IN THIS EDITION! e t a r b e l e c s t ! c d n o SMA studen t g n i h s a w n i L U O MEMPHIS S KIRK WHALUM say s WAIT FOR IT! Save the Date: Upcoming Events at SMA 6/7 6/8 6/14 6/21 6/28 6/30 6/30 7/1
Brown Bag “Blues Symposium” Delta Blues Museum/ BB King Symposium Brown Bag “Industry Symposium” Brown Bag “Blues Symposium” Brown Bag “Industry Symposium” “Soul Rockin’ Blues” Grand Finale at Levitt Shell “Soul Comes Home” Stax Reconnects Six Flag Reward Field Trip
STAX TO THE MAX! Also Inside: April/May Musicians of the Month! College Decision 2013!
THESTAXMUSICACADEMYEXISTSTONURTUREANDPRESENT THENEXTGENERATIONOFGREATSOULCOMMUNICATORS
Notes from the Director
Vocal director & Operations manager: Justin Merrick
“April Showers Brings May Flowers” April showers bring May flowers and as we had to delay our “Stax to the Max” festivities, I am reminded of the serendipity in this age old adage that there couldn’t have been a better reward than to have turned our public street performance into a private, intimate experience with 30 newscasters, journalists and radio personalities from around the world. Sweden, Berlin, Birmingham, London, Barcelona and more raved about the incredible likes of the Stax Music Academy! Not to mention the legendary Stax artists and icons like Al Bell, Bettye Crutcher, William Bell, The Temprees, The Astors, Deanie Parker and our very own, Kirk Whalum had the opportunity to view, critique and be astonished at the lofty growth of our young super stars. Performing groups traveled from as far as Canada and California, we premiered our newest program of the Academy- the Junior Academy, our Jazz Band represented like never before, and the blazing energy of the Senior Academy continues to drive home the value of our mission and the reason why we do what we do, in creating agents of change through music. Our staff has had many proud moments over the year, but there is no reward greater than self actualization, in which one learns their purpose in life. SMA, at the ripe age of 12 is growing stronger in this walk, in realizing the breadth of our mission. This past weekend is a singular testimony to what can be experienced everyday, as the ever present support of the Soulsville Foundation and community continue to nourish this Musictropolis and we grow in our vision of creating the next generation of Soul Communicators! We must reflect on the year of 2012- 2013 as a job well done! As ambassadors of Soul, SMA has trail blazed its way to the iron gates of America and was officially recognized by First Lady Obama at the Whitehouse, as we manifest our future as world travelers and leaders of education reformation. ~JM OUT
A Special Note from the Soulsville Foundation
Chief Creative Officer: Kirk Whalum
“Wait For It...” There’s a popular phrase I’ve been hearing lately that’s kind of cute. It’s one of those pop culture sayings that catches on, and you end up saying it without even realizing it! It normally goes something like: “And of course the next thing she did was... wait for it... yada yada.” The phrase “wait for it” infers that the outcome won’t be a surprise! Well I had a revelation about this the other week while I was onstage in, of all places, Cape Town, South Africa––if you haven’t been yet, think San Diego or San Francisco! What a beautiful place. In that moment my mind drifted back to when I was 19 and had landed a scholarship to study French in Paris––I was experiencing the world outside of Memphis for the first time! I remember lying on my palette one night, there in that beautiful city, dreaming of someday taking the stage in such a faraway place and having people express, audibly, how glad they were that I was there! I dreamed of sharing my own music, from right here in Memphis, with people in a foreign land. Admittedly a pretty “Joseph” sounding dream! But it’s what I imagined (your imagination is very powerful...) Back to S. Africa... where my mind went to the many lonely, frustrated, sometimes plain old boring days and nights spent in a small room somewhere practicing something mundane like chromatic scale exercises or arpeggios. I remember thinking how “faraway” this dream really felt in these moments, how nearly impossible it seemed really. In these moments the distance between the two realities was too far for my struggling imagination. And yet here I was onstage with my band in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, before thousands of folks who knew my music note for note, and were, wait for it... glad we were there!! I realized how utterly faithful God is to bring to pass the dreams of our hearts if we do one simple thing... wait for it. While we wait, we prepare, focus, work hard, share, help others and grow. And many times, because we’re human, we lose heart. But at the end of the day, the only person who can derail our dreams is us. So take my word, wait for it. Then someday write a letter to the kids following behind you. ~ Mr. W
PARENT CORNER
STAX TOTHE MAX!
