The year 1968 saw some of the nation's most confrontational and transcendent moments in the civil rights movement and protests against the Vietnam War. In Memphis for the soul label Stax, it was a disruptive year on the corporate front, ending their relationship with Atlantic. The top soul artist in America, Otis Redding, died in a plane crash shortly before the year began. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the Lorraine Motel, which is now the National Civil Rights Museum.  

Now, the most enduring soul music of the era takes centerstage in an upcoming Stax '68 compilation promising new reflections on what Stax has meant to Memphis and to music. The five-disc, 134-song box set will include every single, both A- and B-sides, Stax and its sub-labels released in 1968, a year when so much changed.

We spoke with Deanie Parker who in addition to her songwriting talent, started work in 1963 as publicist for the label. From 1999 through 2007 she also supported revitalization of Stax's local presence as president of the Soulsville Foundation.

"During my lifetime here in Memphis, 1968 was one of those years where our expectations and achievements were challenged, and our beliefs were shattered," said Parker. "We didn't have an opportunity to exhale, to regroup." Even the start of the year felt like a challenge. "Between Otis Redding's death and the disappointment that Atlantic caused in our group and development, then to go to 1968, that was like the climax of the worst of times." Things did get worse ahead, but the music that came from the struggles, conflicts and joy of 1968 lives on.

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Singer/songwriter William Bell contributed mightily to the Stax sound, cracking Billboard's Hot 100 in 1968 with "Private Number" and "A Tribute To A King," dedicated to the departed Otis Redding. His 2016 comeback This Is Where I Live won Best Americana Album at the 59th GRAMMY Awards, but this is the same artist who co-wrote the 1967 Albert King-classic "Born Under A Bad Sign" with Booker T. Jones. Bell shows up several times on the new Stax box-set, a testament to how prominent a role he plays in the label's legacy.

Booker T. & The M.G.'s were the Stax house band, playing behind countless artists and setting a shining example as a racially integrated group during a time and in a place of considerable racial tension. Keyboard player Booker T. Jones co-founded the crew in the 1960s playing beside Steve Cropper on guitar, among others. The group received the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 and their 1962 recording "Green Onions" has been inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame. Their Hot 100 track in 1968 was titled "Soul-Limbo," reaching No. 17.

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Brought on board by David Porter, Isaac Hayes and Porter as a songwriting pair combined composing and arranging with producing, establishing the Stax flair and anticipating the later role that producer-stars play in hip-hop. Their work on Sam & Dave's 1967 "Soul Man" was seminal and contributed to the duo's win at the 10th GRAMMY Awards for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal Or Instrumental. Hayes also has keyboards credits on Otis Redding's The Dock Of The Bay from 1968. A few years later his 1971 "Theme From Shaft" made Isaac Hayes a household word, on Stax's Enterprise label. The single was inducted in the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 1999.

Blues guitarist Albert King released his masterpiece Born Under A Bad Sign in 1967, inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 1999. As mentioned above, the title track was written by William Bell and Booker T. Jones. It was King's first of many albums on Stax, advantageously pairing his blues with Booker T. & The M.G.'s, staying true to the musical core of King's music but with enhanced crossover appeal. A pair of King '68 singles with their B-sides appear on the new Stax collection.

In March 1968, Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" was No. 1 on the Hot 100. Redding had written the song with guitarist Cropper. Although he had other posthumous hits, no other tracks came close. Redding and his song won at the 11th GRAMMY Awards for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance, Male and Best Rhythm & Blues Song. The song was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame where it rests beside Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and "Try A Little Tenderness." He received his Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. The song kicks off disc one of the new collection just ahead of its B-side, "Sweet Lorene."

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The Staple Singers received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 and received many GRAMMY nominations including Best Soul Gospel Performance for their 1968 album Long Walk To D.C. That same year Soul Folk In Action, with Cropper producing as well as playing, provides a magical viewing port into the dreams and optimism that pushed alongside of 1968's struggles, protests and sorrow. It shows some of why the family's influence extends to songwriters today, writing today's lines to help people speak up and speak out. Their songs in the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame include 1956's "Uncloudy Day" on Vee-Jay, and "Respect Yourself" (1971) and "I'll Take You There" (1972) on Stax.

