By James Dowd - The Commercial Appeal -

Sunday, April 25, 2010 -

As the songwriter of the Staple Singers' 1972 No. 1 single "I'll Take You There" and an instrumental force in Memphis music, Al Bell knows the industry note for note.

Now, nearly four decades after crafting that invitational anthem, Bell believes the city is poised to recapture the glory days of Stax and Sun.

And he wants to connect artists with business leaders as a means of getting there.

"We need to collectively promote independent music in Memphis, which is a city of entrepreneurs, as opposed to Nashville, where the music scene is much more corporate," Bell said recently at a meeting of the Society of Entrepreneurs.

"As entrepreneurs we must invest in Memphis music, which is the future of growth for our city."

In his role as chairman of the board at the Memphis Music Foundation, Bell tirelessly promotes the city's musicians. Calling on his experience as an executive with labels such as Stax and Motown, Bell works to educate artists about the business side of the industry.

And these days he's also asking for help from local movers and shakers.

"Music created in the soil and soul of Memphis has produced a legacy that is exciting, diverse and critically significant around the world," Bell said. "By investing in local musicians and expanding our music industry, we can attract many other businesses and industries to our city."

But it will take plenty of work and substantial commitment from business leaders, Bell said, for the local scene to regain its former influence.

"In the '70s, the Memphis music industry was the third-largest employer in the city, and it could reach that level again if we nurture and promote it," Bell said. "We have the creative assets to do that again, but we need help from the business community. It's up to us, so let's go."

One way the foundation helps is through the Music Resource Center, which offers a variety of services to local artists. Educating musicians about intellectual property rights is a big part of the process, said center director Cameron Mann.

The private nonprofit organization counts 1,500 artists and business members and an equal number of supporters offering varying levels of financial assistance. But the group is always looking to add more names to the mix.

"We help artists maximize revenue streams in this digital age and try to put them in the paths of opportunities, but it can be difficult," Mann said. "We have incredible talent here, but the industry infrastructure has left for places like Atlanta or Nashville. We need to encourage more commerce in the Memphis music industry."

And that should be a no-brainer for investors, said Susan Hirsch, business manager for MAP Momentum. Considering the city's musical foundation, rebuilding the industry just makes sense.

"There are a lot of great things going on in this city, particularly with regard to the independent music scene" Hirsch said.

"Nashville may be Music City, but Memphis is Music Central. All we need now are some smart entrepreneurs willing to invest time and money promoting it."

Pearson Crutcher, SOE executive director, agreed.

"Music has been and continues to be one of our greatest assets because when you think of Memphis, you think of music," Crutcher said. "We just need to do a better job of connecting it with entrepreneurship."

-- James Dowd: 529-2737

Upcoming Society of Entrepreneurs event

What: Roundtable lunch and discussion

When: 11:15 a.m., May 18

Where: AutoZone Park

Cost: $25, includes lunch and baseball; must register by May 17

Details: Call 682-9920 or e-mail pearson@soememphis.com