The Staple Singers
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1948 in Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Founder | Roebuck "Pops" Staples |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
| Products | Gospel, soul, and R&B music |
Number of employees | 4 (original members) |
The Staple Singers were a renowned American ensemble specializing in gospel, soul, and R&B, founded by Roebuck "Pops" Staples (1914–2000) alongside his children Cleotha (1934–2013), Pervis (1935–2021), and Mavis (born 1939). During Pervis's military service and again in 1970, Yvonne Staples (1937–2018) stepped in as his replacement. The group gained widespread recognition in the 1970s with hits such as "Respect Yourself," "I'll Take You There," "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)," and "Let's Do It Again." Despite the family surname being Staples, the act adopted the commercial name "Staple."
History
Born in Drew, Mississippi in 1934, Cleotha Staples was the eldest child of Roebuck "Pops" Staples and Oceola Staples. The family moved to Chicago two years later, where siblings Pervis, Mavis, and Yvonne were born. Roebuck held jobs in steel mills and meatpacking factories while raising his four children. Their musical journey began in 1948 performing at churches around Chicago, debuting publicly at Mount Zion Church.
Their first professional recording contract came in 1952, producing gospel-folk tracks under various labels including United Records, Vee-Jay Records—where they had notable successes with "Uncloudy Day" and "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?"—as well as Checker Records, Riverside Records, and beginning in 1965, Epic Records. The track "Uncloudy Day" notably influenced artists such as Bob Dylan, who admired Mavis Staples' unique vocal style.
Under Epic Records, they released albums like the live Freedom Highway, which featured the civil rights anthem written by Pops Staples. Their sound gradually shifted toward broader audiences with songs like "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" and a rendition of "For What It's Worth" in 1967. After signing with Stax Records in 1968, they produced Soul Folk in Action and We'll Get Over, with production by Steve Cropper and later Al Bell, embracing a funk and soul direction. Their song "Brand New Day," penned by Al Kooper, served as the theme for the 1970 film The Landlord.
Their initial hit with Stax was "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom-Boom)" released early in 1971. Later that year came "Respect Yourself", composed by Luther Ingram and Mack Rice, which climbed to number two on the Billboard R&B chart and number 12 on the Hot 100; both singles earned gold certification. The song’s empowering message resonated strongly during the post-civil rights era. In 1972, "I'll Take You There" reached number one on both Billboard charts, followed by the 1973 hit "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)", which topped R&B charts.
Following Stax's bankruptcy in 1975, The Staple Singers signed with Curtom Records, releasing "Let's Do It Again", produced by Curtis Mayfield; it became their second U.S. pop chart-topping single. They also appeared alongside The Band in the film The Last Waltz, performing "The Weight". Although their later releases achieved modest success, their 1984 album Turning Point featured a Top 5 Dance chart cover of Talking Heads' "Slippery People". In 1994, they collaborated with Marty Stuart on "The Weight" for MCA Nashville’s compilation Rhythm, Country and Blues, reviving some public interest. Additionally, "Respect Yourself" was included on the soundtrack for Spike Lee’s 1994 film Crooklyn.
In 1999, The Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, performing both "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There".
Roebuck "Pops" Staples passed away in December 2000 due to complications following a concussion. Cleotha died in Chicago in 2013 after battling Alzheimer's disease for several years. Mavis Staples has continued to uphold the family’s musical tradition through solo ventures and collaborations; her 2022 album Carry Me Home, recorded with Levon Helm during his Midnight Ramble sessions in 2011, highlights her enduring influence. She performed at Glastonbury Festival twice, in 2015 and again in 2019. Her 2016 release Livin' on a High Note features an acoustic track incorporating a sermon by Martin Luther King Jr. Yvonne Staples died at age 80 in 2018, while Pervis Staples passed unexpectedly at age 85 in 2021, leaving Mavis as the sole surviving member.
Documentary
The 2015 documentary Mavis! explores the journey of The Staple Singers alongside Mavis Staples's individual career following the passing of Pops Staples. Directed by Jessica Edwards, this film debuted at the 2015 South by Southwest Film Festival and was subsequently broadcast on HBO in February 2016.
