MAVIS STAPLES IN CONCERT:
Gospel and R&B icon Mavis Staples gives fans a funky piece of her mind every time she takes the stage to perform her empowering and soulful songs. Staplesí commanding voice and confident showmanship is legendaryóin the early ë60s she caught the eye of folk hero Bob Dylan, and the two briefly dated before their paths diverged in the middle of the decade. Now theyíre embarking on a different kind of relationshipóas tour mates. Staples will accompany Dylan on his summer 2016 tour, treating ticket buyers to a powerhouse double billing that combines the best of folk and R&B. In concert Staples is a force of nature, delivering her world-wise lyrics with plenty of passion and attitude while her backing band kicks out red-hot grooves. Itís a sultry, sassy, and majorly soulful concert experience that leaves no doubt Staples remains at the height of her powers.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Chicago-born Mavis Staples grew up performing in her familyís gospel band The Staples, singing at local churches and appearing on regional radio programs. The family scored a hit in 1956 with ìUncloudy Dayî, and when Mavis graduated high school the following year they went on tour. Thanks to Mavisí powerful voice and her fatherís sharp songwriting, the group enjoyed widespread success in the mid-ë60s, becoming one of the primary musical voices of the civil rights movement. Around that time Mavis struck up a relationship with Bob Dylan, who even proposed to her before she married Spencer Leak in 1964. Mavis made her solo debut in 1969 with a self-titled release on Stax Records then went on to collaborate with Curtis Mayfield in the ë70s, and in the ë80s she joined forces with Prince, who produced 1989ís funky Time Waits for No One and 1993ís critically acclaimed The Voice. In addition to her spiritual gospel output Mavis has remained musically adventurous over the years, collaborating with Bob Dylan on the GRAMMY-nominated 2003 song ìGotta Change My Way of Thinkingî and even making a foray into Americana with Jeff Tweedy, who produced her GRAMMY Award-winning 2010 album You Are Not Alone.
