BIO
The Bar-Kays are an American funk band that formed in 1964 in Memphis, Tennessee. Initially, they served as a studio session group at Stax Records, backing prominent artists like Otis Redding. Their debut single, “Soul Finger,” became a hit in 1967, reaching number 3 on the Billboard R&B chart and number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, later that year, tragedy struck when a plane crash claimed the lives of most of the band members, including Redding. Bassist James Alexander and trumpeter Ben Cauley survived, and they reformed the band with new members, continuing their musical journey.
The reformed Bar-Kays transitioned into a leading funk band during the 1970s, releasing hits like “Shake Your Rump to the Funk” and “Too Hot to Stop.” Their sound, characterized by tight horn sections and infectious grooves, earned them widespread acclaim throughout the disco and funk era. They signed with Mercury Records after the collapse of Stax in 1975 and continued to chart hits like “Move Your Boogie Body,” “Hit and Run,” and “Freak Show on the Dance Floor” during the late 1970s and 1980s.
After taking a brief hiatus in the late 1980s, the Bar-Kays regrouped in the 1990s with James Alexander as the only original member. The group was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame in 2013 and continued to perform into the 21st century. Their legacy as pioneers of funk music is cemented by their enduring influence and contributions to both R&B and pop culture, including appearances in films and continued chart success.
