The 50th Anniversary of Stax Records got even more special treatment on June 18th, when the United States House of Representatives discussed and voted on a bill to honor the label: House Resolution 154, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn.

At the start of a 15-minute session that aired nationally on C-SPAN at 1 p.m. CST, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijala (D-Ariz.) thanked Memphis and Stax Records for its contributions to the nation’s culture and named several artists who helped make Stax Records the birthplace of Southern soul music. He was followed by U.S. Rep. Bob Bishop (R-Utah), who echoed Grijala’s sentiments and spoke of the unprecedented relationships between the black and white musicians at the time.

Rep. Cohen spoke passionately about his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, and the importance not only of Stax Records, but also of Hi Records’ Al Green and Willie Mitchell. Cohen also mentioned the city’s Seven Days of Soul celebration, urging everyone to attend “50 Years of Soul: A Concert to Benefit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music” at the Orpheum Theater on Friday, June 22, and discussed the future of the label, citing its re-launch by the Concord Music Group earlier this year, and named Angie Stone, Lelah Hathaway, Soulive, and Isaac Hayes as artists who have been signed to record new music. Finally, Cohen noted the importance of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music at the original site of Stax Records, stating emphatically, “Memphis has the only soul music museum in the world.”

U.S. Rep Danny Davis (D-Ill.) hailed Stax Records as one of the greatest music labels in the world, explaining that he was born near Memphis in the Arkansas Delta and considered Memphis one of his homes. He discussed the vital role Stax Records played in the Civil Rights Movement and gave particular praise to Stax for signing the Chicago-based Staple Singers in the late 1960s and early 1970s, saying that the label “put them on a world stage” and gave them an opportunity they might otherwise not have had.

The resolution passed unanimously. In an unparalleled celebration of Stax Records’ 50th anniversary, the heart and soul of the legendary label’s lineup will reunite onstage for “50 Years of Stax: A Concert To Benefit the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.” The event will be held this Friday, June 22 at Memphis’ historic Orpheum Theater. Artist confirmations include Isaac Hayes, Booker T & the MGs (featuring Steve Cropper & Duck Dunn), Mavis Staples, Eddie Floyd, William Bell, the Soul Children, the Reddings (honoring the legacy of their father Otis Redding) plus the following artists signed to the reactivated Stax label: Angie Stone, N’dambi, Soulive and Lalah Hathaway. Hosts of the show are Chuck D (Public Enemy) and Randy Jackson (renowned producer, songwriter and co-host of “American Idol”).

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