The Staple Singers

From their gospel beginnings to the height of their stardom, the Staple Singers traveled a long and artistically rich road into the mainstream of American music ̶  not only becoming some of the most important voices in soul music, but also in the Civil Rights movement. Helmed by patriarch Roebuck “Pops” Staples, the Chicago-based group included daughters Cleotha and Mavis, as well as son Pervis (later replaced by his sister Yvonne). The gospel quartet began making appearances at local churches in 1948, and seven-year old Mavis quickly became the breakout star, sharing the lead with her father – her uniquely deep and soulful vocals a perfect match to Pops’ delicate, winsome tenor.