Family Confirms Death of Grammy Award Winning Soul Singer, Age 80
Many of the soul and gospel hits of the late ’60s and early ’70s are well known even today. We often hear the tunes given new life when played in modern television commercials.
One of those hits is “I’ll Take You There.” The popular song was featured heavily in the late ’90s by Chevrolet in their commercials and more recently by Walmart in their holiday campaigns from Christmas 2017.
It’s a tune that, although released in 1972, you can’t help but sing along with as soon as you hear it.
The song was just one of the many iconic hits from the Grammy-winning, Hall of Fame group “The Staple Singers.”
The Staples were a family gospel act later turned pop and soul performers. Roebuck “Pops” Staples started the group with his children Cleotha, Pervis, and Mavis.
After Pervis joined the army, Yvonne Staples would replace her brother in the infamous group.
Along with her sisters, Yvonne recorded hits “Respect Yourself,” “I’ll Take You There,” and “Heavy Makes You Happy.”
The oldest Staples sister, Cleotha, passed away in 2013. Mavis, age 78, continues to perform and has been on tour for her latest album.
But on April 10, a rep for Mavis Staples confirmed in a statement the sad news of Yvonne’s passing. She was 80 years old.
Yvonne is said to have passed away in Chicago, her hometown.
The Staples family will be remembered for their legacy in gospel and soul music. They were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005 from the Grammys.
They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, one year before Roebuck, the patriarch of the family, passed away.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.
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