Singer Mavis Staples has staying power. After all, the gospel, R&B, and soul legend has been performing since before Elvis Presley made his first live professional appearance. She first took the stage professionally in 1950—four years ahead of the King.
Now at the age of 85, the veteran civil rights activist continues entertaining her fans, with a dozen live performances on her calendar. One of those shows is the free Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival on August 10 in Deer Lake Park.
The Burnaby lineup also includes indie rockers Calexico, a soul band called The Suffers, Wiikwemkoong First Nation singer Crystal Shawanda, and Vancouver-based soul, jazz, and R&B artist the della kit.
Listen to the new single “Worthy”.
Staples launched her career singing with her family gospel group. Over the years, The Staples Singers transitioned into secular soul and R&B while emphasizing civil rights. In 2014, Staples spoke at a Civil Rights Summit about the impact that Martin Luther King Jr. had on her activism.
Staples released recordings with Levon Helm
The Staples Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Twenty years later, the Hall celebrated Mavis Staples with the first Rock Hall Honours Award, which included an exhibit.
Back in 1976, The Staples Singers famously collaborated with The Band in Martin Scorsese’s rock-concert film The Last Waltz. Listen to their performance of “The Weight” in the video below.
Thirty-five years later, Staples collaborated with the Band’s legendary vocalist and drummer, Levon Helm, in the year before his death. These recordings were released in 2022 as Carry Me Home.
Over the years, she also sang with such superstars as Aretha Franklin, Nona Hendryx, Prince, and David Byrne.
Her first solo album came out in 1969. Her eighth studio album, You Are Not Alone, rocketed to the top of the Billboard chart in 2010, leading to the first of three Grammy Awards. The most recent Grammy came in 2022 for her vocals on Jon Batiste’s We Are.
In addition, The Staples Singers received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005.
According to the documentary Mavis!, Staples once received a marriage proposal from Bob Dylan.
The City of Burnaby presents the free Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival in Deer Lake Park from 4 to 10 p.m. on August 10. Follow Pancouver on Instagram @PancouverMedia.
