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This day in music on May 31, 1972 the Staples Singers breakthrough hit, "I'll Take You There" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The Staple Singers had just crossed to the secular world of music after years of performing gospel songs. The group consisted of the group leader, Pops, and three of his daughters, including the lead singer Mavis, who sang with a deep contralto. In a documentary, she once said that people who had never seen her perform would make bets about if she was really a woman because people felt like she sounded like a man. The group had a very earthy, gospel sound that resonated well with listeners mainly because their music was honest, soulful, and simple. On some songs Pops would share the lead vocal with Mavis, but regardless who was singing lead, the group's harmony stood out the most. The groups tonality was so in sync that their harmonizing was always superb and on point! So take a listen to the Staple Singers while some Soul Train dancers rock out to this Soul music classic!
3 comments:
Oh wow.. That's a fun fact. Never knew they crossed over from Gospel.. It always seems to happen that way. Kelly Price started singing R&B but every album she placed a Gospel track at the end. And now she singing Gospel mainly. It has been said that Fantasia crossed over as well. I'm waiting for Jazmine Sullivan and Jennifer Hudson to do the same. Without attesting to their personal life, I say loosely with their vocal abilities they should be singing be Gospel, they can bring that old sway of Mahalia Jackson back.
Yeah, the Staple Singers have been around since the 50's doing gospel music. They were like the last gospel act to cross over. Of course, Sam Cooke was the first to really cross over, and Mavis mentions this in many interviews. Aretha crossed over. Even Dionne Warwick and Cissy Houston used to sing gospel with their families. Ever heard of the Drinkard Singers?
It' also said that J. Hud's next album is slated to be all gospel
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