Bridge Builders Award (Memphis, TN)

Andrew F. Cates, President, Cates Company, Project Developer & Chairman, Soulsville and Deanie Parker, President and Executive Director, Soulsville for their commitment to reinvigorating the neighborhood of Soulsville, Memphis through the Soulsville non-profit organization that is in charge of building the Stax Museum of American Soul Music as well as the Stax Music Academy for inner city youth.

The year 2003 brought the rebirth of the infamous Stax Records in Soulsville U.S.A. and the Memphis soul music symbolic of a time not long ago when talent reigned above all else. As one of the most popular soul-music labels ever and the epicenter of a musical movement, Stax placed over 167 hit songs in the top 100 pop charts and 243 hits in the top R & B charts and ignited the careers of soul stars such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, and Booker T. & the MGs. With the decline of Stax in 1975, economic troubles flooded the surrounding area.

Andrew Cates and Deanie Parker formed a partnership that revitalized the area dubbed “Soulsville” through a $20 million redevelopment project on the original site of the old Stax recording studios near downtown Memphis with the building of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and the Stax Music Academy for inner city youth. The idea is to help troubled students through music as well as provide education on Stax’s contribution to soul music.

Describing his work on the project as a “calling,” Cates’ used his unrelenting persistence to forge partnerships with local government and area agencies for economic and community development for funding. The project raised $15 million in public and private money, the city alone donating $2.5 million. Deanie Parker is an expert in music having worked with such internationally famous performers as Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & The MGs, Otis Redding, the Staple Singers, Rufus and Carla Thomas among others.

Using her experience at Stax and her belief in Soulsville as “…something truly special,” Parker seized the opportunity to restore Memphis to its legendary status. The new Stax stands a beacon of hope and opportunity in a formerly troubled Memphis neighborhood reminding everyone of a time when music spoke greater volumes than any color. Creativity and the life of Memphis soul course through its veins, unifying those of all races under the universal language of music.