Founded in 1962, Malaco Records has had it’s offices on Northside Drive in Jackson, Mississippi since 1967. Started by Wolf Stephenson and Tommy Couch and billed as the “The Last Soul Company”, Malaco got recognized by a side that went on to become a huge hit. They recorded “Groove Me” by King Floyd which got rejected by Stax and Atlantic for distribution. It was released on their own Chimneyville label, and when the single took off, it was then that Atlantic came back knocking to pick it up. Meanwhile “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight was picke dup by Stax and went on to sell over 2 million records. Not bad for a little recording studio from Mississippi. Other notables looking to be touched by Malaco were Rufus Thomas, Paul Simon and the Pointer Sisters. When Stax Records folded, people like Eddie Floyd and David Porter among others were breaking down Malaco’s door to get in there to record. “Misty Blue” by Dorothy moore was recorded and released from Malaco, her biggest hit. They even hit up the Disco market and had players on Anita Ward’s smash “Ring My Bell”. Add on luminaries such as ZZ Hill, Benny Lattimore, and Denise LaSalle, and Malaco became a go to record company for great artists and hits. At one point they even purchased the Muscle Shoals Studio and publishing company, adding to their empire od Southern Soul, R & B, and Blues. Malaco would pick up older artists still playing like Tyrone Davis, Bobby Bland, and Shirley Brown and release records from these past giants. They were in the Gospel game, and later reissued great live Jazz from Jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and more. Clearly the Last Soul Company, they were doing it their way, succeeding, and it showed.

The legendary Mississippi record company Malaco’s home offices were hit hard this weekend by a tornado. Buildings that housed master tapes and the record and royalties building were reduced to rubble. Their warehouses cam out basically untouched, but the main portion of the Malaco compound took the brunt of the extreme weather. Founder Wolf Stephenson said: “Well, the buildings are old. It’s a real tricky question as to whether or not it’s worth rebuilding.”, said Stephenson. “It’s just a…it is a very sad feeling to see 44 years of work; 44 years of my life out here gone in 15 seconds, but we’ll clean up; come back to cry another day.

Unfortunate, yes, but this is a just another chapter in the Last Soul Company’s book. I have a feeling, however it will not be their last. Keep Diggin”!