b. Mavis Staples, 10th July 1939, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Mavis Staples was born in Chicago in 1939.
She was, for the largest section of her career, the lead vocalist for her family gospel group, the Staples Singers.
The Staples Singers career began in the late Forties, when a young Mavis took on the bass vocal contributions at the age of seven.
the staples singers
After Mavis graduated from high school in 1957, The Staple Singers took their group on the road.
mavis staples - 1969 / only for the lonely - 1976
When the family unit signed to Stax Records in 1968, this gave Mavis the opportunity to produce some solo material, which came to fruition in 1969, with the album 'Mavis Staples'.
This album was recorded for Stax's subsidiary imprint Volt Records.
She also recorded one single called 'Crying In The Chapel' b/w 'Nothing Lasts Forever' for Epic Records around this time.
Mavis performed, with her family group, at the Wattstax concert, which was held at the Los Angeles Coliseum on the 20th of August 1972.
'One For The Lonely' was released in 1976, a year after Stax Records had fallen into financial difficulties.
a piece of the action - 1977 / oh, what a feeling - 1979
Mavis followed the family group to Curtis Mayfield's own Curtom imprint where she recorded a soundtrack, originally intended for the Roberta Flack, entitled 'A Piece Of The Action' in 1977.
She released a more 'disco' orientated album on Warner Brothers in 1979, entitled 'Oh, What A Feeling'.
love gone bad - 1983 single / mavis staples 1984
In 1983, a group of businessmen, intent on starting their own record label, (Phono Records), persuaded Mavis to record a single entitled 'Love Gone Bad' b/w 'Beat Well Done'.
The track featured on the self titled 1984 album, also on the Phono imprint.
time waits for no-one - 1989 / the voice - 1993
In 1989, Prince (after seeing her on a television show) took her to his Paisley Park label where she recorded 'Time Waits For No-One' (featuring 'Come Home').
This album was regarded as a highpoint in her career, with the 'Purple One' declaring himself, personally, a huge fan of Mavis.
Another Prince production, 1993's 'The Voice' (featuring 'Melody Cool'), was well received with People magazine naming the set one of the Top Ten Albums of that year.
spirituals and gospel - 1996 / have a little faith - 2004
In 1996, 'Spirituals & Gospels - A Tribute to Mahalia Jackson' was recorded with the keyboardist Lucky Peterson.
2003 saw Mavis performing in Memphis at the Orpheum Theater alongside many of her fellow former Stax Records stars.
The concert 'Soul Comes Home', was held in conjunction with the opening of the Stax Museum of American Soul Music at the original site of Stax Records.
Mavis released the album 'Have a Little Faith' on Chicago's Alligator Records, produced by Jim Tullio, in 2004.
we'll never turn back - 2007 / live - hope at the hideout - 2008
In 2007, Mavis released 'We'll Never Turn Back' for Anti Records.
In 2009, Mavis Staples, along with Patty Griffin and The Tri-City Singers, released a version of the song 'Waiting For My Child To Come Home' on the compilation album 'Oh Happy Day - An All-Star Music Celebration'.
you are not alone - 2010
Albums:
Mavis Staples (Fantasy Records 1969)
Only for the Lonely (Volt Records 1976)
A Piece Of The Action (Curtom Records 1977)
Oh, What A Feeling (Warner Brothers Records 1979)
Mavis Staples (Phono Records 1984)
Time Waits for No One (Paisley Park Records 1989)
Don't Change Me Now (Ace Records 1990)
The Voice (Warner Brothers Records 1993)
Spirituals & Gospel: Dedicated to Mahalia Jackson (Verve Records 1996)
Have A Little Faith (Alligator Records 2004)
We'll Never Turn Back (Anti Records 2007)
Live: Hope at the Hideout (Anti Records 2008)
You Are Not Alone (Anti Records 2010)
One True Vine (Anti Records 2013)
Livin' On A High Note (Anti Records 2016)
Mavis Staples: I'll Take You There (Caroline International Records 2017)
If All I Was Was Black (Anti Records 2017)
Live In London (Anti Records 2019)
We Get By (Anti Records 2019)
