Yvonne Staples — known best as a member of iconic soul group the Staple Singers, has died. The news was confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times by a Chicago funeral home. Staples was 80.
Born in 1936, Yvonne joined her father, Pop Staples, and sisters Mavis and Cleotha in the group in 1970 following her brother Pervis' draft into the United States army.
In a career that saw them record and release more than 30 albums, the Staple Singers are best known for hits such as "Respect Yourself," "I'll Take You There," "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" and "Let's Do It Again."
The group have also notably appeared in concert films such as 1972's Wattstax and the Band's 1978 film The Last Waltz, for which they performed "The Weight."
The Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame this year. The group were awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2005 for their "soulful voices, righteous conviction and danceable message music across the decades."
Born in 1936, Yvonne joined her father, Pop Staples, and sisters Mavis and Cleotha in the group in 1970 following her brother Pervis' draft into the United States army.
In a career that saw them record and release more than 30 albums, the Staple Singers are best known for hits such as "Respect Yourself," "I'll Take You There," "If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)" and "Let's Do It Again."
The group have also notably appeared in concert films such as 1972's Wattstax and the Band's 1978 film The Last Waltz, for which they performed "The Weight."
The Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame this year. The group were awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards in 2005 for their "soulful voices, righteous conviction and danceable message music across the decades."
