If it’s Memphis, it’s about music!
The city’s owes a lot to music and its musicians. In September of 2007, the Commercial Appeal asked readers ‘what is Memphis’ single greatest asset?’ A remarkable majority of the responses said its music and art. Music is the city’s most identifiable home-grown channel for creativity and Soulsville neighbourhood is the home to the popular Memphis Soul Music.
The Soulsville neighbourhood got its name from the marquee of the Stax recording studio, which displayed “SOULSVILLE USA” in response to Motown’s “Hitsville, USA” sign. The music at Stax recording studio was a result of group of people coming together in the evenings and circumstances which favoured people gathering for music, singing and recording their songs at the Satellite record shop. A music genre which has its roots in the early gospel music and country blues grew in the United States in the late 1950s. Stax Recording studio shaped an awe-inspiring music industry in the 1960s.The Soulsville Neighbourhood saw an economic and cultural growth through these years. The musicians lived in the neighbourhood and had the greatest opportunities of diverse musicians coming together at Stax. The Stax boomed in the 60s which along with cultural ethics brought economic development to the city as whole. The production of music at Stax not only infused strong music values but helped people of all races come together to create music. But Stax went bankrupt early 70s and it had to be shut down. Also, assassination of Martin Luther King in 1968,and the suburban sprawl phenomenon in mid 70’s which left American inner cities in shadows, left Soulsville in a waning condition.
After the 1970s Soulsville decline saw major changes in its music culture along with unemployment and poverty. Before the decline Memphis was amongst the top music recording centres in the world. The closing of Stax shut down the Memphis Soul. Poverty increased with an increase in crime rates. All these factors contributed to the decline of neighbourhood. Soulsville thus got an image if one of the poorest neighbourhood with highest rate of unemployment and crime in the city. It lost its ideals of music and culture with the civil rights movement and closing of Stax. There was a need to look into this rundown neighbourhood and rebuild, refurbish the city’s ethics. Memphians did propose to rebuild the Stax Studio as a museum again. Stax museum was built in 2005 as an exact replica of the Stax recording studio at the same spot. A visit to the Stax gives a deep insight of city’s rich music heritage. The Stax Music Academy at the adjacent plot takes classes on music. The rebuilding of Stax is helping the present day poor conditions in the neighbourhood. Still, many plots remain vacant and structures to be revitalised.
The Memphis Music Magnet organization has taken initiative to revitalize some areas. The Memphis Music magnet group originated in the Graduate Program in City and Regional Planning at the University of Memphis among a group of students and faculty exploring the relationship between creativity, culture, and community development. They are also giving incentives for home ownerships and have housing programs for musicians who would like to stay in Soulsville. Memphis Housing authority developed the college park which was once a low-income torn down area into a Hope VI project which focuses on mixed income housing group.
There is a substantial potential of looking into the Music industry in Memphis to take a rebirth and celebrate its heritage with present day musicians. There is a chance of revitalising not only the physical aspects in the neighbourhood, but gives a huge opportunity for creative economy. Also, it is important to connect other neighbourhoods with Soulsville and create gateways which attract musicians to display and discover their talents here. Not as much is known to Memphians about their rich heritage. This calls for active participants from student bodies, musicians, music organisations to inculcate awareness and interests for soul music. There should be strong belief that this can change the state of the neighbourhood and the city as a whole. It is important to look into abandoned houses, warehouses which give an opportunity to reuse those spaces in the city as keys to attract people to the neighbourhood. One of the important aspects about the Soulsville neighbourhood is its location. It is not more than 1.5mile from downtown. It is in close proximity to the job areas, National Museum and civil right icons, sports and entertainment district.
It just needs the right soul again to be the neighbourhood it was in its 50’s.With today’s technology in the music industry, along with the musicians from around the city can contribute to make Memphis what it was!!
Data courtesy: The Memphis Music Magnet foundation.
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