Mavis Staples: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Videos
• Photos
• Groups/Boards
• Fan Sites

• Joe Simon
• Shirley Caesar
• Sam Cooke
• Carla Thomas
• Etta James
• Aretha Franklin
• Otis Redding

• Clara Ward
• Shirley Caesar
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe
• Dinah Washington
• Big Maybelle
• Mahalia Jackson
• Sam Cooke

• Maria Muldaur
• Prakash John
• Threshold
• Kara Grainger
• Roberta Flack
• Kierra "KiKi" Sheard
• Lynda Randle

• The Staple Singers

Born:

Jul 10, 1939 in Chicago, IL

Genres:

R&B and Soul Music, Contemporary R&B Music, Rock Music, Soul Music, Folk & Country Rock Music

Decades Active:

1950's|1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

Born in 1940 in Chicago, most of Mavis Staples' career has been as lead singer for the Staple Singers. She first recorded solo for Stax subsidiary Volt in 1969. Subsequent efforts included a Curtis Mayfield-produced soundtrack on Curtom, a disappointing nod to disco for Warner in 1979, a misguided stab at electro-pop with Holland-Dozier-Holland in 1984, and an uneven album for Paisley Park. Staples has a rich contralto voice that has neither the range of Aretha Franklin nor the power of Patti LaBelle. Her otherworldly power comes instead from a masterful command of phrasing and a deep-seated sensuality expressed through timbre manipulation. Both the Staple Singers and Mavis found fresh audiences stemming from their participation on the CD Rhythm, Country and Blues, and in 1996 she issued Spirituals and Gospel: Dedicated to Mahalia Jackson.

- Rob Bowman, All Music Guide