‘The Soul Man’ David Porter Talks Stax Records Legacy: ‘We Didn’t Know It Would Connect Until It Did’

He’s penned and/or produced some of the most quintessential songs in music history: Sam & Dave’s “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’.” Carla Thomas’ “B-A-B-Y.” Mable John’s “Your Good Thing (Is About to End).” The Emotions’ “So I Can Love You” and “Show Me How.” Now David Porter has chronicled his creative journey with writing partner Isaac Hayes as well as his stellar career — and still influential legacy — at Southern soul stronghold Stax Records in the new memoir, The Soul Man: Life of Songwriter David Porter.

Currently on a promotional junket on behalf of The Soul Man, Porter will stop next in New York City on June 10. On the eve of Memorial Day weekend, the three-time Grammy Award winner and Songwriters Hall of Fame member sat down inside Burbank, Calif.’s Evergreen Studios for an insightful Q&A with Jimmy Jam, one-half of the Grammy-winning songwriting/production duo with Terry Lewis. The special occasion brought out a who’s who in the music industry. Among those spotted in the audience: music icons Stevie Wonder and Peter Asher; Earth, Wind & Fire original member Ralph Johnson and singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett.

Evergreen Studios partner and former Recording Academy president/CEO Neil Portnow noted in his welcome remarks how Porter’s “love for and dedication to the music scene and the next generations of music makers in Memphis has shined a bright light for decades.” Then Jimmy Jam came onstage, declaring “there’s nothing this guy can’t do,” before presenting a video clip about Porter to set the tone for the chat.

Over the next hour, the 84-years-young Porter enthralled the audience with first-hand recollections about growing up in music mecca Memphis, singing in church and hanging out with childhood friends Maurice White (who later fronted Earth, Wind & Fire) and Booker T. Jones (leader of Booker T. & the M.G.’s). He also spoke about his start as a songwriter at then-fledgling Stax Records (initially known as Satellite Records).

In addition to the aforementioned Hayes, Sam & Dave, Thomas, John and The Emotions, Porter collaborated with other Stax luminaries including Otis Redding, William Bell and Rufus Thomas. Over the course of his more than six decades in music, Porter has heard his songs sampled by Mariah Carey, Notorious B.I.G., Will Smith and Wu-Tang Clan.

One anecdote that especially resonated with the audience was Porter’s recounting of what led to the creation of Stax’s immortal soul sound:

“We couldn’t beat Motown being Motown. They had amazing writers like Holland-Dozier-Holland before Stevie Wonder opened their eyes. And we couldn’t beat Burt Bacharach & Hal David, who found a way to make beautiful, extremely impressive records. But we could beat anybody when you talk about the spirituality of the church and emotional connectivity. So we found that our path was in creating signature lines off the bass, drums and guitar, and taking a lot of the spirituality from church.

“We didn’t know it would connect until it did,” Porter added. “And then when it did, we crystallized our efforts with every artist that we worked with to magnify their personalities. We learned that was our lane. That if we wanted to be effective in our lane, we had to stay true to it — and never lose the ability to feel and help other people feel you.”

To learn more about The Soul Man: Life of Songwriter David Porter, click here.