Al Bell Receives 2011 Trustees Award in Grammy Awards
. Bell now joins the pantheon of musical icons who have received the prestigious honor, including the Beatles, Walt Disney, George and Ira Gershwin, Berry Gordy, Duke Ellington, and Stax Records' co-owner Estelle Axton. For Bell, the honor represents a milestone in his lifetime love of music and work in the industry and will be presented at an invitation-only ceremony during GRAMMY� Week on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, and a formal acknowledgment will be made during the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast. In 1965, a young radio disc jockey from Brinkley, Arkansas named Alvertis Isbell joined a fledging record company in Memphis, Tennessee to help promote the music it was churning out in an old converted movie theater. That small label was Stax Records and Al Bell became known to be one of the driving forces who helped change music history. Decades later, in 2009, he became the chairman of the board of directors of the Memphis Music Foundation (MMF), the main organization charged with promoting the city's musical legacy, current artists, and future plans. "This is great news for Al Bell and Memphis Music," said Dean Deyo, president of the Memphis Music Foundation. "Al started developing young artists during his Stax days over 40 years ago and continues to nurture artist development as chairman of the Memphis Music Foundation. Memphis music is something very special and one of the main reasons for its success has been Al Bell. It just may be a bit early to give him a Lifetime Achievement Award, because he is not done yet. Al Bell is just getting started." Kirk Whalum, internationally renowned musician and 12-time GRAMMY nominee, now CEO for the Soulsville Foundation in Memphis, which includes the Stax Museum, Stax Music Academy and The Soulsville Charter School, explains, "There's a very good reason that the name Al Bell is mentioned, the voice of Al Bell is heard, and the handsome and distinguished face of Al Bell is seen more than any other name, voice, and face in the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. It's because of his body of work. Yes he remains a creative, viable, and avant-garde force in the industry. But who wouldn't give a limb to have all his 'firsts' and accomplishments in one's rearview mirror?"
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