Awards
The Staple Singers achieved induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, followed by their inclusion in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2018. They were honored with a commemorative marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail located in Drew, Mississippi, and received the prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
Early albums
- A Gospel Program (in collaboration with The Caravans) (Savoy MG-3001, 1958)
- Uncloudy Day (Vee Jay VJLP-5000, 1959)
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken (Vee Jay VJLP-5008, 1960)
- Swing Low (Vee Jay VJLP-5014, 1961)
- Hammer and Nails (Riverside RLP-3501, 1962)
- The Twenty-Fifth Day of December (Riverside RLP-3513, 1962)
- This Land (Riverside RM-3524, 1963)
- Swing Low Sweet Chariot (Vee Jay VJLP-5030, 1963)
- Amen! (Epic BN-26132, 1965)
- Freedom Highway (Epic BN-26163, 1965)
- This Little Light (Riverside RM-3527, 1965)
- Why (Epic BN-26196, 1966)
- Pray On (Epic BN-26237, 1967)
- For What It's Worth (Epic BN-26332, 1967)
- What the World Needs Now is Love (Epic BN-26373, 1968)
- Soul Folk in Action (Stax STS-2004, 1968)
- We'll Get Over (Stax STS-2016, 1969)
Charted albums
| Year | Title | Highest chart rankings | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | CAN | |||
| 1971 | The Staple Swingers | 117 | 9 | — | Stax |
| 1972 | Be Altitude: Respect Yourself | 19 | 3 | 72 | |
| 1973 | Be What You Are | 102 | 13 | — | |
| 1974 | City in the Sky | 125 | 13 | — | |
| 1975 | Let's Do It Again | 20 | 1 | 87 | Curtom |
| 1976 | Pass It On | 155 | 20 | — | Warner Bros. |
| 1977 | Family Tree | — | 58 | — | |
| 1978 | Unlock Your Mind | — | 34 | — | |
| 1984 | Turning Point | — | 43 | — | Private I |
Charted singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart rankings | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US (Billboard Hot 100) |
US R&B (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs) |
AUS (Kent Music Report) |
CAN (RPM) |
UK (Official Charts Company) | |||
| 1967 | "Why? (Am I Treated So Bad)" | 95 | — | — | — | — | Why |
| "For What It's Worth" | 66 | — | — | — | — | For What It's Worth | |
| 1970 | "Love Is Plentiful" | — | 31 | — | — | — | The Staple Swingers |
| 1971 | "Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)" | 27 | 6 | — | 60 | — | |
| "You've Got to Earn It" | 97 | 11 | — | — | — | ||
| "Respect Yourself" | 12 | 2 | — | 17 | — | Be Altitude: Respect Yourself | |
| 1972 | "I'll Take You There" | 1 | 1 | — | 21 | 30 | |
| "This World" | 38 | 6 | — | 85 | — | ||
| 1973 | "Oh La De Da" | 33 | 4 | — | — | — | Wattstax: The Living Word |
| "Be What You Are" | 66 | 18 | — | — | — | Be What You Are | |
| "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" | 9 | 1 | — | 79 | 34 | ||
| 1974 | "Touch a Hand, Make a Friend" | 23 | 3 | — | 33 | — | |
| "City in the Sky" | 79 | 4 | — | — | — | ||
External links
- The Staple Singers featured on VH1
- Articles with short description
- Musical groups founded in Illinois in 1948
- Illinois musical groups disbanded in 1994
- African-American music ensembles
- 20th-century African-American vocalists
- Gospel music groups from the United States
- Soul music groups from America
- Artists signed to Vee-Jay Records
- Artists under Riverside Records
- Epic Records recording artists
- Stax Records performers
- Warner Records affiliated artists
- United Records musicians
- Charly Records acts
- Musical families
- Recipients of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- 1948 musical group establishments
- 1994 musical group disbandments
- Mississippi Blues Trail
- Musical groups disestablished in 1994