[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 148 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1406]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING STAX MUSIC ACADEMY FOR ITS PERFORMANCE AT THE ``FREEDOM 
SOUNDS: A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION'' FESTIVAL FOR THE GRAND OPENING OF THE 
  SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

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                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 28, 2016

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the young men and 
women of the Stax Music Academy (SMA) in Memphis, Tennessee for their 
outstanding performance on the main stage at the ``Freedom Sounds: A 
Community Celebration'' festival on the National Mall for the grand 
opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History 
and Culture. Students from SMA have performed around the world and it 
was fitting for the school to be invited to perform in Washington, DC 
for this historic event in our nation's history.
   The Stax Music Academy began in 2000 at Stafford Elementary School 
as a Soulsville Foundation after school and summer music learning 
center. SMA is now located next to Stax Museum where the historic Stax 
Records was founded. Under Presidents and CEOs of the Foundation, 
including Memphian and celebrated jazz saxophonist, Kirk Whalum, SMA 
developed a program that has served more than 4,000 students in the 
studies of vocals, instruments, music writing, music theory and music 
production. SMA students have performed for and alongside world-
renowned artists, including Isaac Hayes, Mavis Staples, Stevie Wonder, 
Brandford Marsalis, Ben Cauley of the Bar-Kays and many more. 
Additionally, SMA students have opened for BB King at his annual BB 
King Homecoming Festival and Concert, performed at the Levitt Shell in 
Memphis's Overton Park opening for Booker T. Jones and sang backup for 
Faith Hill during the 2008 Freedom Awards Dinner and Ceremony hosted by 
the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis.
   Stax Music Academy students have also traveled the country and world 
sharing their talents for all to hear. Audiences have included Oprah 
Winfrey and President Bill Clinton as well as the U.S. Ambassador to 
Australia during performances in Australia and the U.S. Ambassador to 
Germany during the grand opening of the ``Memphis Exhibition Berlin'' 
in Berlin, Germany. SMA students have traveled to Porretta Terme, Italy 
for the Porretta Soul Festival in Rufus Thomas Park, performed at The 
Kennedy Center in Washington, DC for a July 4th performance and 
participated in the Smithsonian Institute's Smithsonian Folklife 
Festival on the National Mall in 2011. In addition to excelling in the 
performing arts, since 2008, every SMA senior has been accepted to a 
college or university.
   I was very happy for Stax Music Academy when I learned that its 
students were scheduled to perform in Washington, DC for the opening 
festivities of the National Museum of African American History and 
Culture. The students performed several legendary songs by Stax 
recording artists, including ``I've Been Loving You Too Long'' by Otis 
Redding and ``Walking the Dog'' by Rufus Thomas, and covered songs by 
Stax artists Sam and Dave and the Staple Singers as well as songs by 
Prince and Queen. The performers represented Stax Music Academy, the 
city of Memphis and Memphis's musical legacy well, and I am proud of 
this latest milestone in the Academy's storied history.

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