AL, who I hung out with last night and who thinks I need to eat healthier, would be so proud of me today. I realized I have a full free-lunch card at the Saucer, and grabbed my laptop and headed down there. I’m having the smoked turkey salad with jalapeno vinaigrette. Not only did I order a salad, but I got a healthy dressing instead of the usual blue cheese!
Ryan who blogs about Midtown (mymidtownmemphis.blogspot.com) sent me the information below about a very cool event coming to STAX Museum next month – your chance to talk with the family of late music legend Otis Redding. This is a long press release so I’m just going to copy and paste it.
On Saturday and Sunday, May 17 & 18, 2008 the Soulsville Foundation will once again make history when Otis Redding’s family will be our special guests and events participants on two very exciting evenings. The family includes Otis Redding’s widow, Mrs. Zelma Redding, along with his three children, Otis III and Dexter Redding and Karla Redding-Andrews.
All will be special guests on Saturday, May 17th at the Stax Music Academy SNAP! After School Spring Concert at the University of Memphis’ Michael D. Rose Theater. Otis III and Dexter will perform with the students. All ensembles will be featured during the concert – Stax Music Academy Rhythm Section, StreetCorner Harmonies, Premier Percussionists, and the Soulsville Swing Band, as well as The Soulsville Charter School’s Soulsville Symphony Orchestra. Also starring as a speical guest is the academy’s Artist in Residence, internationally acclaimed saxophonist Kirk Whalum.
The concert is at 7 p.m. and admission is just $5!
On Sunday, May 18th, the entire Redding family will be our guests for our “Conversations With The Reddings” panel discussion/Q&A, along with others who knew Otis Redding well, including Ben Cauley, the only Bar-Kay band member on board the plane to survive the tragic crash on December 10, 1967 near Madison, Wisconsin, which took the life of Redding at the age of 26. This event will take place in the Stax Museum’s intimate Studio A. The discussion will not only focus on Otis Redding the phenomenal entertainer, but also Otis Redding the loving father and husband.
“Conversations With the Reddings” will take place from 5 – 7 p.m. $10 general admission and free to Stax Museum members.
This will be Zelma Redding’s and Karla Redding-Andrews’ first visit to the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.
THE STAX MUSEUM’S SPECIAL EXHIBIT IN STUDIO A, “OTIS REDDING: FROM MACON TO MEMPHIS – AN EXHIBIT FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF ZELMA REDDING,” HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 31ST.
All right, press release is over, I’m back. Plans for tonight: Trivia night at the Saucer. After the legendary Rapscallions take first place and get their first $50 to build toward Rapscallion Party VIII, I’ll head to Calhoun’s for the usual Tuesday night crunkness there.
That’s all I’ve got… time to hit Publish and eat my salad.