Memphis, Tenn. -- One by one the teenage singers practice the opening lines to "Boogie Wonderland," a disco-funk hit from an era before they were born, as dancers work on hip-swinging moves that require perfect choreography.
In another room, young musicians play the same song over and over on guitar, piano and drums, trying to get in rhythm and in tune before the singers and dancers join them to rehearse for an outdoor concert. The music hits a fevered high as the singers and the band mesh to recreate a pop classic.
Scenes like this play out daily at the Stax Music Academy, an after-school program where teenagers from some of Memphis' poorest neighborhoods learn how to dance, sing and play instruments.
Stax Records, from which the academy gets its name, died long ago, yet its legacy is still inspiring young people in the Memphis neighborhood where it was born.
In another room, young musicians play the same song over and over on guitar, piano and drums, trying to get in rhythm and in tune before the singers and dancers join them to rehearse for an outdoor concert. The music hits a fevered high as the singers and the band mesh to recreate a pop classic.
Scenes like this play out daily at the Stax Music Academy, an after-school program where teenagers from some of Memphis' poorest neighborhoods learn how to dance, sing and play instruments.
Stax Records, from which the academy gets its name, died long ago, yet its legacy is still inspiring young people in the Memphis neighborhood where it was born.
- 5/16/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Justin Timberlake made an appearance at the White House in Washington DC yesterday. The entertainer was on hand for Michelle Obama's Soulsville, USA: The History of Memphis Soul event, an interactive music workshop for 120 middle and high school students from across the country. Justin spoke to the crowd in the State Dining Room, where he was joined by legendary artists Mavis Staples, Sam Moore, and Charlie Musselwhite to teach the origins and influences of Memphis soul music. They took turns sharing stories and even had some laughs, stopping to fist-bump each other on the stage. The first lady's educational event precedes an evening concert called In Performance at the White House, a tradition that the Obamas started back in 2009. Later, Justin hit the stage with Queen Latifah and several other performers to celebrate the history of soul music. President Barack Obama hosted the event, and joked to Justin that...
- 4/10/2013
- by Brittney Stephens
- Popsugar.com
Justin Timberlake performed at White House's celebration of Memphis soul music on Tuesday, serenading Barack and Michelle Obama with a strong take on "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" and imploring the president to sing along.
The event was a part of the Obama's "In Performance" series. The first couple has made a habit of inviting musicians from different genres to explore the themes and history of their respective crafts. Tuesday's event also featured Otis Redding, Booker T Jones, Queen Latifah and Cyndi Lauper.
A clip of Timberlake's performance is available above. Tuesday's gig is yet another step in Timberlake's hot streak that began when he released "Suit & Tie," the Jay-z-featuring lead single off his comeback album "The 20/20 Experience." The singer moved nearly 1 million copies of the album in its debut week, lined up an arena tour with Jay-z and inked a massive deal with Budweiser.
(Timberlake also...
The event was a part of the Obama's "In Performance" series. The first couple has made a habit of inviting musicians from different genres to explore the themes and history of their respective crafts. Tuesday's event also featured Otis Redding, Booker T Jones, Queen Latifah and Cyndi Lauper.
A clip of Timberlake's performance is available above. Tuesday's gig is yet another step in Timberlake's hot streak that began when he released "Suit & Tie," the Jay-z-featuring lead single off his comeback album "The 20/20 Experience." The singer moved nearly 1 million copies of the album in its debut week, lined up an arena tour with Jay-z and inked a massive deal with Budweiser.
(Timberlake also...
- 4/10/2013
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
Lending his talents to educate others, Justin Timberlake joined First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House on Tuesday (April 9) in Washington, DC.
The “Suit & Tie” crooner was on hand to take part in a program called Soulsville, USA: The History of Memphis Soul with fellow musicians, including Mavis Staples and Charlie Musselwhite.
Hosted by Mrs. Obama, the student workshop included middle and high school students from across the country to teach them about the art of soul music and the hard work that goes in to being a musician.
Later on Tuesday, Timberlake will join the other panelists for a special "In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul" concert.
The “Suit & Tie” crooner was on hand to take part in a program called Soulsville, USA: The History of Memphis Soul with fellow musicians, including Mavis Staples and Charlie Musselwhite.
Hosted by Mrs. Obama, the student workshop included middle and high school students from across the country to teach them about the art of soul music and the hard work that goes in to being a musician.
Later on Tuesday, Timberlake will join the other panelists for a special "In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul" concert.
- 4/10/2013
- GossipCenter
After all the debates, controversies, and stereotype accusations have cleared, looking back on Blaxploitation cinema today it’s easy to see healthy portions of the crime and action genres. Using these genres and the struggles of the black community, these films were created for those that wanted to see African American characters on the big screen not taking shit from the man, “getting over”, and–above all else—being the heroes in movies. In the documentary Baad Asssss Cinema, Samuel L. Jackson gives his take on the heroes of Blaxploitation: “We were tired of seeing the righteous black man. And all of a sudden we had guys who were…us. Or guys who did the things we wanted those guys to do.”
The unsung supporting players in these films that backed Fred Williamson and Pam Grier and many other stars were people acting and making a living off of it.
The unsung supporting players in these films that backed Fred Williamson and Pam Grier and many other stars were people acting and making a living off of it.
- 12/4/2012
- by Gregory Day
- SoundOnSight
Booker T. returns with his first album in 20 years
Everybody has heard Booker T. & the MGs’ loping, twisting instrumental hit “Green Onions,” even if they don’t know it by name. According to Rob Bowman’s exhaustive Stax history Soulsville U.S.A., the group’s original bass player Lewie Steinberg came up with the song’s title: “To him,” guitarist Steve Cropper says, “[onions] were funky because they were stinky.” That’s a useful criterion of funkiness, defining it as a know-it-when-you-smell-it quality. Potatoes aren’t especially stinky in that regard; they won’t make you cry and don’t caramelize especially well, but Booker T. Jones’ new solo album, Potato Hole, is nevertheless pungently funky, though iin a different odiferous way than his early work with the MGs.
Everybody has heard Booker T. & the MGs’ loping, twisting instrumental hit “Green Onions,” even if they don’t know it by name. According to Rob Bowman’s exhaustive Stax history Soulsville U.S.A., the group’s original bass player Lewie Steinberg came up with the song’s title: “To him,” guitarist Steve Cropper says, “[onions] were funky because they were stinky.” That’s a useful criterion of funkiness, defining it as a know-it-when-you-smell-it quality. Potatoes aren’t especially stinky in that regard; they won’t make you cry and don’t caramelize especially well, but Booker T. Jones’ new solo album, Potato Hole, is nevertheless pungently funky, though iin a different odiferous way than his early work with the MGs.
- 4/20/2009
- Pastemagazine.com
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