Pops Staples - Down In Mississippi

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Uploaded by on Apr 9, 2010

Roebuck "Pops" Staples (December 28, 1914 December 19, 2000) was a Mississippi-born Gospel and R&B musician.
A "pivotal figure in gospel in the 1960s and 70s,"[1] he was an accomplished songwriter, guitarist and singer. He was the patriarch and member of singing group The Staple Singers, which included his son Pervis and daughters Mavis, Yvonne, and Cleotha. Roebuck Staples was born on a cotton plantation near Winona, Mississippi, the youngest of 14 children. When growing up he heard, and began to play with, local blues guitarists such as Charlie Patton, who lived on the nearby Dockery Plantation, Robert Johnson, and Son House.[2][1] He dropped out of school after the eighth grade, and sang with a gospel group before marrying and moving to Chicago in 1935.[3]
There he sang with the Trumpet Jubilees while working in the stockyards, in construction work, and later in a steel mill. In 1948 he formed The Staple Singers to sing as a gospel group in local churches, with him singing and playing guitar behind his children. They first recorded in the early 1950s for United and then the larger Vee-Jay Records, with songs including "This May Be the Last Time" (later covered by The Rolling Stones) and "Uncloudy Day".[1]
In the 1960s the Staples Singers moved to Riverside Records and later Stax Records, and began recording protest, inspirational and contemporary music, reflecting the civil rights and anti-war movements of the time. They gained a large new audience with the 1972 US # 1 hit "I'll Take You There", followed by "Respect Yourself", "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)", and other hits. Pops Staples also recorded a blues album, Jammed Together, with fellow guitarists Albert King and Steve Cropper.[1]
After Mavis left for a solo career in the 1980s, Pops Staples began a solo career, appearing at international "blues" festivals (though steadfastly refusing to sing the blues),[1] and tried his hand at acting. His 1992 album Peace to the Neighborhood won a Grammy nomination, and in 1995 he won a Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy for Father, Father.
In 1986, Roebuck played the role of Mr. Tucker, a voodoo witch doctor, in the Talking Heads film True Stories.
In 1998 he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 1999 the Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
After his death, his daughters Yvonne and Mavis gave one of his guitars to country and gospel musician Marty Stuart.[4]

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Uploader Comments (screwmaster404)

  • What a great performer and artist! I was lucky enough to see them in the late, late 60's and they blew the place apart! GREAT upload. Thanks so much! My best, Moppet

  • @MyMoppet52 Barb, that's great that you saw The Staples live. I've always wanted to attend a gospel music concert and feel the power!

  • awesome! thanks to rick for the share! peace2u! eric

  • @justsayno2hate Enjoy. Namaste

  • THANK YOU for posting this song !!!I have this song on an audio tape I made 15+ years ago..... now I know who sings it... Have a fantastic day... Blessings and peace always.. Rick :~)

  • @1812richardk2 Rick, I'm glad you found it again. I stopped by your channel and enjoyed you Jimmy Cliff feature. It sure is a bright sunny day in NJ. I'll sub. Ed

Top Comments

  • @vanu49 This is alot different than those rousing Staples Singers hits, but the sound of his guitar and the tempo move me.

  • "Like" is putting it mildly for how I feel about this song, Pops......Mavis........they are real, and true children of God and they wouldn't want us fussing about their life's blood.........Music is supposed to pull us together, not make us fight . Please, I don't mean to offend anyone.............this is a sho nuff crazy world we live in..........I want to just enjoy what I can...............love to all........

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  • @screwmaster404 You have my thanks and support as well... Have a great weekend and peace always.. Rick :~)

  • LOVE THIS SONG !!!!!

  • Brilliantly produced by Ry Cooder

  • Oh lord my soul hurts so good, thanks so much for this sweet drink of water

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