Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress, and civil rights activist.She has recorded and performed with her family's band The Staple Singers, and also as a solo artist. Staples was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Blues Hall of Fame in 2017.

Staples was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 10, 1939. She began her career with her family group in 1950. Initially singing locally at churches and appearing on a weekly radio show, the Staples scored a hit in 1956 with "Uncloudy Day" for the Vee-Jay label. Staples made her first solo foray while at Epic Records with The Staple Singers, releasing a lone single "Crying in the Chapel" to little fanfare in the late 1960s. The Staple Singers hit the Top 40 eight times between 1971 and 1975, including two No. 1 singles. Staples made a major national return with the release of the album Have a Little Faith on Chicago's Alligator Records, produced by Jim Tullio, in 2004. Staples performed at the 33rd Kennedy Center Honors, singing in a tribute to honoree Paul McCartney. On June 27, 2015, Staples performed on the Park Stage of Glastonbury Somerset UK. On June 3, 2020, Staples collaborated on the track 'pulling the pin' with Run The Jewels on their fourth studio album RTJ4.