Musical families are not uncommon in all genera of music. But few have been as all encompassing as Rufus, Marvell, Vaneese and Carla Thomas were in soul music and the Stax record label. Rufus Thomas and his son and daughters didn’t just record for Stax and create some of the best known hits the label released— Rufus along with Carla were the catalyst that transformed a struggling studio into a global soul powerhouse.

Rufus was well known as the “World’s Oldest Teenager” and the “Funkiest Man Alive” and many of his own hits were dance hits based on animals. But his contribution was both musical and strategic, particularly in Stax's early years. Carla was known as the original “Queen of Soul.” While Marvell and Vaneese were important figures behind the scenes.

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