Mavis staples bob dylan
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Many years later, in 2016, Staples and her band toured as an opening act for Dylan. As a matter of self-preservation, Dylan makes a habit of keeping to himself on the road, rarely consorting with the opening act when he’s got one. This time was different.
“The first show, someone knocked on my door and said someone wants to see you,” she told me. “In comes Bobby. And I said, ‘Bobby, I’m so glad to see you. I been wanting to see you for so long.’ ”
“You should have married me,” Dylan said. “You would’ve seen me every day.”
Staples did marry once, and miserably. In 1964, she met a Chicago mortician named Spencer Leak. The Leak family was prominent on the South Side, and their wedding was a major social event. But Leak wasn’t happy about his wife’s stardom, and it didn’t help that they could not have children, a grave disappointment to Staples. The end came six years later, with Staples changing the locks on her door and Leak sleeping in the funeral parlor. Her next album, a solo effort, was called “Only for the Lonely.” Years later, she told Prince about her marriage, inspiring h
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The rain was coming down in thick, heavy sheets when Mavis Staples arrived in Woodstock. Still recovering from a recent knee surgery, Staples wasn’t her usual spry self that day, but any lingering aches and pains seemed to melt away the moment she spotted the familiar figure waiting to greet her on the porch. Lean and wiry, with a gentle warmth that radiated southern charm and hospitality, there was no mistaking Levon Helm. For his part, Helm had spent much of the day anticipating this very moment, pacing back and forth through the house with an uncharacteristic mix of nervous energy and giddy excitement. Sure, he’d hosted scores of legendary artists at his Barn over the years—Hell, he was a legend himself—but Mavis was different; Mavis was family. Quick as a flash, she was out of the car, through the rain, and up the steps, and there on the porch, as the pair embraced in the deep, spiritual way only two kindred souls can, Mavis Staples and Levon Helm did what came most naturally: they sang.
“Didn’t it rain, children / Talk ’bout rain, oh, my Lord,” Staples began, channelin
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Mavis Staples
American singer (born 1939)
Musical artist
Mavis Staples (born July 10, 1939) is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer and civil rightsactivist. She rose to fame as a member of her family's band The Staple Singers, of which she is the last surviving member. During her time in the group, she recorded the hit singles "I'll Take You There" and "Let's Do It Again".[1] In 1969, Staples released her self-titled debut solo album.
Staples continued to release solo albums throughout the following decades and collaborated with artists such as Aretha Franklin, Prince, Arcade Fire, Nona Hendryx, Ry Cooder, David Byrne,[2] and former romantic partner Bob Dylan.[3] Her eighth studio album You Are Not Alone (2010), earned critical acclaim,[4] and became her first album as a soloist to reach number one on a Billboard chart, peaking atop the Top Gospel Albums chart.[5] It also earned Staples her first Grammy Award win.[6] Following this, she released the albums One True Vine (2013), Livin' on a High
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