R&B Musician. The son of Estelle Axton and nephew of Jim Stewart, co-founders of the Stax Record Company, Axton was a member of the music group, 'The Mar-Keys.' The talented sax player formed the group in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1958, with guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald 'Duck' Dunn, drummer Terry Johnson, trumpeter Wayne Jackson, saxophonist Don Nix, and pianist Jerry Lee 'Smoochie' Smith. Known as one of the most important groups to emerge from the Memphis, Tennessee, music scene, they joined the staff at Axton's mother's Satellite Record Label in 1960, when they were a backup group to the likes of Rufus Thomas and his daughter Carla Thomas. The Satellite Record Label's name was later changed to the Stax Record Label. In 1961, the group released their one and only hit, 'Last Night.' The song went to the number three spot on the charts that summer. Their next singles included, 'The Morning After,' 'Philly Dog,' and 'Pop-Eye Stroll.' In 1962, Cropper and Dunn left the group, and helped co-found the group, 'Booker T. and The MG's.' Following the departures of Cropper and Dunn, the group went through other changes and the group eventually disbanded. The group members went onto form other groups or try their luck at solo careers and record producing. Jackson formed the group, 'The Memphis Horns,' and Nix became a solo artist and record producer for the likes of Jeff Beck, Freddie King, and Furry Lewis, among others. In 1965, Axton had a hit with his recording of 'Hole In The Wall,' with his band, "The Packers,' but no more. In January 1974, Axton suffered a fatal heart attack, at the age of 32. Other recordings by 'The Mar-Keys,' are, 'Sweet-P Crawl,' 'Straight From The Can,' 'Ebb Tide,' 'Sack o' Woe,' 'Sticks And Stones,' 'Diana,' and 'Muscles A-Comin' Home.'
R&B Musician. The son of Estelle Axton and nephew of Jim Stewart, co-founders of the Stax Record Company, Axton was a member of the music group, 'The Mar-Keys.' The talented sax player formed the group in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1958, with guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald 'Duck' Dunn, drummer Terry Johnson, trumpeter Wayne Jackson, saxophonist Don Nix, and pianist Jerry Lee 'Smoochie' Smith. Known as one of the most important groups to emerge from the Memphis, Tennessee, music scene, they joined the staff at Axton's mother's Satellite Record Label in 1960, when they were a backup group to the likes of Rufus Thomas and his daughter Carla Thomas. The Satellite Record Label's name was later changed to the Stax Record Label. In 1961, the group released their one and only hit, 'Last Night.' The song went to the number three spot on the charts that summer. Their next singles included, 'The Morning After,' 'Philly Dog,' and 'Pop-Eye Stroll.' In 1962, Cropper and Dunn left the group, and helped co-found the group, 'Booker T. and The MG's.' Following the departures of Cropper and Dunn, the group went through other changes and the group eventually disbanded. The group members went onto form other groups or try their luck at solo careers and record producing. Jackson formed the group, 'The Memphis Horns,' and Nix became a solo artist and record producer for the likes of Jeff Beck, Freddie King, and Furry Lewis, among others. In 1965, Axton had a hit with his recording of 'Hole In The Wall,' with his band, "The Packers,' but no more. In January 1974, Axton suffered a fatal heart attack, at the age of 32. Other recordings by 'The Mar-Keys,' are, 'Sweet-P Crawl,' 'Straight From The Can,' 'Ebb Tide,' 'Sack o' Woe,' 'Sticks And Stones,' 'Diana,' and 'Muscles A-Comin' Home.'
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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