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Pervis Staples, second from right, performing with his family in 1965. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Pervis Staples, a founding member of the Staple Singers, has died. According to a statement from a family spokesperson, he died suddenly in his home in Dolton, Ill, on May 6. He was 85 years old.
Staples was born in Drew, Miss., in 1935, the second of five children. The family soon relocated to Chicago, Ill., where patriarch Roebuck Pops Staples worked in a steel mill. In order to keep his kids occupied while their mother worked the night shift at a downtown hotel, Pops had them sit around in a circle and sing. This is the seed of what would eventually become the Staple Singers: Pops on guitar, with children Cleotha, Pervis and Mavis on vocals. (Yvonne Staples would take Pervis place when he was drafted into the Army in 1958).
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
Originally published on May 13, 2021 3:40 pm
Pervis Staples, a founding member of the Staple Singers, has died. According to a statement from a family spokesperson, he died suddenly in his home in Dolton, Ill, on May 6. He was 85 years old.
Staples was born in Drew, Miss., in 1935, the second of five children. The family soon relocated to Chicago, Ill., where patriarch Roebuck Pops Staples worked in a steel mill. In order to keep his kids occupied while their mother worked the night shift at a downtown hotel, Pops had them sit around in a circle and sing. This is the seed of what would eventually become the Staple Singers: Pops on guitar, with children Cleotha, Pervis and Mavis on vocals. (Yvonne Staples would take Pervis place when he was drafted into the Army in 1958).
Learn about Chicago music history with Sound Opinions May 11 Jim DeRogatis
Updated 5/7/2021 3:43 PM
Over a dozen suburban libraries are hosting Sound Opinions Presents: The 10 Most Important Artists in Chicago Music History on Tuesday, May 11. It will be 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.
Join music critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, hosts of the world s only rock n roll talk show, for a live, online event celebrating Chicago music.
They will trace the city s rich musical history via the 10 artists they feel contribute the most enduring and influential sounds over the past half-century. Genres include gospel, blues, rock, R&B and more.Each week on Sound Opinions, they interview artists, talk about pop culture and music industry news, review new record releases and give trends a historical context. Sound Opinions can be heard on WBEZ and 150 other public radio stations across the country. Learn more at soundopinions.org.
Schaumburg Library invites music lovers to live Sound Opinions May 11 Chicago s music history and most influential musicians will be discussed during an upcoming online program at the Schaumburg Library. Courtesy of Schaumburg Township District Library
Updated 5/3/2021 11:54 AM
Join music critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, hosts of the world s only rock n roll talk show, for a live, online event celebrating Chicago music.
The Sound Opinions hosts will trace the city s rich musical history via the 10 artists they feel contributed the most enduring and influential sounds over the past half-century. Genres include gospel, blues, rock, R&B and more. This program is offered through a partnership with multiple libraries.