Post by Rob Durkee on Feb 22, 2013 21:19:55 GMT -5
CHICAGO -- Cleotha Staples of the family gospel, pop and soul group the Staple Singers died Thursday at her Chicago area home. According to the Associated Press and publicist Bill Carpenter, she was 78. She'd had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for about the past 10 years.
The Staple Singers, who gained the nickname of "God's Greatest Hitmakers," were best known for two #1 hits in the 1970's. One was "I'll Take You There" from 1972 that sounded like this...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3vgBzgYn4
Then in late 1975 and early 1976, the Staples hit the top again with the theme song from the comedy movie starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. Here's how "Let's Do It Again" sounded...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3mQhbONVA8
Both songs also went to #1 on the R&B chart along with "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)."
The group had 25 hits on the R&B chart and 14 on the Cash Box pop chart, including the #10-peaking "Respect Yourself" in 1971. Pops Staples, the father and leader of the group, was in his 80's when he died in 2000. Pervis, Yvonne and Mavis Staples are surviving members.
The Staples Singers' roots go back to the 1940's, when Pops used a $10 guitar to teach his children gospel songs. The group began performing in Chicago area churches around 1948. The Staples signed their first professional recording contract in 1952. Over the years, they've recorded for at least seven labels. The group was part of the 1960's civil rights movement, sometimes performing alongside the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Carpenter said Cleotha was the take-charge sister, noting, "When she was young, they used to call her 'granny' because she acted like a granny in terms of being wise and always sure of the best thing to do."
Mavis Staples pointed out that her dad's guitar work and Cleotha's voice were among the keys to the Staples Singers' success. "A lot of singers would try to slng like Cleotha," said Mavis. "Her voice would just ring in your ear. It wasn't harsh or hitting you hard. It was soothing. She gave us that country sound."
The Staple Singers, who gained the nickname of "God's Greatest Hitmakers," were best known for two #1 hits in the 1970's. One was "I'll Take You There" from 1972 that sounded like this...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3vgBzgYn4
Then in late 1975 and early 1976, the Staples hit the top again with the theme song from the comedy movie starring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. Here's how "Let's Do It Again" sounded...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3mQhbONVA8
Both songs also went to #1 on the R&B chart along with "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)."
The group had 25 hits on the R&B chart and 14 on the Cash Box pop chart, including the #10-peaking "Respect Yourself" in 1971. Pops Staples, the father and leader of the group, was in his 80's when he died in 2000. Pervis, Yvonne and Mavis Staples are surviving members.
The Staples Singers' roots go back to the 1940's, when Pops used a $10 guitar to teach his children gospel songs. The group began performing in Chicago area churches around 1948. The Staples signed their first professional recording contract in 1952. Over the years, they've recorded for at least seven labels. The group was part of the 1960's civil rights movement, sometimes performing alongside the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Carpenter said Cleotha was the take-charge sister, noting, "When she was young, they used to call her 'granny' because she acted like a granny in terms of being wise and always sure of the best thing to do."
Mavis Staples pointed out that her dad's guitar work and Cleotha's voice were among the keys to the Staples Singers' success. "A lot of singers would try to slng like Cleotha," said Mavis. "Her voice would just ring in your ear. It wasn't harsh or hitting you hard. It was soothing. She gave us that country sound."