STAX: Soulsville U.S.A. — Official Trailer

added: Thu, May 2nd '24

The official trailer for the new HBO four-part music documentary "STAX: Soulsville U.S.A." has been released.

Winner of the TV Premiere Audience Award at the 2024 SXSW Film and TV Festival, this documentary mini-series delves into the history and impact of the Memphis soul sound known as "STAX."

The series explores the legacy of Stax Records, a record company in Memphis, Tennessee, where iconic artists like Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and Sam & Dave began their musical careers. Unlike the Motown sound from Detroit, Stax represented a Southern, Memphis soul sound that blended elements of gospel, funk, and blues. One of the most prominent figures in the Stax movement was the legendary Otis Redding, dubbed the "King of Soul" in the early 1960s despite his tragically short life.

Produced and directed by documentary filmmaker Jamila Wignot, "STAX: Soulsville U.S.A." is set to premiere on HBO on Monday, May 20th. The series will debut with two episodes airing back-to-back, followed by the final two episodes airing in the same format on Tuesday, May 21st. All four episodes will also be available for streaming on HBO Max starting May 20th.

synopsis:
The Memphis soul sound that electrified the world... By 1973, Stax Records was one of the recording industry's most influential producers of soul music, breaking acts such as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Sam & Dave, and many more. In just under two decades, the scrappy outsider had grown from a modest family-owned record store and studio in Memphis, TN to a trailblazing global music label. STAX: SOULSVILLE U.S.A. chronicles the audacious group of individuals who dared to make music on their own terms, smashing racial barriers and defining an era and leaving an enduring musical legacy in their wake. Driven by a striking collection of restored and remastered archival performance footage and intimate interviews with key players in the label's remarkable history, STAX: SOULSVILLE U.S.A. details the unlikely origin story of Stax Records and pays tribute to its complex music library and the legendary artists that emerged from the iconic studio.

directed by Jamila Wignot

release date May 20, 2024 (on MAX)