Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

It's Been a Minute

NPR

News Commentary, Society & Culture, News, Spirituality, Religion & Spirituality

4.6 • 8.8K Ratings

🗓️ 9 July 2024

⏱️ 26 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This week, the legendary singer and civil rights figure Mavis Staples is turning 85 and there's no sign of her slowing down: She released a new song, "Worthy," and a children's book, Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples.

Today, Mavis joins host Brittany Luse to share stories from her life: what it was like to be mentored by Mahalia Jackson, how she helped create the soundtrack for the Civil Rights movement, how she was spurned by the church then welcomed back, and what it was like to collaborate with Prince.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for this podcast and the following message come from Dignity Memorial.
0:04.6	When your celebration of life is prepaid today, your family is protected tomorrow.
0:09.6	Planning ahead is truly one of the best gifts you can give your family.
0:13.7	For additional information visit dignity memorial.com.
0:17.1	Hello hello. I'm Brittany Loose and you're listening to It's been a minute from NPR, a show about
0:26.0	what's going on in culture and why it doesn't happen by accident. I know I'm a little early, but happy birthday to you, Miss Mavis.
0:44.0	Thank you, thank you, and I tell you 85, girl.
0:47.9	I'm happy for everyone I get.
0:50.2	That is legendary soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples.
0:54.3	And even though she's turning 85, she's still giving us new music.
0:58.6	I intend to sing until I can't sing no more.
1:08.0	If it comes to that you'll hear me, you who win or something, I might be sounding like a bird. But you're going to be getting something from Mavis.
1:16.4	In honor of this legend's birthday,
1:18.4	we're going to look back at the career of Mavis Staples
1:21.6	because she's been at the center of so much history.
1:24.3	In her family's gospel group, the Staples singers,
1:31.2	Mavis had front row seats to the civil rights movement
1:34.1	and sang before Dr. Martin Luther King's speeches.
1:37.2	How about the nice warm round of applause to welcome the world famous Staples Sega.
1:44.0	Tawne Minnie midnight.
1:47.0	Yeah!
1:50.0	Mavis was close friends with Prince and Bob Dylan and she was mentored by one of the most
	...

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