Stax Records Legend David Porter Hosts Program Including Award Presentation by Stevie Wonder, Conversation with Original ‘Shaft’ Richard Roundtree, Guest Performances by Ray Parker Jr. (“Ghostbusters”), emerging star Porcelan (“The Real Thing Don’t Change”)
Legendary Stax Records songwriter and recording artist, National Songwriters Hall of Fame member, and The Consortium MMT founder David Porter will host a star-studded program titled “David Porter & Friends,” featuring the presentation of the 2017 Epitome of Soul Award by Stevie Wonder, the inaugural 2014 Epitome of Soul Award recipient, to classic and current Stax Records artist William Bell, on Saturday, November 11, 2017, at Horseshoe Tunica’s Bluesville Showcase Nightclub in Tunica, Mississippi. The star-studded event, styled in a late-night TV talk show format, also will feature conversations with Stevie Wonder; William Bell, who will also perform live, accompanied by the Garry Goin Band; iconic actor and original “Shaft” movie star Richard Roundtree; singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Ray Parker Jr. (“Ghostbusters”), who will also give a very special guest performance; and emerging Memphis vocalist Porcelan, whose current hit song “The Real Thing Don’t Change” (MIME Music) was co-written and produced by Porter. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 13, for $95 plus taxes on fees at Ticketmaster.com.
The goal of the “David Porter & Friends” program is to draw attention to and garner support for The Consortium MMT, a nonprofit organization founded by Porter to develop the future of Memphis music through structured teaching, experience, and mentorship. The Epitome of Soul Award is a program of The Consortium MMT that honors musical artists whose work and influence have spanned generations. The inaugural Epitome of Soul Award was presented to Stevie Wonder in 2014. More information on the Epitome of Soul Award may be found at http://memphismusictown.com.
“There are very few musical artists who have had as enduring an impact as William Bell, from the early days of Stax Records in the 1960s to his first Grammy Award in 2017,” Porter said. “Soul music is a timeless art form, and William Bell is a timeless artist. He truly represents the Epitome of Soul.”
Born in Memphis, Bell was the first major male artist on the Stax Records label in the early 1960s, and he scored one of the Memphis label’s first hits with “You Don’t Miss Your Water,” which he also wrote. Bell’s songwriting has made a lasting impact, with “Born Under a Bad Sign” becoming a classic blues standard recorded by Albert King, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and many others. Bell has continued to find success decades later, most recently with the 2016 album “This Is Where I Live,” which won Bell his first Grammy Award – for Best Americana Album in 2017 – as well as a nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
“We are proud to host the 2017 Epitome of Soul Award event to celebrate the music and career of the legendary William Bell while helping to support the future of soul music through David Porter’s efforts with The Consortium MMT,” said R. Scott Barber, President, Caesars Mid-South.
Another native Memphian, Porter is best known for his songwriting, particularly his partnership with Isaac Hayes in the 1960s at Stax Records. Hayes and Porter penned such immortal tunes as “Soul Man,” “I Thank You,” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’” for Sam and Dave, and “B-A-B-Y” for Carla Thomas (recently featured in the hit 2017 action movie “Baby Driver”). Porter was inducted in 2005 into the National Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Hayes, Bill Withers, John Fogerty, and others. In recent years, Porter has focused on keeping alive the legacy of Memphis soul music and nurturing future generations of performers, songwriters, and producers. In 2012, he founded a nonprofit music industry incubator called The Consortium MMT (Memphis Music Town) that was awarded with the Tennessee Governor’s Arts Award in 2013.
“By recognizing these legends like Stevie Wonder and William Bell, whose art stands the test of time, we are presenting emerging creative artists with a model for how they can conduct their careers,” Porter said. “It is our hope that through what we are doing with The Consortium MMT, we can groom the next generation of stars who will represent the Epitome of Soul.”
PHOTO: Attached and on Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/s/sdkq39uyd8zy2b2/David%20Porter%20%C2%A9%20Focht%20002.JPG?dl=0).
About The Consortium MMT
The Consortium MMT (Memphis Music Town), a 501(c)(3) organization with goals of elevating the creative qualities of songwriters, record producers, and recording artists through the input given in a structured format of those principles by the world-renowned and respected stars in each of those areas. The Consortium MMT has a focused approach of connecting successful star talents, with their concepts, with those young persons; aspiring recording artists, songwriters, and producers who are passionate in working to find their way into the music industry by the route of soul music. This program’s main intent is to be sure that the consistency of the legendary quality that established the credibility for this genre of music is preserved by the sharing of insights by established successful stars giving back to this community hotbed of Soul Music in Memphis, Tennessee.
The founder of The Consortium MMT is David Porter, half of the songwriting and producing team of the Stax Records era of Isaac Hayes and David Porter. This duo was inducted into the National Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 in New York City. Porter’s desire is grounded in his steps to give back to a genre that shaped the success of Hayes and Porter through Soul Music.
Horseshoe Tunica can be found online at:
www.HorseshoeTunica.com
https://www.facebook.com/HorseshoeTunica
https://twitter.com/horseshoetunica
https://instagram.com/horseshoetunica/
https://www.youtube.com/user/HorseshoeTunica
About Horseshoe Tunica:
Horseshoe Tunica has been the market leader in gaming and entertainment since opening on February 13, 1995. The casino known nationwide as the place where real gamblers come to gamble has recently been remodeled to include state-of-the-art technology and luxurious furnishings and contains over 1,380 slot and video poker games, the widest variety of table games in the region including an Asian gaming section. The 25-table World Series of Poker themed poker room featuring a WSOP lounge is a poker player’s paradise. Horseshoe Tunica guests enjoy a 14-floor hotel tower with over 500 luxuriously appointed rooms featuring world-class customer service and amenities including: Jack Binion’s Steak which offers contemporary as well as classic fine dining offerings and a wine bar, the all you can imagine Village Square Buffet featuring fare from all over the world and highlighting Southern specialties and desserts, the area’s only Starbucks, Lucky 8 Asian Bistro, and The Spa at Horseshoe. Horseshoe Tunica consistently books headline entertainment to perform at the 1500 seat intimate and stellar Bluesville concert hall. For more information, please visit www.horseshoetunica.com
Discover Tunica 
