Wattstax was a benefit concert organized by Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 riots in the African American community of Watts, Los Angeles. The concert took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20, 1972. The concert’s performers included all of the Stax’s prominent artists at the time. The genres of the songs performed included soul, gospel, R&B, blues, funk and jazz. The film stars Isaac Hayes, The Staples Singers, Luther Ingram, Johnnie Taylor, The Emotions, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Albert King and others special guest star Richard Pryor.
Often referred to as the Black Woodstock, it drew over 112,000 attendees—the largest gathering of African Americans outside of a civil rights event at the time. The event featured nearly all of Stax Records’ prominent artists and was emceed by Rev. Jesse Jackson, who delivered his famous “I Am Somebody” speech.
Wattstax Concert