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Johnnie Taylor helped Stax finish the year strong as his "Who's Making Love" reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 in December of 1968. It was nominated for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance, Male at the 11th GRAMMY Awards, losing to Otis Redding. After 1975, Taylor enjoyed hits and created an impressive body of work away from Stax.

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Carla Thomas's presence was felt in her 10th GRAMMY Awards nominations, including for her 1967 duets with Otis Redding on King And Queen. Their duet "Tramp" set the stage for 1968 and Otis Redding's greater elevation. Their single "Lovey Dovey" reached No. 60 on the Hot 100 in March 1968. A second-generation Memphis musical powerhouse, Thomas was regarded as a queen of the city's sound and its soul scene.

"We were creating a new sound, a new music, a music that made you feel so good," Parker said of the atmosphere at Stax in '68. "You could write about your personal experiences and world conditions and not have to apologize for it, and then identify with millions of other people around the world who were having the same challenges in their lives. It was just the right time."

She also let on that she was "amazed at what Concord went in that vault and found" for Stax '68, especially her less-well-known favorites, Ollie & The Nightingales. Parker also expressed boundless enthusiasm for Memphis' potential, wishing more would invest in the Memphis Tourism organization's emphasis on the city's many magical music destinations.

Having inspired the digging in this piece, the makers of Stax '68 deserve additional call-outs. Liner-notes writer for Stax '68, Robert Gordon has GRAMMY nominations related to Stax, Johnny Cash and Muddy Waters, and he won "Best Album Notes" at the 53rd GRAMMY Awards for Keep An Eye On The Sky, a compilation box set of Big Star. Producer Steve Greenberg has also been nominated for deep-Stax history and shared in Baha Men's 43rd GRAMMY Awards Best Dance Recording win for "Who Let The Dogs Out" as a producer/mixer.

Another noteworthy moment was covered in Nov. 2013 when the Recording Academy's Memphis Chapter celebrated its 40th anniversary at a special interactive exhibit hosted at the Stax Museum. The Chapter was founded in 1973. Attendees at the exhibit's opening night included Steve Cropper and David Porter, Memphis Horns trumpet player Wayne Jackson, songwriter/publicist Deanie Parker as well as Stax '68 liner-notes writer Robert Gordon. The exhibit featured a prominent folk-art portrait of Carla Thomas.

The Stax heritage lives on, its mystery grows and even 1968 itself remains a combination of many tumultuous expressions from its time. Some of the best were thanks to Stax and its teams. Stax '68 is due out Oct. 19 and is available now for pre-order.

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William Bell, HANSON and Elle King have been added to the lineup for the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum's inaugural GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala, taking place on May 21, at The Novo in Downtown Los Angeles.

Previously announced performers include Andra Day, Ravyn Lenae, Shinedown and The War and Treaty. The evening will include a red carpet and VIP reception on the Ray Charles Terrace at the GRAMMY Museum followed by a one-of-a-kind concert at The Novo. The Gala will also pay tribute to iconic record label Atlantic Records. The evening will be hosted by veteran CBS broadcast journalist Anthony Mason, who will be joined by Michael Sticka, President/CEO of the GRAMMY Museum, Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, and Julie Greenwald, chairperson and CEO of Atlantic Records Group. 

Performers will pay tribute to the 2024 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame inducted recordings. Andra Day will perform a song from Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill; William Bell will perform his song "You Don't Miss Your Water"; The War and Treaty will perform Charley Pride's "Kiss An Angel Good Morning"; Elle King will perform Wanda Jackson's "Let's Have A Party." HANSON will perform the Doobie Brothers' "What A Fool Believes"; Ravyn Lenae will perform Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly;" and Shinedown will perform Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven." Tickets are on sale to the general public and more information about the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala is available on the website. 

The inaugural Hall Of Fame Gala will honor the 2024 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame inducted recordings on its 50th Anniversary, including De La Soul's 3 Feet High And Rising, Guns N' Roses' Appetite For Destruction, Buena Vista Social Club's Buena Vista Social Club, and Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, as well as recordings by Donna Summer, Charley Pride, Wanda Jackson, Kid Ory's Creole Orchestra, the Doobie Brothers, and William Bell. 

This year's show will be produced by longtime Executive Producer of the GRAMMY Awards, Ken Ehrlich, along with Chantel Sausedo and Ron Basile. Musical Direction by globally renowned producer and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. The Gala is presented by City National Bank. 

