Rufus Thomas, Jr.
(1917-2001)

Stax Recording Studios. On this site stood Stax Records Inc. which boasted such stars as Otis Redding, Rufus and Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Albert King, the Bar-Keys and many others. It relied upon its deep soul roots to carry it through, struggling from a back-street garage in 1957 to become a multi-million-dollar organization.

926 East Mclemore Avenue, TN 38106 , Memphis, TN, United States where they recorded

Rufus Thomas, Jr. Born March 26, 1917, in Cayce, Mississippi, this legendary entertainer known worldwide, began his career in the 1930s with the Rabbit Foot Minstrel Shows. He was the organizer and master of ceremonies of the amateur shows in the 1940s and 1950s at the Palace Theatre, which stood at this site. From these shows began the careers of many great performers, including B.B. King and Bobby "Blue" Bland. He had the first hit records for both the Sun and Stax labels. As a popular personality on WDIA, he was the first disc jockey to play Elvis Presley records on a Black radio station. He was the creator of two of the biggest dance crazes of the 1960s, “The Dog" and “The Funky Chicken."

In front of the Pat O'Brien's on Beale Street, Memphis, TN, United States where they was