Al Bell to be Honored with Authur S. Holmon Award at Black History Month Opening

January 24, 2019 - The University of Memphis Black Student Association will honor Al Bell with the Authur S. Holmon Lifetime Achievement Award at the opening reception for Black History Month. The event will be held Friday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m. in the University Center Theatre. Bell is former chair and owner of Stax Records. Bell was vital to the careers of Stax stars such as the Staple Singer, Isaac Hayes, the Emotions, the Dramatics and Mel and Tim. Bell's promotional efforts drove the "Memphis sound" internationally and made Stax the second-largest African-American–owned business in the 1970s. In 2009, the BBC profiled Bell as "one of the icons of soul music" and "the driving force behind Stax Records".

The Lifetime Achievement award was established in 1991. It was renamed in 1996 to honor Holmon, who served as associate dean of students for minority affairs for 26 years.

For more information, contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs at 678. 2054.