Axton, Estelle (1918–2004)

views updated

Axton, Estelle (1918–2004)

American music entrepreneur. Born Estelle Stewart, Sept 11, 1918, in Middleton, Tennessee; died Feb 25, 2004, in Memphis, Tennessee; m. Everett Axton, 1941; children: Doris Axton Fredrick and Charles "Packy" Axton (saxophonist).

Founded Satellite Records with brother Jim Stewart (1958) and had hit songs "Cause I Love You," with Rufus Thomas and his daughter Carla, and "Last Night," with son Charles Axton and the Mark-Keys (1960); forced to change the name of their company, co-founded the legendary Memphis label Stax Records, featuring such artists as Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, Booker T and the MGs, Isaac Hayes, the Staple Singers, Eddie Floyd, and Johnnie Taylor; sold her share of the company (1970), set up Fretone Records and scored a hit with "Disco Duck" by Rick Dees (1976).

See also Women in World History.