SOUL BOOSTERS
COMMUNITY CORNER
A Letter from Stax Artist
William Bell May 7, 2013 There are times when you wonder what impact you have made in your life on others, both as a person and career legacy to leave for humanity, that attest to the fact that you were here on earth. Saturday, April 27th and Sunday, April 28th 2013 reaffirmed for me, that indeed the contribution I have made at Stax Records and Soulsville U.S.A., will remain long after I am gone. The Saturday international and local press interviews and luncheon, and the performance by the Stax Academy Kids were unequalled validations that the soul music legacy is in good hands. Kudos to the kids, who brought us all to tears with their performances of Legendary Stax songs. The Press for their sincere interest in The Stax Story, the Museum Curator and Staff, The Academy Staff, The Charter School, and The Legendary Stax artists and Personnel who made this story possible and on Sunday, The Legion of Loyal Soul Music Fans that attended The Stax To The Max concert.
2013 - 2014 Soul Boosters Club Election Results:
To DJ’s around the world for keeping the music alive, to Mark, Tim, Kirk, Lisa, Deanie, and all of the Soulsville , USA staff, thanks for all you do as keepers of the legacy!
President- Brenda Tindle
You are the best!!!
Vice President- Martin Thomas
Much Soulful Love, William Bell
Treasurer- Lori Love Secretary-Francis Williams
April - May Photo Highlights
ps o h s k r o W e t u it t s lonious Monk In
The
STAX TO THE MAX!
Photos by Ronnie Booze
Photos by Yuki Maguire
International Jazz Day Jam Session
Pat Martino Jazz Workshop Photo by Yuki Maguire
2013 Juke Joint Festival Clarksdale, MS
Photo by Yuki Maguire
Stax Museum Day - Ribbon Cutting with Jim Stewart Photo by Ronnie Booze
STUDENT CORNER
MUSICIANS OF THE MONTH:
SMA students celebrate MEMPHIS SOUL in washington dc! On the night of Tuesday April 9th, the White House held a special concert to honor Memphis Soul Music. Earlier that day, First Lady Michele Obama and several performers conducted a workshop for students of various schools and organizations. Two Stax Music Academy seniors, Adrian Williams and Stephani Brownlee, traveled to Washington D.C. with Academy Director Justin Merrick to attend this workshop. As part of that experience the students were asked to write a reflection on what they learned.
The Importance of Soulsville by Stephani Brownlee
My heart has never raced as fast as the speed of light as it did when I told I was chosen to go to the White House. That same excitement and anxiety overcame me when I actually step foot on its Presidential soil. Going to the White House is an honor in itself, but being able to talk about Memphis Soul and what differentiates it from Motown Soul was pivotal because not only is it important to know the energy and characters of the artists I attempt to recreate, but also as a way to take the baton and continue the messages, energy and raw emotion soul music possessed. The difference in these two legendary sounds is apparent from the first down beat. Motown Soul was very clean, organized, and rehearsed. Berry Gordy had one mission and one goal only: to sell commercial records. He believed the only way to do that was to have a sound that appealed to a wide span of races and genres. Stax sound emerged from a different purpose and transformed into a different sound. The musicians at Stax were being themselves and ten found free time after recordings or live shows. In this free time, jam sessions would often break out. This is where the Stax sound came from. It allowed the music from Stax to be free, gritty and full of energy. Stax did not have the initial goal to sell commercial records. It was started as a way to be a sanctuary for Memphis musicians to escape the civil rights movement and other personal burdens. Mavis Staples and Sam Moore enjoy singing so much and seeing how much joy they still receive from singing is amazing and I can still see them as if they were in their prime. These two icons in conjunction with our talk with Mr. Eddie Floyd validated what the instructors of the Stax Music Academy say to us everyday. Mr. Floyd implicitly stated that the artists singing the tribute to Sam and Dave did not do it justice. Mr. McKinney (SMA Instrumental Music Director) tells the instrumentalists to know the song and artists we are portraying. That helps keep the song as authentic and possible and that s what drives an audience wild. T he trip to D.C. gave me a chance to really understand the essence and importance of Soulsville. This is important to me because I have gained a new profound appreciation and respect for Soulsville USA.
