| Wednesday 30th April 2003, Orpheum Theater, Memphis. The Stax Museum Of American Soul Music was due to open at the end of the week, and there was a series of concerts in Memphis as part of the opening ceremonies. I was there. Tuesday night saw a gig at the Gibson Guitar Factory, featuring Linda Lyndell, Mable John, Little Milton and Big Star. Thursday night would see a showing of the "Wattstax" movie at the Orpheum, followed by performances from students at the Stax Academy, Floyd Taylor (Johnnie Taylor's son), The Temprees and The Soul Children who were surprise replacements for The Dramatics. The Soul Children are my favourite Stax act and I was stunned when Blackfoot Colbert and Norm West walked on stage, supported by Ann Hines and Archie Love. Anyway... Wednesday night was the big show - MC'ed by Al Bell, Richard Roundtree and others it was a who's who of Memphis and Southern Soul: Eddie Floyd, Ann Peebles, Jean Knight, Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Booker T & The MGs, Solomon Burke, William Bell, Percy Sledge, Little Milton, Al Green, Mack Rice and this man, introduced by Al Bell as "The Phenomonal Rance Allen." I'd been looking forward to Rance's performance, as had the friends I was with, but I don't think any of us were expecting anything quite so stunning. This is, without a doubt, THE most incredible vocal performance I have ever witnessed. Unfortunately the DVD version edits out one of the best sections of the whole song which occurred just before that final wall ... |
