Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Stephani T. Brownlee
19 August 2010
Some things will never be forgotten. Like when your mother makes her hot butter
soul biscuits that creates watery sensation in your mouth! Well, in Memphis, Tennessee
on 926 E. McLemore St. a sea of music was construction. Stax Records was causing an
uproar in the music industry nationally and internationally. Stax was building its way into
stardom and into the homes of many ethnicities and races. Even though countless enjoyed
the music that came from Stax, the world would never recognize how much they loved
the touching compositions that came out of those humble doors until tragedy struck.
Stax Records was not only a record label, it was a symbol for people. Race wasn’t
an issue. It meant a lot to the citizens who heard the songs that were from Stax. Stax was
soul. Soul was Stax. Memphis, Tennessee was Stax. Stax was Memphis, Tennessee. Stax
represented Blacks and Whites in a positive light. The Soulsville community stood for
equality. Stax was around during segregation so Stax represented what the population
wanted the city to be like. They did not enjoy the discrimination that was happening. Stax
took a stand and the people stood up for what they believed in. That’s one reason why
There were loads of great legends to come in and out of Stax! One in particular
was Ben Cauley! Surviving the tragic plane crash that killed Otis Redding and most of the
Bar-Kays, Ben Cauley remains an active member in the Soulsville community. He set up
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a scholarship at the Stax Music Academy to benefit their students. He believes in giving
back! That was something that was instilled in him when he first set foot in Stax Records!
I believe that I deserve to get the Ben Cauley Scholarship for numerous reasons!
First, I am a well rounded student. I work extremely hard, for I am in great academic
standing with a 4.0 GPA. I am a Student Ambassador and the Editor n Chief of the
yearbook so I have a lot of leadership experience. I am 100% sure I will bring a positive
atmosphere to Stax and I will represent the organization, directors and other students
well. I know that I can do it for I am constantly striving for excellence. The Ben Cauley