On December 5, Stax Records co-founder, producer and engineer Jim Stewart passed away peacefully at the age of 92. Stewart was a driving force behind the trailblazing Memphis record label. With the help of talented songwriters and session musicians, he helped launch the careers of 1960’s and ‘70s artists including Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding and The Staple Singers. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Stax Records defined the “Memphis Sound”, trailing only Motown Records as the country’s top soul label. The company also became known as a haven for racial integration in the segregated South. Stax and its affiliated record labels released 300 albums and 800 singles between 1959 and 1975 including Stewart-produced hits like Sam & Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Comin’” and Carla Thomas’s “Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)”.

Let’s pay tribute and celebrate the legacy of Jim Stewart with music that crafted the “Memphis Sound”. For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what Stax Records songs do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

As a loyal supporter of The Morning Show and the Coffee Break, we’d love to learn more about your perspective on what The Current provides for listeners and the Minnesota music community, and what it means to you personally. This survey will take less than 5 minutes to complete, and your feedback will help us learn more about you and your interests, which will allow us to create more meaningful experiences for The Current’s supporters. We hope to hear from you. The survey is open until December 16.

Songs Played:
Otis Redding – I Can’t Turn You Loose
Carla Thomas – Pick Up the Pieces
Sam and Dave – Soul Man
Linda Lyndell – What a Man
Wilson Pickett – In The Midnight Hour
Eddie Floyd – Knock On Wood
The Bar-Kays – Soul Finger
Albert King – Born Under A Bad Sign
Isaac Hayes – Soulsville