The genre’s development was bolstered by legendary producers like Willie Mitchell, who worked with Al Green and Ann Peebles to craft timeless tracks. Meanwhile, Stax Records became the epicenter of southern soul, producing hits by artists such as Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, and Carla Thomas. Their contributions created a unique musical identity that continues to resonate today.

Key Characteristics of Memphis Soul Music

• Emotional Vocals: Inspired by gospel, singers like Otis Redding and Al Green brought unparalleled depth and passion to their performances.
  
• Dynamic Instrumentation: A hallmark of Memphis soul is its use of brass and strings, creating a rich, layered sound.
  
• Gritty Production: The lo-fi and unpolished quality of recordings from studios like Stax added authenticity to the music.
  
• Collaborative Spirit: Bands like Booker T. & the MG’s, an integrated group of musicians, epitomized the unity and innovation of the genre.
  
• Cultural Impact: Themes of love, resilience, and community resonate deeply, reflecting the experiences of Memphis’ African American community.

Contemporary Artists and Resurgence

While legends like Al Green and Otis Redding paved the way, contemporary artists continue to carry the torch of Memphis music. Artists like Don Bryant and Susan Marshall blend traditional elements with modern influences, ensuring the genre evolves while honoring its roots.

Platforms like streaming services and documentaries such as Stax: Soulsville U.S.A. have reignited interest in southern soul, connecting a new generation of listeners to Memphis’s rich musical history.

Memphis Soul Music Venues

Stax Museum of American Soul Music: Located at the original site of Stax Records, this museum immerses visitors in the rich history of Memphis soul with exhibits featuring iconic artists like Isaac Hayes and Carla Thomas.

Beale Street: As the heart of Memphis’s entertainment district, Beale Street offers live performances that celebrate the city’s musical legacy, from rhythm and blues to modern interpretations of soul music.

Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum: A Smithsonian-affiliated museum that explores the intersections of rock and American soul music, highlighting Memphis’ pivotal role in shaping both genres.

Legendary Memphis Soul Artists: Past & Present

Southern Avenue

This soulful ensemble combines elements of soul, blues, and gospel to create a fresh and energetic sound. Led by the powerhouse vocals of Tierinii Jackson and the skillful guitar playing of Ori Naftaly, Southern Avenue has garnered acclaim for their captivating live performances and soul-stirring lyrics. Tracks like “Don’t Give Up” and “Keep On” showcase their ability to infuse traditional soul with a modern edge.

Valerie June

With her distinctive voice and poetic songwriting, Valerie June has become a rising star in the contemporary soul music scene. Her music effortlessly blends elements of folk, blues, and soul, creating a unique and captivating sound. Songs like “Pushin’ Against a Stone” and “Astral Plane” highlight her soulful delivery and introspective lyrics, showcasing her ability to transcend genres.

Talibah Safiya

Talibah Safiya’s music style is a captivating fusion that defies easy categorization. Drawing from a wide range of influences, her music seamlessly blends elements of soul, R&B, jazz, and electronic sounds to create a truly unique sonic landscape. Safiya’s velvety smooth vocals, combined with her poetic lyricism, create an intimate and emotive listening experience. Her music often carries a sense of introspection, exploring themes of love, identity, and self-discovery. With her rich and soulful voice, Talibah Safiya effortlessly navigates through genres, delivering a mesmerizing blend of contemporary and timeless sounds.

Don Bryant

A veteran of the Memphis soul music scene, Don Bryant has recently experienced a resurgence in his career. Known for his work as a songwriter and performer for Hi Records in the 1960s and 1970s, Bryant returned to the spotlight with his critically acclaimed album “Don’t Give Up on Love.” With his smooth and soulful vocals, Bryant continues to captivate audiences with his timeless sound and heartfelt delivery.

Joyce Cobb

A true legend of Memphis soul, Joyce Cobb has been a staple of the city’s music scene for decades. Known for her powerful voice and dynamic stage presence, Cobb’s music embodies the soul’s essence. From her early hits like “Dig the Gold” to her recent releases, such as “Love Infection,” Cobb’s soulful delivery and captivating performances continue to captivate audiences.

