Mavis Staples

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26 Jan 2024

Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples, born July 10, 1939, is a renowned American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, and civil rights activist. She gained prominence as a member of The Staple Singers, achieving success with hits like "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again". Staples also released her debut solo album in 1969.

Staples continued her solo career, collaborating with icons like Aretha Franklin, Prince, and Arcade Fire. Her album "You Are Not Alone" earned critical acclaim and her first Grammy win. Subsequent releases include "One True Vine," "Livin' on a High Note," "If All I Was Was Black," and "We Get By." She also featured on Hozier's single "Nina Cried Power."

Mavis Staples is a Grammy winner and Lifetime Achievement recipient, known for her soulful voice. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a Staple Singer. Honored by the Kennedy Center and Blues Hall of Fame, she's celebrated across genres.

Mavis Staples, born in Chicago in 1939, commenced her musical journey with her family band in 1950. Their hit "Uncloudy Day" in 1956 marked their rise under Vee-Jay label. Graduating from high school in 1957, Mavis and her siblings embarked on tours, led by their father, Roebuck "Pops" Staples.

With Mavis' compelling vocals and Pops' musical genius, the Staples transcended gospel roots to become icons of spiritual expression. Their association with Martin Luther King Jr. propelled them to the forefront of the civil rights movement. They infused pop hits with uplifting messages, including Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall" and Stephen Stills' "For What It's Worth."

The Staples, known for their poignant "message" tracks like "Long Walk to D.C." and "When Will We Be Paid?," resonated with a wide audience, especially youth. Signing with Stax Records in 1968, they merged gospel harmonies with the soulful sounds of Booker T. and the MGs. Their chart-toppers from 1971 to 1975, including "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again," reflected their enduring impact and musical versatility.

Mavis ventured into solo work amid her tenure with The Staple Singers, initially releasing "Crying in the Chapel" with little impact. Her first solo album arrived in 1969 under Stax, followed by releases like "Only for the Lonely" in 1970 and a soundtrack album on Curtom. She collaborated with Prince on two albums, including the critically acclaimed "The Voice" in 1993. Staples paid homage to Mahalia Jackson with her 1996 release "Spirituals & Gospels," reflecting Jackson's profound influence on her.

Staples experienced a resurgence with "Have a Little Faith" in 2004 on Alligator Records, showcasing spiritual music. She collaborated with jazz-rock guitarist John Scofield on a Ray Charles tribute album, "That's What I Say," followed by a tour. In 2007, she released "We'll Never Turn Back" on Anti-Records, produced by Ry Cooder, highlighting gospel tunes from the civil rights era.

Mavis Staples' voice has left an indelible mark, sampled by renowned artists like Salt 'N' Pepa and Ludacris. Her collaborations span from Bob Dylan to Prince, influencing genres from gospel to rock. Staples' vocals grace albums by Los Lobos and Dr. John, and she's featured on tribute albums honoring Johnny Paycheck, Stephen Foster, and Bob Dylan.

In 2003, Mavis Staples graced the stage at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis alongside fellow Stax Records stars for "Soul Comes Home." She later returned as a guest artist for the Stax Music Academy's SNAP! Summer Music Camp in 2004 and performed at the Stax 50th Anniversary Concert in 2007. These events celebrated the legacy of Stax Records and its impact on American soul music.

In 2009, Mavis Staples contributed to the compilation album "Oh Happy Day" with Patty Griffin and The Tri-City Singers. She also graced events like the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in 2010 and the Outside Lands Music And Arts Festival in 2011 with Arcade Fire's Win Butler. Staples honored Paul McCartney at the 33rd Kennedy Center Honors and headlined Chicago's Annual Blues Festival in 2012. She mesmerized audiences at Glastonbury Somerset UK in 2015 and joined Joan Osborne for the Solid Soul Tour in Washington, D.C.

In February 2016, Staples's album Livin' on a High Note was released. Produced by M. Ward, the album features songs written specifically for Staples by Nick Cave, Justin Vernon, tUnE-yArds, Neko Case, Aloe Blacc, and others. Discussing the album Staples said:

I've been singing my freedom songs and I wanted to stretch out and sing some songs that were new. I told the writers I was looking for some joyful songs. I want to leave something to lift people up; I'm so busy making people cry, not from sadness, but I'm always telling a part of history that brought us down and I'm trying to bring us back up. These songwriters gave me a challenge. They gave me that feeling of, 'Hey, I can hang! I can still do this!' There's a variety, and it makes me feel refreshed and brand new. Just like Benjamin Booker wrote on the opening track, 'I got friends and I got love around me, I got people, the people who love me.' I'm living on a high note, I'm above the clouds. I'm just so grateful. I must be the happiest old girl in the world. Yes, indeed.

In January 2017, Mavis Staples lent her vocals to Arcade Fire's single "I Give You Power," supporting the ACLU. She also appeared on NPR's "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me!" segment in February, and in April, she featured on Gorillaz's track "Let Me Out." Staples released her sixteenth album "If All I Was Was Black" in November 2017, produced by Jeff Tweedy. She toured with Bob Dylan and featured on Hozier's single "Nina Cried Power" in 2018.

In May 2019, Mavis Staples marked her 80th birthday with a concert at the Apollo Theater, where she first performed as a teenager with The Staple Singers in 1956. The event featured guest artists like David Byrne and Norah Jones. Staples also graced the 2019 Glastonbury Festival with her performance.

References

Price, Deborah Evans (October 23, 2004). "Mavis Staples Prevails With a Little 'Faith'". Billboard. Vol. 116, no. 43. p. 17. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
^ Remnick, David (June 27, 2022). "The Gospel According to Mavis Staples". The New Yorker. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
^ "You Are Not Alone by Mavis Staples". Metacritic. September 14, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
^ "Mavis Staples: Chart History". Billboard. n.d. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
^ "Mavis Staples Wins Grammy For Best Americana Album". anti.com. February 14, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
^ "Artist: Mavis Staples". www.grammy.com. Recording Academy. 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.