stax

Northern soul is a type of mid-tempo and uptempo heavy-beat soul music (of mainly African American origin) that was popularized in Northern England from the mid 1960s onwards. The term also refers to the associated dance styles and fashions that emanated from the Twisted Wheel club in Manchester and spread to other dancehalls and nightclubs, such as the Golden Torch (in Stoke-upon-Trent), the Highland Rooms at the Blackpool Mecca and the Wigan Casino. Northern soul dancing was usually athletic, resembling the later dance styles of disco and break dancing.

The Triumphs, an instrumental precursor group to Booker T & The MGswere assembled in 1961 by producer/songwriter Chips Moman in Memphis TN. He recorded recorded them at Stax headquarters in the old Capitol Theater on McLemore Avenue. They were the first release for the Volt label. and they were also apparently the first inter-racial group in the then segregated city. Joining Moman on guitar duties was Booker T Jones on Hammond organ, Lewie Steinberg on bass and drummer Howard 'Bulldog' Grimes, who later would go on to anchor Hi-Records rhythm section.

The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group which began performing in 1966 and continue to perform today, although with only one original member. They began in Memphis, Tennessee as a favorite recording studio session musician group, backing major artists at Stax Records. They were chosen in 1967 by Otis Redding to play as his backing band.
On 10 December 1967, Redding, his manager, and band members Jimmy King (b. 1949; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (b. 1948; organ), Phalon Jones (b. 1949; saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (b.

The daughter of strict Baptist ministers in Dallas, Texas - only two kinds of music were allowed in N’dambi’s house – gospel and country. Church was the center of the family‟s life in every way and there was no middle ground. Secular music was forbidden, but its irresistible allure eventually trickled into her life and began impacting the maturing young singer. Blessed with a deep contralto, N’dambi became especially enamored with the male singers from the „70s and „80s she‟d heard and identified with while hanging out with cousins and friends.