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Soulsville seeks money

By Pamela Perkins
perkins@commercialappeal.com

Soulsville seeks money
Parker named chief of new foundation; Willis replaces her at nonprofit


It takes focus to raise $10,000 a day.

So Soulsville, the nonprofit agency that runs the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Stax Music Academy, formed the Soulsville Foundation this week.

As the nonprofit continues to run the facilities, the foundation will focus on local, national and international fund-raising for annual operations, growth, an endowment fund and a future.

The new foundation means a new job for Deanie Parker, who had been the nonprofit’s president and chief executive officer. Now she is president of the foundation’s new board, with its seven renowned trustees including Isaac Hayes and Steve Cropper. Marc Willis, who had been the academy’s director, has taken her place.

"The organization has grown very fast," Parker said. "When we look at the fact that it requires an extraordinary amount of money to operate both of these entities, it demands a very focused effort."

Soulsville formed in 1999 to develop the museum and academy, a $20 million project to help revitalize the surrounding community also known as Soulsville USA. Both facilities are on the former site of the old Stax Records studio, 926 E. McLemore in South Memphis, a soul music hit-making machine.

Soulsville has 19 employees. Its total operating budget this year is $3.6 million, or about $10,000 a day.

The academy began in 2000 with a summer music camp. Now it has an after-school program, music performance programs and is opening a charter school in July.

The museum, opened in the spring of 2003, is expanding merchandise and distribution, ongoing membership drives, as well as school and community outreach programs.


SOULSVILLE FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Tom Cousins, Community leader and founder of Atlanta-based Cousins Properties, developer of such Atlanta landmarks as the CNN Center and Omni Coliseum. He also initiated the East Lake community revitalization project in Atlanta, a model for Soulsville’s revitalization efforts.

Ray Chambers, founder of the Amelior Foundation in Morristown, N.J.; a philanthropist and humanitarian focusing on at-risk youth in Newark, N.J.

T. Michael Glenn, executive vice president of marketing development and corporate communications for FedEx; and chairman of the board for United Way of the Mid-South.

Isaac Hayes, Grammy- and Oscar-winning former Stax Records artist, television and film star, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

Steve Cropper, legendary lead guitarist for Stax’s Booker T. & the MG’s as well as the Blues Brothers band; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.

David Porter, Stax Records Grammy Award-winning songwriter and recording artist; international music producer and publishing company owner.

Andy Cates, real estate developer and chairman of the Soulsville board of directors; board member of the Grizzlies Academy, Downtown Memphis Ministries Inc., and president of Hope and Healing Housing.