Soul legend Mavis Staples announces European shows
Soul legend Mavis Staples has announced her return to Europe and the UK this summer for a series of shows, including two nights at London’s Union Chapel.
Hailed as “one of America’s defining voices of freedom and peace,” Staples is the kind of once-in-a-generation artist whose impact on music and culture would be difficult to overstate. She’s both a Blues and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, a civil rights icon, a GRAMMY Award-winner, a chart-topping soul/gospel/R&B pioneer, a National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient and a Kennedy Center honouree. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and sang in Barack Obama’s White House.
Mavis Staples was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 10, 1939. Her father, Roebuck “Pops” Staples, was a sharecropper and a Baptist minister. Her mother, Oceola Staples, was a homemaker. Mavis Staples began singing at a young age, and she joined her father’s gospel group, the Staple Singers, in 1950. The Staple Singers released their first album, “Uncloudy Day,” in 1956. The album was a success, and it helped to launch the Staple Singers’ career.
The Staple Singers
The Staple Singers were a family group that consisted of Mavis Staples, her father, Pops Staples, her sister, Cleotha Staples, and her brother, Pervis Staples. The group released numerous hit singles, including “I’ll Take You There,” “Respect Yourself,” and “Let’s Do It Again.” The Staple Singers were also known for their social activism, and they often performed at civil rights rallies. The Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
Mavis Staples began her solo career in 1969 with the release of her debut album, “Mavis Staples.” She has since released numerous solo albums, including “Only the Lonely” (1970), “Piece of Cake” (1971), and “Let’s Do It Again” (1972). Mavis Staples has won numerous awards for her solo work, including a Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance in 1972.
Mavis Staples continues to perform and record today. She released her most recent album, “Carry Me Home ,” in 2022. She has also appeared in several films and television shows, including “The Blues Brothers” (1980), “The Joy Luck Club” (1993), and “Dr. Phil” (2006). Mavis Staples is an icon of American music, and she has been praised for her powerful voice and her commitment to social justice.
Tourdates:
Saturday 15th June – Tivoli – Utrecht, Netherlands
Sunday 16th June – Queen Elizabeth Road – Antwerpen, Belgium
Tuesday 18th June – Casino de Paris – Paris, France
Monday 24th June – Union Chapel – London, UK
Tuesday 25th June – Union Chapel – London, UK
