From B.B. King to Queen Bey, students at the Stax Music Academy will perform an “evolution of Black American Music.”
Growing up in Memphis, he says his childhood was shaped around “older soul music.” One of his biggest influences growing up was someone who’s been gone as long as Fondren’s been alive — James Brown. “I would dress up and copy his moves and sing like him,” he said. This February, Fondren is getting a chance to show the world his talents as a vocalist and choreographer. Fondren is a student performer in the Stax Music Academy’s Black History Month celebration — ” Soul of America: An Evolution of Black American Music.” For years, the Stax Music Academy (named after the legendary soul record company in Memphis) has celebrated Black History Month with a live concert based around soul music. Their audiences were mainly Memphis students and educators. Executive director of the Stax Music Academy, Pat Mitchell Worley, says the shows are about much more than soul music though. “It also gives all of the ingredients that got us to soul music. It includes some contemporary music too. So it gives students a throughline of music history — from Black culture and its influence.” Last year the Covid-19 pandemic forced the academy to abandon its live concert and pivot to video. Like most of Stax Records’ releases, it was a hit. “We had over 100,000 viewers,” Worley said, noting that people tuned in all around the world. “It wasn’t just educators and mentors who were interested in the show.” From B.B. King to Queen Bey The Black History Month celebration this year will include academy students, like Fondren, performing songs from iconic artists like B.B. King and Beyoncé, filmed in locations all over Memphis. The production goes live on February 15, is free to download with registration and comes with a study guide.
