From the music of Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, and more, we celebrate the vital soul hits that supercharged the civil rights movement and captured the spirit of a new generation.​
September 12, 7:30 pm
@ Beckman Auditorium at Caltech
September 13, 7:30 pm
@ Beckman Auditorium at Caltech
September 14, 7:30 pm
@ Beckman Auditorium at Caltech
ABOUT
MUSE/IQUE Presents ​
MADE IN MEMPHIS - OPEN HOUSE
Stax Records, Soul, and The Black Artists Who Started A Sound Revolution
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The legend of Stax Records and the fervent period of creation that led to the signature Memphis Sound defining the soul genre in American music.​
MUSE/IQUE’s Open House is FREE to attend to the public.
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In the neighborhood nicknamed “Soulsville,” legendary artists and record producers dared to change everything. In 1950s Memphis, Stax Records smashed racial barriers, integrated their staff, and created space for a more equal and collaborative way of making art.
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Join MUSE/IQUE for this quintessential American story of how soul music produced by studios like Stax and Sun Records became a powerful form of self-expression that amplified the resilience, aspirations, and hope of the Black community. From the music of Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, and more, we celebrate the vital soul hits that supercharged the civil rights movement and captured the spirit of a new generation.​
Caltech is a world-renowned science and engineering Institute that marshals some of the world's brightest minds and most innovative tools to address fundamental scientific questions and pressing societal challenges.
This move also gives us the chance to return to our roots: MUSE/IQUE was founded at Caltech in 2011. The show’s music—centered on the power of integration, collaboration, and invention through shared ideas—resonates deeply with Caltech’s spirit and with our wider community.
ADMISSIONS
MUSE/IQUE is a member-driven organization. Membership gives you admissions to 12 months of MUSE/IQUE events, beginning the moment you sign up! The more you give, the more you support us in our mission to bring life-changing live music to all.​
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Click here to find a membership level that best suits you.
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OUR ARTISTS
LAVANCE COLLEY, VOCALS
LaVance Colley has fused the presence, range, and fervor of a Gospel singer with the versatility of Jazz, and the heart of R&B to develop a style all his own. As an accomplished vocalist his credits include working with legends like: Beyonce Knowles, John Legend, Shawn Mendes, Pharrell Williams, Diana Ross, and Lizzo, to name a few. LaVance is also widely recognized as the lead vocalist, and Emcee on tour with international sensation group Postmodern Jukebox. His live performances and studio sessions are truly spectacular and highly sought after by many artists in the industry.
CHRIS PIERCE, VOCALS
Chris Pierce is a singer-songwriter who blends Americana, folk, blues, and soul. His hit song “We Can Always Come Back to This” reached #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Pierce has performed with: Neil Young, B.B. King, Seal, Al Green, Steve Earle, Allison Russell, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Jill Scott, Blind Boys of Alabama, Aaron Neville & others. Other recent highlights include: a solo concert at The Kennedy Center, a duet with Sara Bareilles, a sold-out concert with Allison Russell, and performance/interviews on NPR’s WORLD CAFÉ, MOUNTAIN STAGE, AMERICAN FOLK SHOW, SoCAL SOUND, and more.
SY SMITH, VOCALS
Sy Smith has proven throughout her career that an R&B artist can be progressive while remaining firmly rooted in tradition. Foremost a singer with a vocal range spanning five octaves, Smith has worked with Whitney Houston, GRAMMY-winning trumpeter Chris Botti and GRAMMY-nominated group The Foreign Exchange, among others. Her latest LP “Until We Meet Again” has drawn comparisons to Minnie Riperton and Deniece Williams.
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DC6 SINGERS COLLECTIVE, VOCALS
DC6 Singers Collective (vocals) are a Los Angeles-based ensemble with roots in a cappella, gospel, doo wop, and R&B, but they fuse styles to transcend boundaries. They have collaborated with global music legends such as CeCe Winans, Lady Gaga, John Legend, Michael Bolton, and institutions like the San Francisco Symphony and LA Opera Orchestra. They frequently collaborate with longtime partners like MUSE/IQUE and local arts organizations that amplify the city’s rich cultural tapestry.