Mavis Staples
Englert Theatre — Sunday, June 21 at 7 p.m.
To hear Mavis Staples sing is to hear a voice that rises out of time and becomes its own truth. She has lived the history of American music as a member of The Staples Singers. She has lived American history as the music she and her family made became a soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement. She sings of her faith. She sings of acceptance. She sings of coming together.
In an era of shock and awe entertainment, in a era that continues to struggle with he demons of racial injustice, Mavis Staples is a reminder that there is still beauty in this world, there is still light in the darkness, there is still hope if we can find our way. She performs what she calls “good news” music, and in this world that still needs so much healing, we can use all the good news we can get. Lucky for us, Mavis Staples is coming to town to sing for us, and she took time to answer a few questions in advance of her performance on Sunday, June 21.
Your career has been of crossover appeal. The Staples Singers had huge success in pop and R&B markets and you’ve had similar success on your own, but much of your music has deep roots in the sacred. Not many performers with a sacred background have had that kind of crossover appeal. What’s the secret of your connection with secular audiences?
We never wanted to get too far away from our gospel roots. Any song that we would sing was going to be a song with inspiration. We wanted it to help someone. “I’ll Take You There,” it had that beat where people would dance, but still we’re talking about taking you to heaven. The church people, because of that beat, they wanted to put us out, said we are singing the devil’s music. We had to let them know, you have to listen to our lyrics.
You’ve recorded your last two albums with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, who produced and performed on both. How did that relationship come about, and has it been a different experience than working with other producers and collaborators for you?
We always say it was an arranged marriage. There was an idea for us to work together, but we had to meet and see if it could work. I saw Wilco on PBS, on Austin City Limits, and I just said hey! And then I had a show in Chicago, at the Hideout, and Jeff came, he saw the show and we met.
Then we started hanging out a little — he’s an old soul. He came with some songs and was just so up on what I do. He was so into the Staple Singers, and he loved Pops. He had all of our songs on his iPhone. He had songs that Pops would play for me when I was a kid. So that was definitely different — starting from my most early childhood songs and coming into the present.
Also that catering he had brought in was so good — he would use it as a tool, and tell us, “No food till we get the track right!” His studio was the first time I had used a teleprompter to record, too.
I just thank the Lord. He’s just sent me a bunch of geniuses: Ry Cooder, Dylan, Prince and Tweedy.
You are widely revered as having one of the all-time great voices. Who are some of the singers you admire — past or present — and what about their singing speaks to you?
My all-time great is Sister Mahalia Jackson. From Chicago, it’s Sam Cooke and Dionne Warwick. I love Bonnie Raitt, Adele, Grace Potter. For me it’s about the beauty of the singer’s spirit that comes through and touches you, your heart. If you sing from the heart, you’ll reach people.
Acceptance has been a constant theme in your work throughout your career, from “Respect Yourself” in 1971 to “I Like the Things About Me” on your most recent recording. Why do you think you continue to return to that message over the years?
Those are songs anyone can relate to it and be lifted. A lot of that is Pops. We were very aware of the message of “Respect Yourself,” but the sound was such a groove. To me the message is a form of gospel because it’s truth. It lets people know someone is with them. I’m trying to make you feel good, to make you feel comforted. This is good-news music.
Your father lived and influenced much of American music history, as well as American history through his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. What message might he bring to the world today as we continue to struggle to live together peacefully?
Pops said he wanted to sing about what was happening in the world, and he believed songs had the power to help fix things. He wanted Dr. King’s dream to be true, to be realized. In some ways, I am glad Pops isn’t here to see what is going on, but if he were, he would say “We still got a lot of work to do.”
I’m not singing about something that’s past and gone. I’m singing about today. I really feel like I’m singing these songs for him now. I’m keeping his legacy going. And I’m singing songs that he would be proud of.
What do you hope people feel when they leave a Mavis Staples performance?
I am so grateful that people still call for me and still want to hear my family’s songs. I want the people at our show to feel inspired, uplifted and happy — because that’s how they make me feel. Just joyful.