The Bo-Keys

This Memphis-based band blends soul, funk, and R&B into their signature sound. With a lineup of seasoned musicians and members who have played with iconic artists like Al Green and Otis Redding, The Bo-Keys deeply understands the soul music tradition. Their albums, including “Heartaches by the Number” and “Got to Get Back!”, exemplify their ability to deliver grooves that honor the rich legacy of Memphis soul.

Al Green: Known as the king of Memphis soul, Green’s smooth voice and hits like Let’s Stay Together and Love and Happiness made him a global icon. His collaborations with Willie Mitchell at Hi Records defined the sophisticated sound of the genre.

Otis Redding: Often hailed as one of the greatest soul singers, Redding’s tracks like Dock of the Bay remain timeless anthems. His emotive delivery and profound lyrics embody the essence of soul music.

Sam & Dave: With classics like Soul Man, this duo epitomized the energy and harmony of American soul music. Their work with Stax’s house band remains a defining example of the genre.

Isaac Hayes: A trailblazer of Memphis music, Hayes’s deep baritone voice and orchestral arrangements brought sophistication to the genre. His work on the Shaft soundtrack earned him an Academy Award.

Carla Thomas: Dubbed the “Queen of Memphis Soul,” Thomas’s hit Gee Whiz showcased her vocal elegance and helped establish Stax Records.

You might also be interested in: Famous Memphis Musicians | Memphis Singers

The post Memphis Soul Music – Past and Present appeared first on We Are Memphis.

Preauxx

“2023 Was The Most Successful Year Of My Career. I’m Every Way, But It Was The Most Stressful Year. A Lot Of Wins And More Lessons Along The Way. I Never Do A Good Job Of Reflecting..But I’m Extremely Grateful For This Year. 2024 I’m Just Focused On The Re$ults. I Didn’t Get A Chance To Drop Any New Projects. I Was Touring The World, Modeling, And Getting To A Bag All Year At The Same Time. But I Got Plenty To Talk About Now. Thanks To All On This Journey With Me. 2024 Is Already Looking Fruitful.”

Lawrence Matthews

“In terms of 2023, this has been the first full year after retiring the Don Lifted name and gearing up to move forward as myself Lawrence Matthews. At the end of 2022 I thought I had a really good idea of what that would look like but I had no idea how that very personal journey would reflect into how I presented myself artistically. I never stopped making music, it’s been a very prolific year in that way. It’s been a year of getting to know this me within public context. What’s the context for me and these stories? I didn’t do any shows but I rehearsed all year. I just fine tuned everything. Spent time exploring what do I want to do, how, when? A lot of little tests.

In 2024 I’m going to be very active. Active exercising all my new found understanding in myself and my craft. A long way to say a lot of music is coming.”

Supa Glock Bros

“2023 didn’t really begin for us as Supa Glock Bros until the top of September where we conceptualized and committed to the idea of making “Supa Glocktober” happen. The goal for us was to compound interest over time. The music, the storyboarding, and the planning part was easy money for us…but the real work began when it came time to shoot/edit the content and commit to the schedule. The process was mostly done in house between us 3 and we were not mad at the results and reception that we received in just 31 days, special thanks to fellow Memphian R.J. Powell (aka ibreathemusicallday on IG) for having shown both of our recent EPs love on his platform via his recommended list of releases, which helped boost our visibility to new fans organically.

The plan for us in 2024 is to continue where we left off in “Supa Glocktober” with consistent visual content for both EPs, new music, and seamless cross-promotion, connecting and expanding what we call the “SGU (Supa Glock Universe)” with our individual works as Spek Was Here, Dame Mufasa, & 91’ Co and, to quote Dame on our track “305 Jamaica House”, turn pennies into zeros.”

Uni’q

“2023 has been a ride. Thinking about all the things that I’ve done and accomplished from the end of December 2022 to now the end of December 2023 is wild. From performing with my friend Cameron Bethany, to performing and headlining for Noname, writing lullabies for a company with IMAKEMADBEATS, to going back and doing more stuff with the Grizzlies and writing a song for the Grizzlies mascot…I’m like dang! There has been so much this year.