Jarveous Williams
Jarveous Williams is a great asset to the Academy. His creativity and energy is always sky high, and we have seen tremendous growth in his leadership skills this year. From creating and teaching choreography - to lending a helping hand to his instructors, Jarveous has made leaps and bounds toward becoming the young man we all knew he could be. We look forward to seeing him continue demonstrating leadership and discipline next fall, and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
Grantham Moore
Grantham Moore, a graduating senior at the Stax Music Academy, has carved his niche as one of the Academy’s top keyboard players. After seeing the legendary George Duke in a workshop and concert during his sophmore year, Grantham purchased a keytar and added that to his arsenal. Grantham is an excellent player and leader for both the keyboard section and the Academy as a whole.
Julian Anderson
Julian Anderson has proven himself to be a leader in the Junior Academy. He has grown tremendously in the past year and will continue to do so. As a trumpet player with the Junior Academy Horn Section, Julian is among the first to know his music and is always willing and able to assist the other horn players with theirs.
MY CARNEGIE HALL EXPERIENCE by Corey L. Martin
Last year, our school choir was selected as one of 6 groups from around the world to perform at Carnegie Hall for the 2013 New York Choral Festival. Once our teacher, Mr. Murdock, learned of our acceptance, he created a small chamber choir, held auditions, and began rehearsing immediately. We started off in the summer getting familiar with the music that we would be singing, and auditioned for placement and sections based on that music. Because it was my first year in choir at school, I really didn’t expect to make the top choir. However, I auditioned anyway, and made the group. It was a very grueling schedule—practicing everyday after school and in class during school. We also did substantial research on Carnegie Hall, learning about is history and about the artists who stood on it’s stage. The whole process required a lot
of dedication and hard work. One of the greatest challenges for me was balancing school choir and the Street Corner Harmonies. In the end, I was able to nicely balance the two. It has come to be the most wonderful experience of my life. I never imagined me ever being able to sing on the prestigious stage of Carnegie Hall. When I first stepped foot in the hall, I felt something that I had never felt before. It was the feeling of knowing that I can do anything that I set my mind to. I was really overwhelmed with the opportunity. Mr. Whalum always uses the phrase “paradigm shift”. I’ve only had one “paradigm shift” experience prior to Carnegie Hall, and that was the day I stepped into Soulsville. When you
become a musician you grow an appreciation for music and you nurture that appreciation to it’s fullest potential. My appreciation for music, and my desire to become greater as a musician, and my life’s path all became much clearer after the New York experience. I visited the historic Apollo Theatre, Rockefeller Center, Grant’s Tomb, the Juilliard and Manhattan Schools of Music, Columbia University, and saw many of the other great landmarks of New York City. I’m thankful to God for blessing me with this opportunity and I will never forget it. Corey Martin is a member of the Street Corner Harmonies at STAX Music Academy, and a 12th grader at Millington Central High School.
