By A.J. Dugger III
Memphis soul band The Bar-Kays are planning a 50th Anniversary Gala at The Cannon Center for Performing Arts on December 4. To help the band celebrate 50 years in the business, special musical guests are scheduled to perform at the event including George Clinton, Confunkshun, Eddie Levert, DJ Quik, The Mary Jane Girls and many others. “There’s going to be a lot of entertainment from special guests all over the country,” said longtime Bar-Kays Lead Singer Larry Dodson. “There will be a reception from 5 to 7 prior to the concert. From 8 to 10 will be the gala itself. There will be a lot of live entertainment and surprises. They’re also planning a special video presentation.”
Dodson joined the band in 1970. Not only are his lead vocals present on most of the band’s hit songs, but he also co-wrote and produced many of the The Bar-Kays’ hits. “We’ve done a lot of music. We’ve had 20 top ten singles, albums and records throughout our career. Last year we had a top ten record in the country called ‘Grown Folks.’ The fact that we can still put out music now is rewarding.”
The Bar-Kays began 50 years ago as a Memphis backing band for artists on Stax Records. The late soul singer Otis Redding hired them as his backing band in 1967. When Redding and some of the Bar-Kays perished in a plane crash in 1967, surviving members Ben Cauley and James Alexander revamped the band with new members. Throughout the years, The Bar-Kays had numerous hits including “Shake Your Rump to the Funk,” “Too Hot to Stop,” “Move Your Boogie Body,” and “Hit and Run.”
Dodson told The Tennessee Tribune that for the past 10 years, The Bar-Kays have been sending two or three young people to college at Lemoyne Owen each year. “We want people to know that the event is not all about us. Giving back is a great part of what we do. A lot of people don’t know that about the Bar-Kays. We are giving a portion of the proceeds from the celebration to our Fab Five charities: The Down Syndrome Association of Memphis & the Mid-South, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, United Way of the Mid-South, The STAX Music Academy and The Allen Jones/Marjorie Barringer/Bar-Kays Scholarship Fund. We’re going to award those five charities with a portion of the proceeds that we raise.”
General admission for the celebration is $100. Tickets may be purchased at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts Box Office, Ticketmaster Locations or online at www.ticketmaster.com.