Stax Raises Funds For Local Musicians Health Care
Nestled among the South Memphis neighborhoods that produced musicians Aretha Franklin, Booker T. Jones and Earth, Wind and Fire founding member Maurice White, the Stax Museum of American Soul on Saturday helped ensure the beat will go on for other local musicians.
At "Takin' It Back To Stax," the museum helped raise funds for the Memphis Musicians Healthcare plan, an initiative by the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission to provide affordable health care for local musicians.
Stax and the commission sold copies of "A Taste of Memphis Music: The Cookbook" and A Taste of Memphis Music: The CD at the event, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the plan.
Attendees were treated to samples from the cookbook, which features recipes from Memphis musicians like Larry Dodson and Memphis Mayor AC Wharton, and live music from several local performers.
Johnnie Walker, the commission's executive director, said the gig- to-gig lifestyle of some musicians makes having health care a financial challenge. Preserving Memphis' legacy as a musical powerhouse means taking care of its current and future artists, she said.
"We're keeping our musicians moving," Walker said. "When the musician stops, the music stops. And without proper health care, the musician will stop."
Musicians in Tennessee who earn at least 51 percent of their income through performing are eligible for the plan, with programs ranging from basic emergency care to primary care. The plan also provides inexpensive diagnostic and laboratory tests for musicians.
"Memphis music is really like the soundtrack of America," Walker said. "There are many sounds that originated here that you hear in songs everywhere, so it's real important for Memphians to value what was started here."
Tim Sampson, communications director of the museum, also said that while musicians generally don't have the health care benefits afforded to employees of big companies, they need them.
"Musicians work really hard, with their long hours and their travel, and they have to have health insurance," Sampson said.
Lisa Allen, interim director of the museum, said it was important for the record label that "put soul music on the map" with artists like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes to participate in the initiative.
"We like to support our local musicians."
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"We're keeping our musicians moving. When the musician stops, the music stops. And without proper health care, the musician will stop."
Johnnie Walker, Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission executive director.
Source: California Chronicle
At "Takin' It Back To Stax," the museum helped raise funds for the Memphis Musicians Healthcare plan, an initiative by the Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission to provide affordable health care for local musicians.
Stax and the commission sold copies of "A Taste of Memphis Music: The Cookbook" and A Taste of Memphis Music: The CD at the event, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the plan.
Attendees were treated to samples from the cookbook, which features recipes from Memphis musicians like Larry Dodson and Memphis Mayor AC Wharton, and live music from several local performers.
Johnnie Walker, the commission's executive director, said the gig- to-gig lifestyle of some musicians makes having health care a financial challenge. Preserving Memphis' legacy as a musical powerhouse means taking care of its current and future artists, she said.
"We're keeping our musicians moving," Walker said. "When the musician stops, the music stops. And without proper health care, the musician will stop."
Musicians in Tennessee who earn at least 51 percent of their income through performing are eligible for the plan, with programs ranging from basic emergency care to primary care. The plan also provides inexpensive diagnostic and laboratory tests for musicians.
"Memphis music is really like the soundtrack of America," Walker said. "There are many sounds that originated here that you hear in songs everywhere, so it's real important for Memphians to value what was started here."
Tim Sampson, communications director of the museum, also said that while musicians generally don't have the health care benefits afforded to employees of big companies, they need them.
"Musicians work really hard, with their long hours and their travel, and they have to have health insurance," Sampson said.
Lisa Allen, interim director of the museum, said it was important for the record label that "put soul music on the map" with artists like Otis Redding and Isaac Hayes to participate in the initiative.
"We like to support our local musicians."
--------------------
"We're keeping our musicians moving. When the musician stops, the music stops. And without proper health care, the musician will stop."
Johnnie Walker, Memphis and Shelby County Music Commission executive director.
Source: California Chronicle
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