An online auction is currently underway alongside the Hall Of Fame Gala, featuring a vast collection of guitars signed by an array of major artists including Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Joni Mitchell, Billy Joel, and many others, as well as Platinum tickets to the 2025 GRAMMY Awards and more. Proceeds will benefit the GRAMMY Museum. Click HERE for more info. 

The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973. The inducted recordings are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees. With 10 new titles, the Hall currently totals 1,152 inducted recordings in the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame. Recipients will receive an official certificate from the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. See the full list of past inducted recordings here.

GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala 2024 Performers Announced

The Recording Academy has announced 10 recordings to be newly inducted to the distinguished GRAMMY Hall Of Fame as part of its 2024 inductee class and in celebration of its 50th anniversary this year. This year's GRAMMY Hall of Fame additions, the first inductions since 2021, include four albums and six singles that exhibit qualitative or historical significance and are at least 25 years old. The inducted recordings, which will be added to the iconic catalog residing at the GRAMMY Museum, will be honored at GRAMMY Museum's inaugural GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala and concert, presented by City National Bank, taking place Tuesday, May 21, at the NOVO Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets for and performers at the Gala will be announced at a later date. 

The 2024 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame inducted recordings range from Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill to Guns N' Roses' Appetite For Destruction. Others include recordings by De La Soul, Buena Vista Social Club, Donna Summer, Charley Pride, Wanda Jackson, Kid Ory's Creole Orchestra, the Doobie Brothers, and William Bell. Eligible recipients will receive an official certificate from the Recording Academy. With these 10 newly inducted titles, the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame currently totals 1,152 inducted recordings.

See below for a full list of the 2024 recordings inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame, and see the full list of all past GRAMMY Hall Of Fame inducted recordings.

Full list of 2024 GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Inducted Recordings:

3 FEET HIGH AND RISING
De La Soul
Tommy Boy (1989)
(Album)
Inducted: 2024

APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION
Guns N' Roses
Geffen (1987)
(Album)
Inducted: 2024

BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB
Buena Vista Social Club
World Circuit/Nonesuch (1997)
(Album)
Inducted: 2024

“I FEEL LOVE”
Donna Summer
Casablanca (1977)
(Single)
Inducted: 2024

“KISS AN ANGEL GOOD MORNIN'“
Charley Pride
RCA Victor (1971)
(Single)
Inducted: 2024

“LET'S HAVE A PARTY”
Wanda Jackson
Capitol (1960)
(Single)
Inducted: 2024

THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL
Lauryn Hill
Ruffhouse/Columbia (1998)
(Album)
Inducted: 2024

“ORY'S CREOLE TROMBONE”
Kid Ory's Creole Orchestra (As Spike's Seven Pods of Pepper Orchestra)
Nordskog (1922)
(Single)
2024

“WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES”
The Doobie Brothers
Warner Bros. (1978)
(Single)
Inducted: 2024

“YOU DON'T MISS YOUR WATER”
William Bell
Stax (1961)
(Single)
Inducted: 2024

"We're proud to unveil the diverse mix of recordings entering the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in its 50th year," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said in a statement. "The music showcased here has played a pivotal role in shaping our cultural landscape, and it's a true honor to recognize these albums and recordings, along with the profound influence each has had on music and beyond."

"The artists, songwriters, producers, and engineers who composed this year's inducted recordings are a reflection of the sheer talent and hard work that goes into creating such seminal music," GRAMMY Museum President/CEO Michael Sticka said in a statement. "It's a privilege to be able to welcome these new additions into our distinguished catalog and celebrate the recordings at our inaugural gala on May 21."

The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame was established by the Recording Academy's National Trustees in 1973. The inducted recordings are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees.

This year, the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Gala will be the first of what will become an annual event and includes a red carpet and VIP reception on the newly opened Ray Charles Terrace at the GRAMMY Museum, followed by a one-of-a-kind concert at the NOVO Theater in downtown Los Angeles. 

The inaugural gala and concert is produced by longtime executive producer of the GRAMMY Awards, Ken Ehrlich, along with Chantel Sausedo and Ron Basile and will feature musical direction by globally renowned producer and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. For sponsorship opportunities, reach out to halloffame@grammymuseum.org.

