Pops Staples facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pops Staples |
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Staples in 2000
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roebuck Staples |
| Also known as | "Pops" |
| Born | December 28, 1914 Winona, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | December 19, 2000 (aged 85) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1948–1998 |
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Roebuck "Pops" Staples (born December 28, 1914 – died December 19, 2000) was an American musician. He was famous for his gospel and R&B music. Pops was a great songwriter, guitarist, and singer.
He was the leader of the singing group The Staple Singers. This group included his son Pervis and his daughters Mavis, Yvonne, and Cleotha. Pops Staples was a very important person in gospel music during the 1960s and 1970s.
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Early Life and Music Journey
Roebuck Staples was born in Winona, Mississippi. He was the youngest of 14 children. He grew up on a cotton farm in Drew, Mississippi. From a young age, he listened to and played music with local blues guitarists. Some of these famous musicians included Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, and Son House.
Pops left school after eighth grade. He sang with a gospel group before moving to Chicago in 1935. There, he sang with a group called the Trumpet Jubilees. He also worked hard in different jobs, like in stockyards and steel mills.
The Staple Singers
In 1948, Pops and his wife Oceola Staples started The Staple Singers. They sang gospel music in local churches with their children. The group began recording music in the early 1950s. Their early songs included "This May Be the Last Time" and "Uncloudy Day".
In the 1960s, The Staple Singers started making music about important social issues. Their songs reflected the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war feelings of the time. This helped them reach many new fans. They had big hits like "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There" in 1972. "Let's Do It Again" even reached number one in 1975.
Pops Staples also recorded a blues album called Jammed Together. He made this album with other guitarists, Albert King and Steve Cropper.
Other Projects and Awards
In 1976, Pops Staples appeared in the movie The Last Waltz. This film showed the final concert of the band The Band. Pops sang "The Weight" with his daughters and other musicians. Many fans think their version of the song in the movie is the best.
After his daughter Mavis started her solo career, Pops Staples also began a solo career in the 1980s. He performed at blues festivals around the world. He won a Grammy Award in 1995 for his album Father, Father. This award was for the Best Contemporary Blues Album.
Pops Staples also tried acting. In 1986, he played a character named Mr. Tucker in the film True Stories. He also appeared as himself in the 1997 movie Wag the Dog. In that film, he sang "Good Old Shoe" with Willie Nelson.
Pops Staples passed away in 2000, just before his 86th birthday. After he died, his daughters gave one of his guitars to musician Marty Stuart.
His Impact on Music
Many musicians have shown great respect for Pops Staples. Artists like Cannonball Adderley, Ry Cooder, Marty Stuart, and Bonnie Raitt have all said how much they admire his music.
Music Albums
Solo Albums
- 1992 – Peace to the Neighborhood
- 1994 – Father Father
- 2015 – Don't Lose This
Collaborations
- 1969 – Jammed Together – with Steve Cropper & Albert King
- Performed on "Papa Legba" on the 2006 reissue of the True Stories album by Talking Heads.
Honors and Recognitions
Pops Staples received many awards for his music.
- In 1961, his album Swing Low was nominated for a Grammy Award.
- In 1992, his album Peace to the Neighborhood was also nominated for a Grammy.
- In 1995, he won a Grammy Award for Father, Father.
- In 1998, he received a National Heritage Fellowship. This is a very high honor for folk and traditional artists in the United States.
- In 1999, The Staple Singers group was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- In 2010, a special marker was placed in his hometown of Winona, Mississippi, on the Mississippi Blues Trail.
- In 2018, Pops Staples was added to the Blues Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Pops Staples para niños
