Jim stewart stax records biography

American record producer and executive (1930–2022)

Musical artist

James Frank Stewart^[1] (July 29, 1930 – December 5, 2022) was an American record producer and executive who in 1957 co-founded Stax Records with his sister Estelle Axton. Stax was one of the leading recording companies during soul and R&B music's heyday.^[2][3] The label also scored many hits on the Billboard Hot 100 pop music chart, and internationally, during this time.^[4][5]

Life and career

Stewart was born on July 29, 1930.^[1] Raised on a farm in Middleton, Tennessee, he moved to Memphis in 1948 after graduating from high school, then worked at Sears and the First National Bank before being drafted into the United States Army.

After serving for two years, Stewart returned to his job as a bank clerk in Memphis in 1953.^[6]

Stewart was a part-time fiddle player and joined a local country music group, the Stax Records - Wikiwand ZIGYH