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MEMPHIS, Tenn- It’s an unmistakable soul sound born in the Memphis studios of Stax and Hi Records in the 1960s and 70s and cradled in nightclubs on Beale street.

Half a century later and thousands of miles away that sound is still embraced in a tiny town in the mountains of northern Italy and in the province of Bologna.

Larry Dodson is the lead singer of the Memphis R&B and funk bank, The Bar-Kays.

They’ve performed in Porretta several times.

“I’ve not seen a country, a city so infatuated with Memphis. I mean literally. I mean just bubbling with Memphis soul,” Dodson said.

Welcome to Porretta, now known as home to the world’s premier festival for vintage soul music.

Over the years, it has featured mostly Memphis artists such as  The Bar-Kays, the Bo-Keys, Rufus and Carla Thomas, and musician Marvell Thomas.

“The festival is billed as…