Jim Stewart | |
|---|---|
 Stewart,c. 1960s | |
| Background information | |
| Born | James Frank Stewart (1930-07-29)July 29, 1930 Middleton, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | December 5, 2022(2022-12-05) (aged 92) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1957–1975 |
| Labels | Stax |
| Relatives |
|
James Frank Stewart[1] (July 29, 1930 – December 5, 2022) was an American record producer and executive who in 1957 co-foundedStax Records with his sisterEstelle Axton. Stax was one of the leading recording companies duringsoul andR&B music's heyday.[2][3] The label also scored many hits on theBillboard Hot 100 pop music chart, and internationally, during this time.[4][5]
Stewart was born on July 29, 1930.[1] Raised on a farm inMiddleton, Tennessee, he moved toMemphis in 1948 after graduating fromhigh school, then worked atSears and the First National Bank before beingdrafted into theUnited States Army. After serving for two years, Stewart returned to his job as a bank clerk in Memphis in 1953.[6]
Stewart was a part-timefiddle player and joined a local country music group, the Canyon Cowboys. He worked days as a banker atUnion Planters Bank. In 1957, Stewart launched his own record label, then calledSatellite Records, which issued country music and rockabilly records. His sister,Estelle Axton, mortgaged her home to invest in her brother's venture by buying anAmpex 300 tape recorder. The label's ultimate name "Stax" was derived from Stewart and Axton.[7]
Although Stewart initially recorded country music and some rockabilly, several local R&B musicians, includingRufus Thomas, found their way to Stax and also began recording there. With the success of Thomas' "Cause I Love You", Stewart made a distribution deal in 1960 giving Atlantic first choice on releasing Satellite (later Stax) recordings.[8]
After selling millions of records during its history,[9] Staxwent bankrupt in 1976, years afterJerry Wexler got Stewart to sign a bad contract (which Stewart did not read) that made Stax lose 97% of the master recordings of its valuable catalogue of music without any compensation. It would eventually be acquired byConcord Records.
Stewart became reclusive afterwards, but in 2018, he made a rare public appearance at theStax Museum to donate his fiddle to the museum.[10]
Stewart died on December 5, 2022, at the age of 92.[1][11]
Prior to his death in 2022, Stewart gave interviews for theHBO documentaryStax: Soulsville U.S.A., which was not released until 2024.[12]
Some of the R & B artists who worked with Stewart include:William Bell,Booker T & the MGs,Eddie Floyd,Isaac Hayes,Otis Redding,Carla Thomas, andSam & Dave.[4]
Stax's 15 years of service led the company to push more than 167 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
Stax and its affiliated record labels released 300 albums and 800 singles between 1959 and 1975, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
