On this day, October 6, 1998, Roebuck “Pops” Staples, was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, this is the highest award in arts in the United States.
Pops Staple was a gospel and R&B musician born in Winona, Mississippi. He is best known as the patriarch and founder of the Staple Singers, a renowned gospel and soul group.
The Staple Singers, was formed in the 1950s and consisted of Pop Staples and his three children, Mavis Staples, Cleotha Staples, and Pervis Staples (and later Yvonne Staples). They blended gospel, soul, and rhythm and blues, creating a unique sound that became an important part of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Their music often contained socially and politically conscious lyrics that drew attention to the struggles of the era.
Some of the Staple Singers’ most famous songs include “I’ll Take You There,” “Respect Yourself,” and “Let’s Do It Again.” These songs were very successful and conveyed messages of empowerment and social change.
Pops Staple had a distinctive guitar-playing style, characterized by his soulful and bluesy guitar skills. He played a pivotal role in shaping the Staple Singers’ sound and was a respected figure in the music industry.
Pops Staples received numerous awards throughout his career including a Grammy.
Sadly, Pops Staples passed away in 2000 after falling in his home an suffering a fatal concussion.
Roebuck “Pops” Staples (December 28, 1914 – December 19, 2000)