“If Memphis music is a genre, Southern Avenue is that genre” (American Blues Scene). This young band is the perfect cocktail of soul, blues and rock tradition. Founded in 2015 by Israeli-born guitarist Ori Naftalty, they took their name from a street in Memphis that stretches from the easternmost part of the city limits to Soulsville, the original home of Stax Records.
The band is made up of Naftalty, singer Tierinni Jackson with her explosive, sweet and vigorous voice, her sister, drummer Tikyra Jackson, bassist Evan Sarver, Ava Jackson (backing vocals) and Jeremy Powell on keyboards.
In 2016 they recorded their first album for the legendary Stax Records label, which made them the first band to sign a contract with this record company in forty years. A smash hit that two years later won them the best album by an emerging band category at the Blues Music Awards. With the critics at their feet, the following year they returned to the recording studios to release ‘Keep On’, which was an even bigger hit, reaching number five on Billboard’s ‘Top Blues Albums’ chart and was also nominated for a Grammy Award for ‘Best Contemporary Blues Album’.