‘STAX: Soulsville U.S.A.’ review: The rise and fall of the record label that gave us Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes
by Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune
May 16, 2024
3 minutes
The rise and fall of Stax Records, the influential but underdog label based in Memphis, Tennessee, is the subject of the HBO documentary “STAX: Soulsville U.S.A.” It is a story of musical genius but also racism, personal tragedies and corporate greed. In other words, American history.
In the best way possible, the four-part series from filmmaker Jamila Wignot feels like falling down a rabbit hole. When it comes to the soundtrack of the ’60s and ’70s, Motown was an essential player. But the story behind — and influence of — Stax is just as relevant.
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