Next year, I’m looking forward to new beginnings within myself. I’m looking to be more of an influence, not only in other people’s lives, but in my son’s life and in my life. Just continuing to be a strong, single mother. Shit gets hard, you know life be lifing, but it’s alright. You know it’s gonna be OK.

I’m looking forward to producing more. I’m looking forward to getting to work with other like-minded artists and producers and being able to collaborate with them. I’m planning on releasing my EP on May 1. It’s a project that I produced, I wrote, I arranged, I sang on, and I’m directing the visual that’s gonna come behind it (but I won’t talk too much about that because it’s still at the ground zero phase). It’s crazy because I’ve never recorded on my own stuff before. Like, this is the very first time that I’ve taken the time to actually record my own music that I produced. I’ve always felt better recording on other peoples tracks. I don’t know why…maybe the confidence in myself wasn’t there yet but that’s changed. Mad kind of pushed me to do it and I appreciate Mad for that. Mad pushes me to limits I never thought I could go to and when I finally cross that hurdle, I’m always like, “Wow that was easy. What was I waiting on?” I was pretty much just waiting on myself. That’s what this next coming year is gonna be about: not waiting anymore. I’m just gonna do it. I’m a doer. Period.”

AWFM

“I spent most of 2023 either touring and meeting new people around the country, or making new tracks, and specifically paying attention to the variety of different headspaces I’ve been in while creating. I think it’s easy to ignore what unique stuff you have on your mind in order to prioritize making stuff that feels interesting for everybody. In 2024 I plan to drop way more than 2023 with higher quantity and quality, but I feel like what I have to give and what I have to say will be a lot more “if you get it cool, if you don’t, I don’t care.” I don’t know how that will go.. but we will see.”

Talibah Safiya

“2023 was an incredible year for my career. It really helped me expand my idea of what’s possible. I had my first chance to get in the writers room and write for TV shows as well as other artists. One of my favorite things I did in 2023 was release my first live album, which was called Love Spells (Live). It was a really special offering to my audience.

Another amazing thing I did in 2023 was being able to write some music for HBO Max’s Rap Shit, which was such a cool experience to work with all these new artists I had never met before, and just have a bunch of fun with these folks.

In 2024, I’ll be releasing my project Black Magic, in collaboration with the University of Memphis, which I’m so excited about. I have some other secret things that I’m working on – including writing for more TV shows and some new music that I’ve been working on with Ari Morris.

So Black Magic is coming, and then new magic is coming. I’m so excited to continue to express music in these different genres that speak to my soul. And I’m so excited to see what other Memphis musicians are up to in 2024 as well.

Spek Was Here

“2023 for me was BUSY, as both a creative journey and a learning experience. It was my first year fully leaning into the role of leadership and everything that comes with it after having departed from Studio 88 a year prior, as well as my first year under a new moniker (f.k.a. Spekulate the Philosopher). I made a promise to myself to always remain a student of my craft and maintain creative flow by always being open and curious to new ideas and approaches to music, which yielded some great results for me in my production and audio engineering. My only regret from this year was that I didn’t get to release more of my own work aside from my 2-piece “Ruff Luv” back in February.

As a newborn leader, working with multiple personalities so closely day by day presented some personal challenges for me (as an introvert) but showed promise, because I believe wholeheartedly that the artists in my crew are some of the best artists I’ve ever worked with and they inspire me to learn more and do more to be better. My standouts this year were from: Ash Léon (co-founder of iNGud Co), Austin Crui$e, and MAFIA 9.

In 2024, I look forward to releasing more music as Spek Was Here (cause trust, I have plenty) and breaking new ground with my team at iNGud Co. through all forms of our art as a collective and individual artists; especially from Starbunny, TheGoddessie, & Rose A.”

