Al Bell Presents: A Soul Music Experience
This event has been canceled due to the Momentary’s response to COVID-19. Follow our updates.
Legendary music icon and Stax Records visionary, Al Bell brings classic soul music live through Al Bell Presents: A Soul Music Experience, featuring Evvie McKinney, an exclusive Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG recording artist and winner of Fox’s The Four, and members of the world-famous Hi Rhythm Section under the musical direction of Grammy award-winning “Boo” Mitchell (Uptown Funk).
Note: This is a standing-room event. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
About Al Bell
Considered a recording industry legend, Al Bell has been responsible for shaping the American music scene for over 40 years. From his humble beginnings as an air personality in Little Rock, Memphis, and Washington, DC, to his position as Chairman of Stax Records and subsequently the president of Motown Records, Bell’s dynamic leadership style led him to become known as one of the premier business executives in the recording industry. His innovative promotional efforts promulgated the “Memphis Sound” internationally and made Stax the second-largest African American-owned business in the 1970s.
After helping engineer the sale of Motown to MCA/Boston Ventures Group, Mr. Bell discovered Tag Team and released Whoomp! There It Is, which sold over 5 million single units. This record was one of the biggest selling singles in the history of the recorded music industry. He later was asked by Prince to release a single record for him, after his record label – Warner Bros. – turned him down. Bell released the record and, with his unique style of marketing and promotion, gave “The Artist” his biggest-selling single ever, titled The Most Beautiful Girl In The World.
Bell has to his credit an impressive list of accomplishments, honors, and awards, but to him his career has meant much more than making hit records, turning artists into “stars,” and earning awards. It has meant developing talent behind the scenes as well. It has meant discovering, training, and nurturing the careers of record executives all over the country. It has meant being sought after for individual advice and counsel. And it has meant answering phone calls at all hours of the day and night as he takes the time to encourage those who seek a career in his beloved music industry.
In the recently published book chronicling the history of Stax, titled Soulsville USA: The Stax Records Story, Rev. Jesse Jackson is quoted on its cover saying, “Stax was not just a record company. It was a sound. It was a piece of culture. It was a moment of conscience and experience of mankind. At the right time, it meant a lot to us. People still heavily borrow upon the tradition of Stax and the lineage laid down by the very special genius of Al Bell.”
About Evvie McKinney
With undeniable spirit, mile-high range, and earthquaking delivery, Republic Records recording artist Evvie McKinney exudes her own sense of style, swagger, and soul that’s both classic and current. She recently made history as the first winner of FOX’s hit series, The Four: Battle for Stardom, at age twenty. Her musical journey began when she joined a choir at age five in her hometown of Memphis, TN, and despite facing many hardships growing up, McKinney relentlessly continued to pursue her dream. She went from the Young Actors Guild Theatre and Dance Company to Stax Music Academy, where she assumed the role of lead singer and actress. Along the way, she has performed with the likes of David Porter, Lalah Hathaway, Sam (of Sam and Dave) and Larry Dodson of The Bar-Kays, to name a few. By 2015, she achieved a National Young Arts Foundation scholarship and was recognized as its “Merit Winner” in Popular Voice. On The Four, McKinney instantly captured the hearts of millions by belting out classics from Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and “Glory by Common and John Legend. Since then, she has performed extensively, including her debut single, “How Do You Feel,” on the Teen Choice Awards. She also performed at the iHeart Music Festival in Las Vegas and, as one of their “On the Verge Artists” in 2018, stands poised to leave an indelible mark on soul.
Sponsored by the Tyson Family Foundation.
