Last Saturday, my husband surprised me with two great seats to the Epitome of Soul Award Show honoring the Inaugural Recipient Stevie Wonder! We had the pleasure of sitting near the owners of the famous Makeda's Cookies.
The Concert was a jam session, a renewal of an industry in Memphis, and so much more. I have long said that there are four reasons Nashville progressed beyond Memphis. I won't discuss all four but here is the number one reason:
(1)The Nashville leaders embraced the country music industry and created a brand. Somehow, they connected that brand from Nashville to Dallas to LA. America began to appreciate the music and town. Nashville didn't care about being called country, trailer park, hillbilly,iced tea sipping, slow talking, beer drinking. pick up truck driving folk. In fact, they started to brand the culture: GRITS (Girls Raised in the South), Redneck's Dictionary, Southern Comfort (Whiskey). They took ownership of the "country music art form" and marketed it, Long story, short, America appreciates it. In fact, America loves country music and even I sing, "Jesus, Take the Wheel".
Thanks to David Porter, a Memphian who understands Soul Music. Our sound appeals to those who love lyrics that dig deep into our inner spirit and tells a story of urban life: What's Going On by Marvin Gaye or Higher Ground or Isn't She Lovely by Stevie Wonder. Those stories are timeless. You hear the sound and feel the message and seldom focus on color.
Porter understands that soul music has flavor and tells a story of those who are down trodden, working class whose heart bleeds and rejoices just like the wealthy when we find love, grieve a love that's lost, or tiptop in anticipation of a better day. The proof of that is "Hold on I'm Coming".
We finally have a vision for the music industry in Memphis. Stax recognizes our past, but Porter is pointing to the future. He also understands the music industry and is highly respected by all genres of music. He has a chance to embrace and brand what we authentically helped develop...soul music.
Let's support his dream because just like Country was Nashville's brand; Soul Music belongs to Memphis.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "Something is happening in Memphis". Thanks, David Porter, we had a marvelous time dreaming of Memphis as a music mecca, again.