Graham Winchester

“2023 was a year of musical-life highs and some personal lows. I lost my grandmother and one of my best friends, which made trying to celebrate the good times feel sort of juxtaposed and strange. Nevertheless, I’m happy I was able to achieve some major goals in 2023 and push the music forward. And thankfully, music is the best medicine anyways. I released my solo record “Nobody Waters the Flowers” this past year. I recorded and produced it in my home studio, Cheyenne Marrs heard it and hit me up, asking me to produce/record his debut solo album “Everybody Wants to Go Home.” It was an amazing process to get in the studio with him, and I’m super stoked that both of our records are now being picked up by Red Curtain Records, a new Memphis label being run through Memphis Magnetic Recording studio.

Recording myself and Cheyenne led to others asking me to record/produce tracks at the home studio, including Spacer, Magik Hours, Dandelion Williams, Screamer, Oakwalker, Jeff Hulett, Jacob Church, JD Westmoreland, Orion Overstreet, Frank McLallen, Eli Wilson, and more. Some of these recordings have been released, and some are upcoming in 2024! In September, I was able to tour Europe with my band Turnstyles (Seth Moody and I). On past Europe tours, I’ve been there supporting Jack Oblivian, but this was the first time to “fly solo” with a band of my own. It was an amazing experience; we made lots of new friends, and we are going to return in 2024. I was also able to start playing with hero Alicja Trout in her band Sweet Knives in 2023, and we embarked on a super fun Midwest tour in July.

All through 2023, I was able to continue my weekly SongSwap at DKDC featuring songwriters in the round, and we were able to keep 18 years of weekly gigs going with Devil Train at B-Side, every Thursday at 10PM. In other continuing annual traditions, we played DKDC Thanksgiving and Christmas night with The Sheiks and Jack Oblivian, and The MD’s (my Booker T and the MG’s tribute band) played the Booker T. Xmas album at Stax for the 8th year in a row. The Tennessee Screamers gigged all year long and did the annual Dolly Parton show at Wiseacre again (coming up yet again this January).

A few years ago I started a local record label called Blast Habit Records with Jared and Lori McStay. Jared also owned the record shop Shangri-La Records. Sadly, we lost Jared to cancer this year, and his passing has had a huge impact on both myself and the community. Shangri-La records remains in good hands as one of the greatest shops on the planet. Lori and I are going to continue Blast Habit, and plan to continue putting out vinyl for bands we love! So Gung Ho, a band I had with Jared, played its last show on my birthday back in April. I will miss playing with that group!

Moving into 2024, I want to make Jared proud. I want to go to OTHER people’s shows more, and celebrate the successes of our entire music scene like he did. I look forward to thr Europe return with Turnstyles, and I’m pumped to represent Memphis at Folk Alliance in Kansas City this February, performing as a solo artist. I’m going to keep producing and recording other people, and gonna keep having songwriting sessions with friends. Also, this year I’m debuting my country band The Silver Broncos, playing some of my original music as well as songs by all the country greats (as if I needed another band). I’m stoked to play more shows with Coco & the Hitmen, a punk band fronted by my friend Coco Moody who beat cancer last year. She’s back with bells on. Overall, I just want to enjoy every moment with my friends and bandmates in 2024. Soak it all up and be thankful.”

The post Memphis Musicians Reflect on ’23, Look Ahead to ’24 appeared first on We Are Memphis.

I’m in a rush when I go to meet Talibah Safiya. I was at work later than I expected, putting me about 10 minutes behind schedule. As I park, I start stressing about making someone else wait so I channel my inner New Yorker and powerwalk to our meeting place. I arrive semi out of breath (embarrassing), hair messy (embarrassing), and probably sweating (very embarrassing). Normally I’d be supremely in my head about all the above, but the minute I actually meet Talibah, it magically all melts away. Her spirit is calming, tranquil, and begs you slow down and be present. 

This effect she has should really come as no surprise. When you listen to her music, that same energy permeates throughout. Her songs are a stunning collection of healing, growth, self-forgiveness, and most of all, self-love. She explores these concepts with a grace and patience that feels both therapeutic to her and her listeners. 