Explore the history of the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame

Updated Friday Oct. 13, 2023 to include info about Kendrick Lamar's most recent GRAMMY wins, as of the 2023 GRAMMYs.

A GRAMMY veteran these days, Kendrick Lamar has won 17 GRAMMYs and has received 47 GRAMMY nominations overall. A sizable chunk of his trophies came from the 58th annual GRAMMY Awards in 2016, when he walked away with five — including his first-ever win in the Best Rap Album category.

This installment of GRAMMY Rewind turns back the clock to 2016, revisiting Lamar's acceptance speech upon winning Best Rap Album for To Pimp A Butterfly. Though Lamar was alone on stage, he made it clear that he wouldn't be at the top of his game without the help of a broad support system. 

"First off, all glory to God, that's for sure," he said, kicking off a speech that went on to thank his parents, who he described as his "those who gave me the responsibility of knowing, of accepting the good with the bad."

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He also extended his love and gratitude to his fiancée, Whitney Alford, and shouted out his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates. Lamar specifically praised Top Dawg's CEO, Anthony Tiffith, for finding and developing raw talent that might not otherwise get the chance to pursue their musical dreams.

"We'd never forget that: Taking these kids out of the projects, out of Compton, and putting them right here on this stage, to be the best that they can be," Lamar — a Compton native himself — continued, leading into an impassioned conclusion spotlighting some of the cornerstone rap albums that came before To Pimp a Butterfly.

"Hip-hop. Ice Cube. This is for hip-hop," he said. "This is for Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle. This is for Illmatic, this is for Nas. We will live forever. Believe that."

To Pimp a Butterfly singles "Alright" and "These Walls" earned Lamar three more GRAMMYs that night, the former winning Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and the latter taking Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (the song features Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat). He also won Best Music Video for the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood." 

Lamar has since won Best Rap Album two more times, taking home the golden gramophone in 2018 for his blockbuster LP DAMN., and in 2023 for his bold fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.

Watch Lamar's full acceptance speech above, and check back at GRAMMY.com every Friday for more GRAMMY Rewind episodes. 

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It's rare that a genre can be traced back to a single artist or group, but for funk, that was James Brown. The Godfather of Soul coined the phrase and style of playing known as "on the one," where the first downbeat is emphasized, instead of the typical second and fourth beats in pop, soul and other styles. As David Cheal eloquently explains, playing on the one "left space for phrases and riffs, often syncopated around the beat, creating an intricate, interlocking grid which could go on and on." You know a funky bassline when you hear it; its fat chords beg your body to get up and groove.

Brown's 1965 classic, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," became one of the first funk hits, and has been endlessly sampled and covered over the years, along with his other groovy tracks. Of course, many other funk acts followed in the '60s, and the genre thrived in the '70s and '80s as the disco craze came and went, and the originators of hip-hop and house music created new music from funk and disco's strong, flexible bones built for dancing.

Legendary funk bassist Bootsy Collins learned the power of the one from playing in Brown's band, and brought it to George Clinton, who created P-funk, an expansive, Afrofuturistic, psychedelic exploration of funk with his various bands and projects, including Parliament-Funkadelic. Both Collins and Clinton remain active and funkin', and have offered their timeless grooves to collabs with younger artists, including Kali Uchis, Silk Sonic, and Omar Apollo; and Kendrick Lamar, Flying Lotus, and Thundercat, respectively.

In the 1980s, electro-funk was born when artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Man Parrish, and Egyptian Lover began making futuristic beats with the Roland TR-808 drum machine — often with robotic vocals distorted through a talk box. A key distinguishing factor of electro-funk is a de-emphasis on vocals, with more phrases than choruses and verses. The sound influenced contemporaneous hip-hop, funk and electronica, along with acts around the globe, while current acts like Chromeo, DJ Stingray, and even Egyptian Lover himself keep electro-funk alive and well.

Today, funk lives in many places, with its heavy bass and syncopated grooves finding way into many nooks and crannies of music. There's nu-disco and boogie funk, nodding back to disco bands with soaring vocals and dance floor-designed instrumentation. G-funk continues to influence Los Angeles hip-hop, with innovative artists like Dam-Funk and Channel Tres bringing the funk and G-funk, into electro territory. Funk and disco-centered '70s revival is definitely having a moment, with acts like Ghost Funk Orchestra and Parcels, while its sparkly sprinklings can be heard in pop from Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, and, in full "Soul Train" character, Silk Sonic. There are also acts making dreamy, atmospheric music with a solid dose of funk, such as Khruangbin’s global sonic collage.