ENSEMBLE UPDATES: Instrumental Report: by Instrumental Music Director, Paul McKinney The month of April saw the students spring into action for several events including a musical exchange with Bullit E. High School (Kentucky), a performance at Beale Street Landing for Autozone, The Juke Joint Festival, a wedding rehearsal dinner in the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and Stax To The Max (2 day event). (Whew!!!) Yes the academy students were taking TCAP tests during the day, and refining there musical skills at night. SMA students also attended the Pat Matrino (jazz guitarist) master class @ Rhodes College, and participated in the Thelonious Monk Institute’s “Peer-to-Peer” jazz and blues education program. Combining performances with educational information, the “infomances where presented by six exceptionally gifted music students from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. The students were accompanied by Vice President for Education and Curriculum Dr. J.B. Dyas, internationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter and Grammy winnerIngred Jensen, and blues vocal sensation and former winner of the Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition Lisa Henry. In summary, the 2012/2013 academic year has been a season of opportunities and growth for the Stax Music Academy students, and we are very excited to see where this will lead them going forward. THANK YOU parents for your support, your criticisms, your sacrifices, and your children.
STAX MUSIC ACADEMY CLASS OF 2013
Vocal Report: by Assistant Vocal Director, Ron Wilkins The month of April has been a phenomenal amalgamation of preparation for the grand finale of this school year: The festival we were all waiting for... STAX TO THE MAX! Street Corner Harmonies... OMG! These young people have performed at Beale Street Landing, the Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi, a Wedding Rehearsal at the Stax Museum of American Soul in Soulsville USA, the White House Memphis Soul Celebration at the Paradiso in Memphis and yet gave acute attention to the Stax To The Max performance. In class the students of SCH continued challenging themselves to improve their site reading abilities, embellishing their skills as professional musicians… As Isaac Hayes would say, “Right On!” Mr. Merrick along with the SCH team of trainers and coaches’ worked diligently to prepare the students for Soulsville’s 3rd annual street festival. However, during the month of April, students intensified their involvement and created dance choreography, composed musical harmonies, and even wrote their own lyrics for some of the music that was performed at Stax To The Max… IKR! This year is truly teeming with awesome talent. As a result, this past Stax To The Max was truly a grandiloquent two-day experience, and Street Corner Harmonies helped to epitomized what Al Bell said to us all, “Stax will on live forever, and never die.” We truly hope you enjoyed this year’s festival... One like none other!!!
Junior Academy Report: by Junior Academy Coordinator, Qiana Lamb The end is here! Take cover! Stax to the Max was a blast! Myself, Ms. Merrick, Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Pruitt are extremely proud of the students accomplishments not just in the weeks leading up to Stax to the Max but this entire year. They have truly grown by leaps and bounds in their theory, history and performance. Every student who has participated in the Junior Academy this year was stretched in some way beyond their comfort zone, either in the classroom or on the stage. And it will show. They have gained friends, experience and a deeper knowledge of music that makes them some of the best young musicians in Memphis. It can only get better from here! Thank you to all the parents and students for all your support, time and effort in making the inaugural year of the Stax Music Junior Academy a wonderful success.
(From Left to Right) - Brandon Chornes, Corey Martin, Adrian Williams, Nathaniel Pinkney, Justin Hicks, Carl Maguire, Grantham Moore, Andrew McNeil, Reggie White, Alan Maguire, Presion Clark, Clifton Jackson, Romero Malone. (Front Row) - Tangela Mathis, Raven Boyce, Briana Johnson. (Not Pictured) - Ashley Butler, Stephani Brownlee, Jonathan Chaffen, Armicia Pratt, Andrew Whitmore, and Jeremy Wright
COLLEGE DECISIONS
Raven Boyce University of Memphis Stephani Brownlee Brown University Ashley Butler University of Tennessee (Knoxville) Jonathan Chaffen University of Tennessee (Knoxville) Brandon Chornes Bethel University Preston Clark Tennessee Tech College Justin Hicks Berklee College of Music Clifton Jackson University of Memphis Briana Johnson University of Tennessee (Chattanooga) Alan Maguire Undecided
Carl Maguire Undecided Romero Malone Full Sail University Corey Martin University of Memphis Tangela Mathis Berklee College of Music Andrew McNeil Berklee College of Music Grantham Moore Bethel University Nathaniel Pinkney Undecided Armicia Pratt Bethel University Reggie White Morehouse College Andrew White Mississippi State University Adrian Williams Rhodes College Jeremy Wright University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
STAXMUSICACADEMY’SBIMONTHLYNEWSLETTER
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