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Stax gets a super artist in residence

By Pamela Perkins
perkins@commercialappeal.com

Native Memphian and celebrated saxophonist Kirk Whalum is moving back to his hometown. And he’s already got a gig lined up: teaching kids how to perform miracles.

The artist known for his solo jazz and gospel recordings as well as his soulful sax on Whitney Houston’s "I Will Always Love You" agreed to become the Stax Music Academy’s first artist in residence. He and officials of the nonprofit Soulsville agency, which runs the academy, will announce his new position at 2 p.m. today at the academy at 926 E. McLemore.

Whalum, 48, and his wife, Ruby, who live in Nashville, plan to move to Memphis early next year and are looking for a home Downtown, he said. His job as artist in residence, however, officially begins Sept. 5.

"This is an incredible opportunity for our young people because Kirk is an international recording artist who brings a lot of talent, experience and energy to the academy," said Soulsville spokesman Tim Sampson.

Besides sharing his experiences of recording and performing with world-class musicians such as Nancy Wilson, Al Jarreau, the late Luther Vandross, Barbra Streisand and Quincy Jones, Whalum will perform with academy students in public concerts as well as conduct public and private master classes.

He also will record public service announcements for the Stax Music Academy and adjacent Stax Museum of American Soul Music and show off both facilities to music industry peers.

"I’m very excited about that," said Whalum, the son of Rev. Kenneth Whalum, former Memphis City Councilman and former senior pastor of the old Olivet Baptist Church.

Kirk Whalum left Memphis at age 18 to attend Texas Southern University and has since lived in Los Angeles and Paris while his music career flourished.

He has a gig Downtown tonight, in fact: Whalum performs at 8 at the Cannon Center with Jonathan Butler, Wayman Tisdale and Brian Simpson.

Part of his excitement about the new job, he said, is that he had been "in awe of the whole Stax machine" since age 12. It was around that time that he began playing the saxophone, heard Isaac Hayes play the same instrument, and visited the old Stax studio.

"That’s an impression I’ll never forget," he said.

As for teaching kids how to perform miracles?

Whalum drew upon a Biblical story of Moses to explain how he wants to help students at the academy, which serves at-risk urban youth, to rid themselves of limitations like self-doubt and allow their talents to flourish.

When God told Moses to go to Egypt, Whalum said, Moses doubted his ability to communicate and use his staff to perform miracles.

"After He said, ’Here I am. I’m choosing you. I want you to go down and do this,’ Moses was like, ’No, not me. I stutter and all of that.’ And God said, ’What’s that in your hand?’

"And see, that’s a question I want to ask these kids. Because Moses’ answer was so ridiculous. He had a stick. A staff. A piece of wood. These kids can have a saxophone. A bass guitar. Drumsticks. ... You can impact the world."

-- Pamela Perkins: 529-6514

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