future indie labels:
🏆 Labels That Followed Stax’s Blueprint:
Def Jam (1984) – Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin built Def Jam with the same raw, rebellious energy Stax had in the ’60s.
Bad Boy Records & Death Row Records (1990s) – These labels dominated hip-hop in the ’90s with a business model inspired by Stax’s artist-focused approach.
Top Dawg Entertainment (2010s) – Home to Kendrick Lamar, TDE took cues from Stax’s fusion of live instrumentation and hip-hop storytelling.
5. The Revival of Stax: Keeping the Legacy Alive
Though Stax collapsed in 1975, its influence never faded. In 2003, Stax was revived as a label under Concord Music Group, bringing back the soulful legacy with new artists.
🎤 Modern Artists Who Work with the Stax Legacy:
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – Carry on Stax’s raw, bluesy soul tradition.
Anderson .Paak – His blend of funk, soul, and hip-hop mirrors the genre-blurring ethos of Isaac Hayes and Booker T. & The M.G.'s.
Leon Bridges – His retro-soul vibe is a direct tribute to Otis Redding and Sam & Dave.
Janelle Monáe – Her blend of social activism, futuristic funk, and soul music feels like an evolution of the Stax philosophy.
The Eternal Soul of Stax
Stax wasn’t just about music—it was about freedom, creativity, and breaking barriers. It empowered Black musicians, revolutionized sound, and laid the foundation for hip-hop, funk, and neo-soul.
Even though the original Stax shut down, its legacy lives in every hip-hop beat that samples its records, every soul singer who belts from the heart, and every independent artist who refuses to compromise their vision.
🕊 As long as music exists, the soul of Stax will never fade.
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