Despite the gentle way she approaches life in her music, Safiya is fiercely ambitious. After graduating high school, she moved to Washington, DC, to attend Howard University, where she studied theater. However, after a few semesters, Safiya grew unfulfilled. “It didn’t work out. I just felt like that type of education wasn’t for me, so I started to really dig into studying the art of music and the art of songwriting.” Safiya is an avid reader and deeply talented writer. She started studying the songwriting of people like Amy Winehouse and Nina Simone, creating her own form of education and school along the way.

This led her to New York City, where she found a new home and artistic community to work with. “I started to kind of hang out with the music school kids of New York, like the Berkeley dropouts and graduates. They really helped me to kind of feel more confident in myself as a musician, having not necessarily been a trained instrumentalist. They just really poured life into me and gave me a musical community for the first time.”

New York City is invigorating and inspiring, but it can be exhausting. After 6 years there, Safiya felt the urge to return home to Memphis. At the time, her now-husband was running a local club called Dizzy Bird which she describes as “an epic little moment in Memphis music, for those of us who know.” He started hosting local music nights featuring up and coming talent in Memphis. Safiya flew out twice to perform and quickly noticed a shift in the city.

“There was something bubbling in the city. I could feel the difference. I could feel that there were people that were my age that were excited. They were not only trying to help advance and rebirth our original music scene, but also the fashion started to become more exciting. The visual artists are coming out, photographers are around, it really felt like the start of a thriving community of artists. I’m like, well if I can work with artists figuring out their niches in New York, I could do that at home.”

 Photo: Anthony Lorenzo

And that’s just what she did. In the time since she’s been back, she’s recorded and released countless original songs, filmed incredible visual accompaniments, collaborated with big names like KAMAUU, and had her songs featured in national outlets. Oh, AND she (along with her husband) created a sustainable living company called Mama’s Sundry. See, I told you her drive and determination is different.

“I’m in a place where I really, really believe in what I’m doing. And if you really believe in what you’re doing, it comes with an urgency, because you know that you’re connected to a certain type of energy and that energy might have an expiration date. So, for me, it’s not about being in a certain mood or something. It’s about the fact that we’ve set a goal, and we’re going to get it done.”

Next on her list is her upcoming EP titled Black Magic. The 5 song project will take listeners on a journey of Black music in America from its inception. “It’s such a short project, but it’s very cohesive. I kind of broke it down where it’s like environmental love, relationship love and self/God love,” Safiya tells me. “There’s a lot of influences for this because it tells the story of Black music in Memphis and the Delta. That means you’ll hear anything from some field music to blues music to soul and rock.”

Safiya can seamlessly inhabit these different sounds and styles because, regardless of genre, there’s one unifying element at the core of all her music: peace. To know Safiya’s music is to know peace. She exudes it in every note and every word. It’s not performative or sporadically sprinkled in. It’s genuine and unapologetic. You deeply feel whatever emotion or story she’s conveying with her songs and you, beautifully, understand yourself better after hearing them. 

Photo: Kai Ross 

“It’s redemption music,” she elaborates when we talk about this. “Like, I’ve been through this thing, I made this mistake, I had this experience, but I KNOW who I am because of it and I’m gonna keep celebrating myself and my story.” 

It’s an empowering message because Safiya herself is inheritably empowering. Towards the end of our time together, I ask her where she sees herself as an artist over the next few years. She tells me that making music and creating is something that she knows she’ll be doing for the rest of her life. 

She pauses and then says adamantly, “I can do this for the rest of my life because I’m not burning myself out. I don’t burn myself out. I take breaks. I’m gonna rest. I love myself. I LOVE myself. I don’t just associate my love for myself with my work. I love myself. I love my family. I love the way I make home and the food I cook. I fucking love sleep. So ain’t nobody gonna burn me out. I can do this for the rest of my life.” Thank God for that.

**The first single from “Black Magic” will be released on Halloween day. Updates to follow!

The post With New EP “Black Magic,” Talibah Safiya Explores Love Through the Rich History of Southern Black Music appeared first on We Are Memphis.