There are many bands that play heavily with funk, creating lush grooves designed to get you moving. Read on for a taste of five current modern funk and nu-disco artists making band-led uptempo funk built for the dance floor. Be sure to press play on the Spotify playlist above, and check out GRAMMY.com's playlist on Apple Music, Amazon Music and Pandora.

Say She She

Aptly self-described as "discodelic soul," Brooklyn-based seven-piece Say She She make dreamy, operatic funk, led by singer-songwriters Nya Gazelle Brown, Piya Malik and Sabrina Mileo Cunningham. Their '70s girl group-inspired vocal harmonies echo, sooth and enchant as they cover poignant topics with feminist flair.

While they’ve been active in the New York scene for a few years, they’ve gained wider acclaim for the irresistible music they began releasing this year, including their debut album, Prism. Their 2022 debut single "Forget Me Not" is an ode to ground-breaking New York art collective Guerilla Girls, and "Norma" is their protest anthem in response to the news that Roe vs. Wade could be (and was) overturned. The band name is a nod to funk legend Nile Rodgers, from the "Le freak, c'est chi" exclamation in Chic's legendary tune "Le Freak."

Moniquea

Moniquea's unique voice oozes confidence, yet invites you in to dance with her to the super funky boogie rhythms. The Pasadena, California artist was raised on funk music; her mom was in a cover band that would play classics like Aretha Franklin’s "Get It Right" and Gladys Knight’s "Love Overboard." Moniquea released her first boogie funk track at 20 and, in 2011, met local producer XL Middelton — a bonafide purveyor of funk. She's been a star artist on his MoFunk Records ever since, and they've collabed on countless tracks, channeling West Coast energy with a heavy dose of G-funk, sunny lyrics and upbeat, roller disco-ready rhythms.

Her latest release is an upbeat nod to classic West Coast funk, produced by Middleton, and follows her February 2022 groovy, collab-filled album, On Repeat.

Shiro Schwarz

Shiro Schwarz is a Mexico City-based duo, consisting of Pammela Rojas and Rafael Marfil, who helped establish a modern funk scene in the richly creative Mexican metropolis. On "Electrify" — originally released in 2016 on Fat Beats Records and reissued in 2021 by MoFunk — Shiro Schwarz's vocals playfully contrast each other, floating over an insistent, upbeat bassline and an '80s throwback electro-funk rhythm with synth flourishes.

Their music manages to be both nostalgic and futuristic — and impossible to sit still to. 2021 single "Be Kind" is sweet, mellow and groovy, perfect chic lounge funk. Shiro Schwarz’s latest track, the joyfully nostalgic "Hey DJ," is a collab with funkstress Saucy Lady and U-Key.

L'Impératrice

L'Impératrice (the empress in French) are a six-piece Parisian group serving an infectiously joyful blend of French pop, nu-disco, funk and psychedelia. Flore Benguigui's vocals are light and dreamy, yet commanding of your attention, while lyrics have a feminist touch.

During their energetic live sets, L'Impératrice members Charles de Boisseguin and Hagni Gwon (keys), David Gaugué (bass), Achille Trocellier (guitar), and Tom Daveau (drums) deliver extended instrumental jam sessions to expand and connect their music. Gaugué emphasizes the thick funky bass, and Benguigui jumps around the stage while sounding like an angel. L’Impératrice’s latest album, 2021’s Tako Tsubo, is a sunny, playful French disco journey.

Franc Moody

Franc Moody's bio fittingly describes their music as "a soul funk and cosmic disco sound." The London outfit was birthed by friends Ned Franc and Jon Moody in the early 2010s, when they were living together and throwing parties in North London's warehouse scene. In 2017, the group grew to six members, including singer and multi-instrumentalist Amber-Simone.

Their music feels at home with other electro-pop bands like fellow Londoners Jungle and Aussie act Parcels. While much of it is upbeat and euphoric, Franc Moody also dips into the more chilled, dreamy realm, such as the vibey, sultry title track from their recently released Into the Ether.

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