"river styx" magazine is produced by the literary organization river styx (originally big river association), incorporated as a not for profit organization in 1975 with michael castro as president. the organization also produces readings. the readings helped build the magazine's reputation. they were directed by michael castro for over twenty years, with one year stints by jan castro, peter carlos, ann haubrich, and jan rothschild. these readings included music by willie mae ford smith with james baldwin, the world saxophone quartet, and st. louis symphony musicians catherine lehr, manuel ramos, and rich o'donnell. local artists from st. louis attended, as did visiting writers such as breyten breytenbach, dennis brutus, carolyn forche, w.s. merwin, toni morrison, adrienne rich, derek walcott. special editions by arthur brown and william h. gass were produced in the 1980s.