Jeff Kollath - The Soul of a Story - Exec Dir of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music

As Executive Director of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music
in Memphis, TN, Jeff Kollath oversees the world’s only museum
dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of Stax Records
and American soul music. Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, John Lee
Hooke, Booker T & the MGs and the endless Stax roster of
musical icons produced  songs that stirred our souls and
shared our collective story, a story born of pain and glory, rags
and riches, love and lust. Stax liberated our hearts and freed
our hips to move like nobody was watching. Kollath, brandishing a
BA and Masters in History, shares the complex STAX story everday,
highlighting the granular details of each artist and the
revolution they created. And overseeing magnificent installations
that capture the moments when musical and cultural magic happened
in a beaten up corner of Memphis. Kollath has researched and
written extensively about soul music and Black culture during the
Civil Rights and Black Power eras. Prior to arriving in Memphis
in 2015, Kollath created dynamic public programming and
exhibitions for the UW-Madison Center for the Humanities, the
Milwaukee County Historical Society, and the Wisconsin Veterans
Museum.

Memphis Magazine Interview

Photo Max Gersh / The Commercial Appeal


Have a Swan Dive to share? Text us!


We are always looking for Swan Dive Stories to share so hit us
up, send an e mail to Ron: Ron@artbikesjax.com or Stu:
Stuart@stuartsheldon.com