Yvonne Staples, member and manager of the Staple Singers, dies at 80
by Liam Stack, 10 April 2018The New York Times
from left: Pops, Cleotha, Yvonne & Mavis Staples.
Yvonne Staples, who provided background vocals for her family's hit-making pop & soul group, the Staple Singers, while taking the lead in managing its business affairs, died on Tuesda, 10 April 2018 at ther home in Chicago. She was 80.
The cause was colon cancer, sadi Bill Carpenter, a family friend.
Ms. Staples began singing with her family's act in 1971 and performed on some of their biggest hits, including 'Respect yourself' and 'I'll take you there'.
'She was very content in that role,' said Mr. Carpenter, the author of 'Uncloudy Day: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia.' 'She had no desire to be a front singer, even though people in the family told her she had a great voice.'
Yvonne Staples was born in Chicago on 23 October 1937, to Oceola and Roebuck Staples, who was known as Pops.
Yvonne's father formed the Staples Singers with his children Pervis, Mavis and Cleotha in 1948. They performed in churches in and around Chicago, toured the South and became active in the civil rights movement, traveling with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Yvonne Staples joined the group in 1971, when Pervis left for military service. The group, whose music blended gosple, soul and pop, had a string of hit songs in the 1970s. 'Respect yourself' reached No.2 on the Billboard charts in 1971, 'I'll take you there' No.1 in 1972, and 'Let's do it again' was a No.1 hit in 1975.
When her sister Mavis began a solo career in the 1980s, Yvonne performed the same double duty for her, singing background vocals and managing her tours until just a few years ago. At her death she was 'pretty much retired,' Mr. Carpenter said.
The Staples Singers received a lifetime achievement award at the 2005 Grammy Awards. They also received the Rhythm & Blues Foundations' Pioneer Award.
Roebuck Staples died in 2000 and Cleotha Stapples in 2013. Yvonne Staples is survived by her brother and her sister Mavis.
When her sister Mavis began a solo career in the 1980s, Yvonne performed the same double duty for her, singing background vocals and managing her tours until just a few years ago. At her death she was 'pretty much retired,' Mr. Carpenter said.
The Staples Singers received a lifetime achievement award at the 2005 Grammy Awards. They also received the Rhythm & Blues Foundations' Pioneer Award.
Roebuck Staples died in 2000 and Cleotha Stapples in 2013. Yvonne Staples is survived by her brother and her sister Mavis.
The Staple Singers at Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York in 1999. From left were Pervis, Cleotha, Pops, Mavis and Yvonne Staples. (Albert Ferreira/AP).
Cleotha Staples, the eldest sibling in the influential gospel and R&B group the Staple Singers, died on 17 February 2013, at her home in Chicago. She was 78.
Her death was confirmed by Bill Carpenter, a family friend and music publicist. He said that Ms. Staple had Alzheimer's disease for the last decade.
The Staples Singers were formed in Chicago when the Mississippi-born singer and guitarrist Roebuck Staples, better known as Pops, began teaching gosple songs to his children, Cleotha, Pervis, Yvonne, Mavis and Cynthia, to keep them entertained in the evenings. Mr. Staples and all his children except Cynthia began performing professionally and recording after singing together in church in 1948.
The Staples Singers became one of the biggest gospels groups of the era with songs like 'On my way to heaven' and 'Uncloudy day'. Pops and Mavis Staples handled most of the lead vocals.
They became unlikely pop stars after they were signed by Stax Records in the late 1960s. Adopting a more contemporary sound and focusing on social rather than explicitly religious messages, they had a string of Top 40 hits, including 'I'll take you there', which spent a week at No.1 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1972.
Cleotha Staples was born on 11 April 1934, in Drew, Mississippi, the first child of Pops and Oceola Staples. Two years later, the family moved to Chicago.
Cleo
Cleotha Staples, the eldest sibling in the influential gospel and R&B group the Staple Singers, died on 17 February 2013, at her home in Chicago. She was 78.
Her death was confirmed by Bill Carpenter, a family friend and music publicist. He said that Ms. Staple had Alzheimer's disease for the last decade.
The Staples Singers were formed in Chicago when the Mississippi-born singer and guitarrist Roebuck Staples, better known as Pops, began teaching gosple songs to his children, Cleotha, Pervis, Yvonne, Mavis and Cynthia, to keep them entertained in the evenings. Mr. Staples and all his children except Cynthia began performing professionally and recording after singing together in church in 1948.
The Staples Singers became one of the biggest gospels groups of the era with songs like 'On my way to heaven' and 'Uncloudy day'. Pops and Mavis Staples handled most of the lead vocals.
They became unlikely pop stars after they were signed by Stax Records in the late 1960s. Adopting a more contemporary sound and focusing on social rather than explicitly religious messages, they had a string of Top 40 hits, including 'I'll take you there', which spent a week at No.1 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1972.
Cleotha Staples was born on 11 April 1934, in Drew, Mississippi, the first child of Pops and Oceola Staples. Two years later, the family moved to Chicago.
left to right: Pops, Cleotha, Mavis & Pervis Staples. Photo by Michael Ochs.
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