Satellite (2)

Also appears as "Satellite Records". ** For unofficial releases, please use: Satellite (15).** This short-lived label marks the beginning of the legendary Stax Memphis Soul Saga. Satellite was founded in 1957 by Jim Stewart in Brunswick, Tn., initially as a country/pop-oriented label. Five singles were released throughout 1958, none of them successful, before Stewart's sister, Estelle Axton became a partner and operations were moved in 1959 to the "Capitol", a disused cinema in Memphis, Tn. Release numbering was reset to S-100, and their output increasingly focused on R&B material. The third single by the re-launched Satellite (2) (S-102, "'Cause I Love You" by Carla Thomas & Rufus Thomas), became their first hit, selling around 15,000 copies in the Memphis area alone, and earned the young label a distribution deal with Atlantic Records. The company name was changed to "Stax" in 1961 because of a similar named west-coast rival. For an almost complete overview of Stax/Satellite's early output see: 5158944.