Page 30 - atoday
P. 30
A30
PEOPLE & ARTSThursday 3 March 2016
There’s no quit in Mavis Staples, or her voice
DAVID BAUDER In this Feb. 24, 2016 image taken from video, Mavis Staples appears during an interview in New cagoan Jeff Tweedy of
AP Entertainment Writer York. Wilco, that music made its
NEW YORK (AP) — Mavis way into the world. Tweedy
Staples is a walking, talking Associated Press was a benefactor, respect-
and — blessedly — still sing- ing Mavis’ history and
ing history book. Pops took a guitar from the “Blowin’ in the Wind.” field asked them to record still-formidable skills, and
The 76-year-old voice of closet that he had bought Young Mavis and Dylan no- “Do It Again,” saying, “I’m made two discs with her. It
the Staple Singers sang at a pawnshop to accom- ticed each other, too. “We a church man.” Mayfield brought her music to a new
behind Martin Luther King pany them; Mavis didn’t re- may have smooched,” she assured them that “the generation. Mavis won
Jr., dated Bob Dylan, per- alize that her dad learned said with a smile. Lord won’t mind.” Grammy Awards in 2010
formed at “The Last Waltz,” how to play while growing The early 1970s represented Changing styles and times and 2016; the Staple Sing-
recorded with Prince and up in Mississippi. the act’s commercial peak. pushed the Staples to the ers never won. Her record
just released a disc with The Staple Singers built their Signed to the Stax label, a background. Mavis record- company suggested Sta-
alternative rock hero M. career in black churches rhythm section was added ed two solo albums with ples sing songs written spe-
Ward interpreting new in the 1950s. Their free- and classics like “Respect Prince in the late 1980s, but cifically for her by young,
songs by the likes of Nick dom songs were part of Yourself” and “I’ll Take You they were victims of his re- rock-oriented musicians for
Cave and Neko Case. This the soundtrack to the civil There” were made. To some cord company battles at her project “Livin’ on a High
week offers a burst of at- rights movement. King of the Staples’ gospel fans, the time and given little Note,” released last month.
tention with the debut of liked their song “Why Am I the act had embraced the attention. One of Mavis’ Staples spoke to each writ-
an HBO documentary “Ma- Treated So Bad” and invit- devil’s music. But Mavis re- heartbreaks is that Pops er and requested upbeat
vis!” about her life. ed them to perform when cited a verse of “I’ll Take recorded his own album songs.
“I don’t feel like it’s time for he had speaking engage- You There” in an interview before his death in 2000, Staples had never met
me to sit in a rocking chair,” ments. Pops also noticed to illustrate a consistency of but did not live to see it re- producer Ward, and was
Staples said. “I don’t feel young Dylan’s songwriting, message. Pops initially de- leased. counseled by a friend that
like it’s time for me to retire. and the Staples performed murred when Curtis May- With the help of fellow Chi- he was the quiet type. He
I feel so frisky ... I still have was no match for a woman
my gift that the Lord gave nicknamed “Bubbles.”
me and I intend to keep “They said, ‘Mavis, you’re
using it.” Staples’ deep, going to love him but
strong voice and patriarch he’s very shy,’” she said.
“Pops” Staples’ blues guitar “I thought, ‘If I could get
defined the Staple Sing- Prince to talk, I’ll get him to
ers. Her mom couldn’t sing talk.’ So we got along fine.”
but, unlike Pops, passed Any deterioration that age
on a powerful voice to her has visited on her voice
daughter. Singer Bonnie seems minor. While the low
Raitt describes it in “Mavis!” notes may be easier than
as sensuous without being the high ones, Staples be-
salacious. lieves she’s more seasoned
“I used to sound like sister and in control of her instru-
Mahalia Jackson,” Staples ment. She has a band that
said. “I loved her so much. recalls but doesn’t imitate
My father would tell me, the sonic blueprint set by
‘Get your own style. If you Pops, and she still sings with
sound like Mahalia Jack- her sister Yvonne.
son, people are going to “I’m proud that I have sur-
talk about her.’” vived and I have been here
Her memory remains sharp, for such a long time and
and she can vividly recall people still want to hear
the day Pops was excited what I have to say,” she
to hear Mavis, her brother said. Put her in front of an
and two sisters sing togeth- audience, and it looks like
er in their Chicago home. she never wants to leave.q
Tribeca Film Festival has record
number of female directors
This April 20, 2012 file photo, Sophia Takal attends the world pre- NEW YORK (AP) — The Tribe- Mia Wasikowska, will make “Dean,” starring Gillian Ja-
miere of “Supporting Characters” during the Tribeca Film Festi- ca Film Festival unveiled its world premiere at the cobs and Kevin Kline, and
val in New York. the first half of its annual festival, as will the R-rated Bill and Turner Ross’ concert
slate of films Wednesday, a cartoon documentary “Contempo-
Associated Press record third comedy showbiz take- rary Color.”
of which are from female down “Nerdland” featur- Also playing are the Kristen
directors including Sophia ing the voices of Paul Rudd Stewart and Nicholas Hoult
Takal and Ingrid Junger- and Patton Oswalt. drama
mann. Other world premieres at
The anthology film “Madly,” the New York festival in- “Equals” and “High-Rise”
which has segments from clude comedian Demetri starring Tom Hiddleston.
Gael Garcia Bernal and Martin’s directorial debut The festival runs April 13-
24.q
