Stax Music Academy Launches Fundraiser #MusicMustContinue

Zalissa Stewart sings out some soul music to entertain the crowd during a vaccine incentive event outside the Stax Museum on Friday August 6, 2021. Free Moderna COVID vaccines were administered by Christ Community Health Services for those who qualified. Anyone who got a vaccine received two free guest passes to the Stax Museum.

The Stax Music Academy engages students through their music program, giving them the incentive to do well and stay in school. Students learn about the Stax Records and Memphis music legacy.

Since 2008, every high school senior has been accepted to a college or university, many on full scholarships

Stax has given us such artists as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, The Staples Singers, and many more.

The pandemic has affected the students and families.

~ Soulsville Foundation's Solid Gold Soulsville event was presented by the Stax Museum and Stax Music Academy on Aug. 6, 2021. The event featured live music by 926 (the Stax Music Academy Alumni Band).

The Stax Music Academy launched its #MusicMustContinue campaign to assist students with tuition funding. Since many of their families have been so negatively affected by the COVID pandemic, this year 90% of their students qualify for financial aid as opposed to 50-70 percent in recent years. Their goal is to raise $50,000 so that no student is turned away for financial reasons.

The donation link is here:https://soulsvillefoundation.networkforgood.com/projects/136155-musicmustcontinue2021

Source: Soulsville Foundation

CENTRAL STATION HOTEL OPENS!

Memphis developer Henry Turley and Kemmons Wilson Companies have developed a 105 year old property in the South Main neighborhood of Memphis. Together they renovated and reopened The Central Station, part of Curio Collection by Hilton, this week.

Turley, who is known for developing “livable neighborhoods” said he wanted people who travel into Memphis by train to have a nice place to stay.

The hotel, which will showcase Memphis music, has a Listening Lounge/Bar— Eight and Sand, which contains an expansive collection of curated vinyl records spun by a local DJ.

The location is in the artsy South Main neighborhood of Memphis which hosts a street festival the last Friday of every month called Trolley Night.

The Arcade Restaurant and Earnestine and Hazels, a famous dive bar, and many other bars and eateries are within walking distance of the hotel. Saturday mornings there is a Farmers Market next door spring to fall.

Within a mile guests can visit the National Civil Rights Museum, Beale Street, a movie theater, The Orpheum Theater, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, The Blues Hall of Fame, Old Dominick Distillery and many other Memphis attractions.

http://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/central-station-memphis

MEMPHIS UKULELE FLASH MOB HOSTS MEMPHIS UKE-N-ROLL FESTIVAL

UPDATE: UKE FESTIVAL POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS-THE FESTIVAL WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE. STAY TUNED….RETURNING IN 2021

Pete McCarty invites everyone to the Memphis Uke N Roll Festival in April of 2020. Come join the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob as we have a four day party in Memphis that celebrates everything wonderful about the ukulele. For tickets go to www.memphisukenroll.com

What started out as a small group of friends getting together to jam has grown into a wonderful ukulele community in Memphis. The Memphis Ukulele Flash mob meets each week at Central BBQ on Summer Avenue in Memphis on Tuesday evenings from 6-8pm for a standing room only sing-a-long led Pete McCarty.

Memphis Magazine recently did a story on Pete and the Flash Mob calling them the Pied Piers of Happiness who “bring joy to the world.”

https://memphismagazine.com/culture/the-pied-pipers-of-happiness/

The all volunteer group also spend their time and talent spreading love around the community, playing for nursing homes, children’s hospitals, farmers markets and even holiday parades.

The festival will showcase talent from around the country, there will be workshops, open mic opportunities, sing-a-longs, fun and fellowship in the south main neighborhood in downtown Memphis.

Enjoy this photo gallery which will get you a sense of our city, Memphis, the city we love so much. You can also see some of the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob members spreading some love. (Photos by Karen Pulfer Focht ©)

To see other videos and photos of the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob look under “Ukulele Fun” Category on my blog.

Now, ya’ll come!

Beale Street Music Festival, Memphis, Tennessee 2019 (Sunday Only)

The Beale Street Music Festival was sold out on Sunday. Miley Cyrus made a surprise visit on Saturday. Read more in the Daily Memphian (links below)

https://dailymemphian.com/article/index/4871/Miley-Cyrus-added-to-Saturdays-Beale-Street-Music-Fest-lineup

https://dailymemphian.com/article/index/4876/Miley-Cyrus-thrills-during-muddy-second-day-of-Beale-Street-Music-Fest