Have lunch with Al Bell
Al Bell, one of the true music legends from Arkansas, speaks today in the Butler Center at the Main Library from noon to one p.m. as part of the "Legacies and Lunch" lecture series. You're expected to bring your lunch if you want to eat.
Bell, of course was one of the key figures in the evolution of Memphis' Stax Records, the greatest record label of all time. A popular disc jockey, Bell first came to Stax in 1965 as national sales director, eventually rising to executive vice-president and, in 1969, co-owner of the label. He organized Wattstax, oversaw the release of "Shaft" and, in 1975, saw the label slide into bankruptcy.
After about a decade out of the business, Bell returned to briefly head up Motown, discovering Tag Team ("Whomp! (There It Is)") and releasing Prince's "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" along the way.
Should be a great talk.
Bell, of course was one of the key figures in the evolution of Memphis' Stax Records, the greatest record label of all time. A popular disc jockey, Bell first came to Stax in 1965 as national sales director, eventually rising to executive vice-president and, in 1969, co-owner of the label. He organized Wattstax, oversaw the release of "Shaft" and, in 1975, saw the label slide into bankruptcy.
After about a decade out of the business, Bell returned to briefly head up Motown, discovering Tag Team ("Whomp! (There It Is)") and releasing Prince's "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" along the way.
Should be a great talk.
