Music Business and How to Navigate as an Artist With James Alexander

910 East McLemore Avenue,Memphis TN 38106

22 September, 2022

Description

Stax Music Academy Production Month 2022 EventUnderstanding Music Business and How to Navigate as an Artist: Conversation and Q&A with James Alexander of The Bar-KaysSeptember marks Production Month at Stax Music Academy (SMA). To celebrate, SMA is offering a number of special events including a panel and Q&A with James Alexander, member and co-founder of funk pioneers and Stax Record Icons - the Bar-Kays! This event is free and open to 6th - 12th-grade students in the Greater Midsouth Area.  Event DetailsWHENThursday, September 22nd from 5:30 - 7 PM WHEREStax Music Academy, 910 E McLemore Ave, Memphis, TN 38106 WHOFREE event open to all 6th - 12th graders located in the Greater Memphis Region. For any questions, please email [email protected]. More about James AlexanderStax legend and iconic funk bassist James Alexander is the founder and only living member of the original Bar-Kays, Otis Redding’s backing touring band and pioneers in funk. Alexander was the original bassist for the Bar-Kays when four of the six band members were killed in the same December 10, 1967 plane crash that claimed the life of singer Otis Redding. Alexander was the only Bar-Kays member not aboard that flight, which was carrying Redding, five of the Bar-Kays, the pilot, and Redding’s road manager. Because the plane could accommodate only a certain number of people, Alexander boarded a commercial flight to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with plans to join the group for their next gig in Madison. After the plane crashed in the icy waters of Lake Monona just a few miles from the Madison airport, Alexander had the task of identifying the bodies of his bandmates, as well as that of Redding. He was 17 years old. Formed in 1966 initially as an instrumental group, The Bar-Kays had their first smash hit in 1967 with “Soul Finger,” which peaked at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard R&B singles chart and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was after the success of the song that Redding chose The Bar-Kays as his touring band. After the crash, Alexander and Cauley worked to reform the band, with the addition of lead singer Larry Dodson, formerly of The Temprees. Cauley left the group in 1971 and went on to perform with the likes of B.B. King, Levon Helm, Keith Richards, Boz Scaggs and numerous others until his death in 2015. Subsequent work after the crash for Alexander included playing bass on the Academy Award-winning “Theme From Shaft,” which Isaac Hayes wrote and recorded in 1971 for the feature film Shaft. Alexander and The Bar-Kays also performed at the famed Wattstax concert festival in Los Angeles in 1972, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Today, Alexander and the reformed Bar-Kays have been performing their unique style of funk for more than 60 years, during which time they have released more than 20 albums and some 50 singles. They remain a sought-after touring group. They were inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and the National Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Alexander is the father of famed hip hop and R&B producer and artist, Phalon “Jazze Pha” Alexander, who has worked with many music artists such as Ciara, T.I., Field Mob, Too Short, Slick Rick, Ludacris, and OutKast, among many others. Thank you to our sponsors!