Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples: A Voice of Freedom and Peace

Mavis Staples has been celebrated by NPR as one of America's defining voices of freedom and peace, and after 75 years of performing, she is not showing any signs of slowing down in that mission.

Legacy and Achievements

The last surviving member of The Staple Singers, Mavis reigns as both a Blues and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and a civil rights icon whose impact on music and culture cannot be overstated. Consider that Staples is a Grammy winner, Kennedy Center honoree, National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient, and a chart-topping soul gospel R&B pioneer.

Historic Collaborations and Performances

She marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy's inauguration, sang in Barack Obama's White House, and has collaborated with everyone from Prince and Bob Dylan to Arcade Fire and Aretha Franklin.

Her Mission

I sing because I want to leave people feeling better than I found them, Staples has said. I want them to walk away with a positive message in their hearts, feeling stronger than they felt before.