The HBO Originals documentary four-part series STAX: Soulsville, U.S.A. (streaming on MAX) is nominated for two Emmy Awards.
The show's three executive producers Michele Smith, Caroline Waterlow and Sophia Dilley joined WBGO's Doug Doyle to talk about the importance of the project that tells the story of the legendary Memphis-based record label and the artists and executives who made history.
Michele Smith serves as Vice President of Estate and Legacy Brand Management at Craft Recordings, the catalog label of Concord, the largest independent global leader in the development and acquisition of recorded music, music publishing and theatrical performance rights. She says this doc is extremely personal to her.
"I've had the pleasure of knowing the STAX artists for around 17 years and have been able to sit at their kitchen tables or go to special occasions with them The STAX artists for years wanted their side of the story to be told. Even though there are many stories that might have been out previously, they feel that they represented their story. They trusted Jamila Wignot (director) who did a phenomenal job at helming this series that shows the depth of the story, the people, the music, the culture and the history of STAX. It's an amazing body of work. "
Smith works closely with and serves as Concord’s representative on the Board of Directors for the Soulsville Foundation, a non-profit that operates the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Stax Music Academy and The Soulsville Charter School, in Memphis, Tennessee. Michele also mentors youth interested in musical careers and is a vocal change agent and member of Concord’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and Impact Investment Committee.
Caroline Waterlow is an Oscar, Emmy & Peabody award-winning documentary film producer based in New York City. Waterlow is known for producing O.J.: Made in America an ESPN Films documentary directed by Ezra Edelman and winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 89th Academy Awards.
Waterlow says this was a project she had to be involved with.
"You are taking people's memories and life experiences and you have to be very carefu, gentle, thoughtful and smart about being responsible for giving the story to a new generation. STAX is an underdog story. That's what we are attracted to as storytellers. We take it very seriously."
Waterlow is President of Laylow Pictures, Inc, a Brooklyn-based production company she co-founded with Director & Producer Ezra Edelman.
Sophia Dilley is the EVP of Concord Originals. She and her team develop and produce documentaries, biopics, scripted film and TV projects, and podcasts based on Concord's vast library. Her other recent projects include Cyndi Lauper: Let the Canary Sing on Paramount+ and My Favorite Things: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 80th Anniversary concert on PBS and SKY.
Dilley says she's proud to be a part of the footage-filled and music-rich STAX documentary series.
"One of the things that we do is look across all of these different artists and labels like STAX and say what are the stories that need to be told that are under our roof that connect to our catalog. It became very obvious that STAX was not only one of those stories but is one that is incredibly urgent to be told today."
The 76th Emmy Awards ceremony will air live on ABC on Sunday, September 15,
You can SEE the entire interview with Sophia Dilley, Caroline Waterlow and Michele Smith here.
