Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer. She rose to fame as a member of the family band The Staple Singers, of which she is the last surviving member. During her time in the group, she recorded the hit singles "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again." In 1969, Staples released her self-titled debut solo album. Staples continued to release solo albums over the next few decades and collaborated with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Prince, Arcade Fire, Nona Hendryx, Ry Cooder and David Byrne. Her eighth album You Are Not Alone received critical acclaim, becoming her first album as a soloist to reach number one on the Billboard chart, peaking atop the Top Gospel Albums chart. It also earned Staples her first Grammy Award win. In 2008, Staples was named one of the '100 Greatest Singers of All Time' by Rolling Stone. In 1999, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2018 into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a member of The Staple Singers. In 2019, she received the first Rock Hall Honors Award from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a soloist.