This week, legendary singer Yvonne Staples of The Staples Singers passed away at the age of 80 following colon cancer. The family group led by the late Roebuck “Pops” Staples was founded in Chicago in the late-1940s. Yvonne officially joined her late sister Cleotha Staples and sister Mavis Staples in the renowned gospel-infused soul/R&B group when her brother Pervis Staples left the band in 1971 to enlist in the military.
Yvonne served the dual role of business manager during her time performing in The Staples Singers. She also help to manage the widely successful solo career of her sister Mavis.
This Sunday Cinema edition presents video footage of Yvonne performing with her family members in various settings throughout their influential career. The clips below feature many of The Staples Singers’ most well-known and popular hits, such as “I’ll Take You There,” “Respect Yourself” and “Let’s Do It Again.”
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The Staples and Yvonne can also be seen performing with The Band in the 1976 concert film The Last Waltz as well as covering Talking Heads’ “Slippery People” in one of several Soul Train performances included below. The first two videos come from The Johnny Cash Show and the final clip comes from The Staples Singers’ 1999 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Watch the live performances below:
