Memphis Road to be Named For Final Surviving Member of Bar-Kays

James Alexander, the final surviving member of The Bar-Kays band that backed soul music star Otis Redding, can have a road renamed after him in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, Stax Museum mentioned.

Situated close to the Stax Data studios the place the the soul-funk collective recorded, Stafford Avenue in Memphis is scheduled to get a brand new identify on April 24: James E. Alexander Avenue. The bassist is the founder and final residing member of the Bar-Kays. 4 band members and Redding died when their aircraft crashed into an icy lake in Wisconsin on Dec. 10, 1967. They had been headed to a present in Madison when the aircraft went down.

One band member, trumpeter Ben Cauley, survived the crash. Alexander was not on the flight. He had boarded a business flight as a result of the aircraft might accommodate solely a sure variety of individuals, Stax mentioned.

The Bar-Kays had their first hit in 1967 with “Soul Finger,” The band then went on to change into Redding’s touring band. After the crash, Alexander and Cauley re-formed the band, with the addition of lead singer Larry Dodson. Alexander performed bass on the “Theme From Shaft,” which was written by Isaac Hayes. The tune received an Academy Award in 1971. Cauley has since died.

Memphis Metropolis Councilman JB Smiley sponsored the road renaming decision. “I’m completely in awe in regards to the renaming of the road I grew up on,” Alexander mentioned in an announcement,

Stax Museum is positioned within the constructing that housed Stax Data, which produced music by Redding, Hayes, Sam & Dave, The Staples Singers, Carla Thomas, Wilson Pickett, Booker T. and the M.G.s, and others.