08/29/2026
54 years ago today, Stax took over the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
On August 20, 1972, more than 100,000 people filled the stadium for Wattstax, with contemporary accounts putting the turnstile count at more than 112,000. The seven-hour benefit concert was created with the Watts Summer Festival to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion and celebrate Black music, community and culture.
And the price of admission? One dollar. The idea was to make Wattstax accessible to the community it was created to serve, with proceeds benefiting local and Black community organizations.
The day opened with Rev. Jesse Jackson leading the Coliseum in his “I Am Somebody” call-and-response, followed by Kim Weston singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” From there, Wattstax became a full-scale Stax family reunion: The Staple Singers, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, Albert King, The Bar-Kays (pictured here), Eddie Floyd, The Soul Children, Rance Allen Group and more, with Isaac Hayes closing out the show on his 30th birthday.
The concert became the centerpiece of the 1973 film WATTSTAX, directed by Mel Stuart, with Richard Pryor’s commentary and interviews with residents of Watts broadening the story beyond the stage. The film later received a Golden Globe nomination and, in 2020, was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.
The original WATTSTAX: THE LIVING WORD album was a hit of its own, selling more than half a million copies within weeks of release.
To mark the anniversary, the Wattstax Collection is on sale for a limited time:
20% OFF MUSIC
30% OFF MERCHANDISE
From the historic recordings to apparel and a replica Wattstax poster, revisit the music, spirit and legacy of that day in Los Angeles.
No code necessary. The offer runs August 20 at 6:00 AM PT through August 24 at 11:59 PM PT.
Were you there? If not, which Wattstax performance makes you wish you had been?
