WATTSTAX 50th ANNIVERSARY
Share your memories with us!Wattstax was a benefit concert organized by Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion in Los Angeles. Attended by more than 100,000 people and lasting 7 hours, the concert took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20, 1972, and featured a mix of Soul, Funk and Gospel.
It featured performances by Stax’s biggest artists with a line-up that included Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Rance Allen, Carla Thomas, the Bar-Kays and many more. Rev. Jesse Jackson also opened the event with his often-referenced ‘I Am Somebody’ speech.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Wattstax this year, we need YOUR HELP. We are looking for your stories, photos, memorabilia photos or anything Wattstax related! Whether you were at the event, lived in Watts at the time, or had relatives who attended, we’d love to hear your stories and see your pictures.
To submit your Wattstax memories CLICK BUTTON BELOW
