Donald "Duck" Dunn, famed bassist with Booker T and the MGs the house band at Stax Records, Dunn has provided the groove on most of Stax/Volt output including Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett Rufus & Carla Thomas as well as a member of the Blues Brothers with fellow Stax luminary, Steve Cropper. In addition to his Stax work, Dunn has worked with Bob Dylan, Roy Buchanan, and Muddy Waters. I was able to get a few moments to chat with Duck at this year's SXSW. He and fellow Stax artists, William Bell, Isaac Hayes, Booker T and Eddie Floyd were in town to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Stax Records. Here's what Duck had to say.

JH: Donald Duck Dunn in the house. Welcome to the 3 Ring Circus. How ya doing?

DD: Pretty good.

JH: We’re all excited about this 50th anniversary of Stax records, you guys are going to be playing Antones tonight. Talk a little about the early days of Stax records you were there of course with the MGs.

DD: Booker T. and all the Otis Redding stuff. I got my best experience with the 67 tour of Europe with Otis Redding, the Stax tour to Europe.

JH: Talk about that tour, my understanding it was like the British invasion in reverse. You guys going out to UK. Talk about the Brits getting all excited about this R&B superstar caravan spectacular.

DD: Well that year, Otis Redding replaced Elvis Presley as the number 1 male singer in Europe. To replace Elvis is pretty big for anyone.  I never realized it was that big. Actually I think when we first went over there the Brits thought I was a pick up bass player.  And Donald Duck Dunn was I think they expected a black man. [laughs] I mean, that’s just the way it was…. particularly the music we were making, rhythm and blues music. I grew up on rhythm and blues.

JH:  What was it like recording with Otis, what were those sessions like?

DD: He made a better musician out of us. He wore a halo. There were about 5 that wore a halo Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Barbara Streisand… when he walked into the room, he had an aura about him. You knew he was a star. If you ever watch the Jerry Lewis Telethon… I was watching it years ago and the band was good, then Frank Sinatra walked up. Different music. Same band different music. He just made them better.

JH: The excitement went right up when he walked into the room.

DD: Ya.. ya.

JH: How did you get involved with Stax records, did you grow up in the area.

DD: Ya, I grew up in South Memphis, just a lover of rhythm and blues music…  Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, James Brown and Joe Turner. I use to sneak over to a little club. It had Carl Turner and Veltvetones and they did all those James Brown music nights… I just loved R&B music.

JH: You lived in the area of Stax, was there a moment where you said to yourself “I have to be in there?”

DD:  Actually, I was at the Plantation Inn watching a bass player named Larry Brown he lived about 2 blocks from Stax… before Stax even started he lived in that neighborhood. And I would catch the bus on Sunday, that was his only day off, he kind of taught me and I’d sneak over there. My parents didn’t know what I was doing, I just went over there. He’d let me play his bass, showed me a lot of licks. And I just knew, I looked at him and said I can do this... I had a guitar, but I guess 6 strings was too many [laugh]

JH: How old were you then?

DD: 16 or 17

JH: Well you’ve played a lot of sessions since then.

DD: Oh my. I use to say I was the keyboard player on the Mayflower

[both laugh]

JH: How are you feeling about this 50th anniversary reunion? Given that the demise of Stax was shaky at best. What are your thoughts on the Concord Music Group’s plan about the catalogue?

DD: Well I hope it sells. I need it to sell, it’s my base money maker. I thank them for doing it. Hopefully it will sell a lot. It’s my future.

JH: So you guys are getting some royalties out of this

DD: Oh ya, maybe not enough… hear that Concord [laugh]

JH: Looking at the Stax 50th Anniversary compilation Concord is putting out, you’re probably on 80% of those recordings.

DD:  maybe 85%

JH: Is there a particular song or session that brings out a memory for you?

DD: Can’t Turn You Loose.. He (Redding) just drove it in the ground. I knew it when we played it. The minute it was over, I said ‘we just made a hit record’ I just knew it. It was so strong. Man, to be around him when he was doing that, Otis, when he was doing that… light of my life… and I’ve Been Loving You Too Long To Stop Now. I mean when you hear it. I mean, he made you cry. He still brings tears to my eyes when I listen to this. And that’s hard to do… that’s hard to do.

JH: Will you be touring this Stax Reunion tour?

DD: We’ve got about 12-14 dates this June.

JH: Are you coming to Boston?

DD: No, no mostly Europe, though I think we’re playing New York 13th or 14th of June.

JH: Donald Duck Dunn, thanks for taking a few moments to talk with us today. We hope you get to Boston sometime soon and look forward to the gig tonight.

DD: Thank you.

You can learn more about the Stax Reunion on the Concord Music Group website.

- transciption and photos by Joan Hathaway 3.21.2007