The Staple Singers

Otis Redding. Isaac Hayes. The Staple Singers. Rufus and Carla Thomas. Booker T. & the MG's. Johnnie Taylor. Wilson Pickett. Luther Ingram. The Dramatics, Eddie Floyd and Jean Knight. During the course of 15 years, Stax Records launched the careers of some of the greatest soul music stars of all time. From Rufus Thomas' "Funky Chicken" to Isaac "Bubbly" Hayes' "Theme From Shaft," and Otis Redding's incredible "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," Stax Records' roster of artists were the best known of their generation and changed music history forever. On its various labels, Stax also recorded the likes of Jesse Jackson, Bill Cosby, Moms Mabley, Alex Chilton's Big Star, The Goodees, and dozens of other artists in soul music, gospel, comedy, spoken word, blues, and other genres. All of it was recorded in the famed Studio A at Stax Records in Memphis, where the Stax Museum of American Soul Music now stands as a shrine to their work. The Stax Museum honors all of Stax Records' artists, along with soul musicians who became famous on other labels, including Al Green, Aretha Franklin, Ike & Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Etta James, Dusty Springfield, Ann Peebles, and numerous others.

Davis, Jesse Jackson and William Bell