Berklee City Music was honored to welcome soul music icon Al Bell as the keynote speaker for the 2012 Berklee City Music Network Conference in Memphis. As head of promotions as well as a producer and eventually the final owner of Memphis’ own Stax Records, Bell was responsible for both Stax’s growth in the music industry and bringing the music of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers and other soul music pioneers to millions of Americans.

You know Kirk Whalum for his musicianship, 11 Grammy nominations, and his sax playing on Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." You know him because he is successful, but you don't know why he is successful. At this year's Berklee City Music Conference, held in Memphis, Mr. Whalum's hometown, we were fortunate to have him speak about the key to breaking free and being successful.

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You know Kirk Whalum for his musicianship, 11 Grammy nominations, and his sax playing on Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." You know him because he is successful, but you don't know why he is successful. At this year's Berklee City Music Conference, held in Memphis, Mr. Whalum's hometown, we were fortunate to have him speak about the key to breaking free and being successful.

Born in Mississippi, Deanie arrived at the Stax studio on McLemore Avenue in 1963 becoming one of Stax Records’ first artists. Deanie went on to perform practically every role, from singer, to composer, to liner notes writer, photographer, editor, publicist, press correspondent, documentalist, and most notably, the Soulsville Foundation’s first President and CEO, a nonprofit organization that helped build the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

Berklee City Music was honored to welcome soul music icon Al Bell as the keynote speaker for the 2012 Berklee City Music Network Conference in Memphis. As head of promotions as well as a producer and eventually the final owner of Memphis’ own Stax Records, Bell was responsible for both Stax’s growth in the music industry and bringing the music of Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers and other soul music pioneers to millions of Americans.

Born in Mississippi, Deanie arrived at the Stax studio on McLemore Avenue in 1963 becoming one of Stax Records’ first artists. Deanie went on to perform practically every role, from singer, to composer, to liner notes writer, photographer, editor, publicist, press correspondent, documentalist, and most notably, the Soulsville Foundation’s first President and CEO, a nonprofit organization that helped build the Stax Museum of American Soul Music

You know Kirk Whalum for his musicianship, 11 Grammy nominations, and his sax playing on Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." You know him because he is successful, but you don't know why he is successful. At this year's Berklee City Music Conference, held in Memphis, Mr. Whalum's hometown, we were fortunate to have him speak about the key to breaking free and being successful.