At 85 years young, Mavis Staples' voice still carries the weight of history and the power to heal. In an exclusive conversation, the gospel legend reflects on an astonishing career spanning three-quarters of a century, revealing how music has remained her constant weapon against life's darkest moments.
A Voice Forged in the Civil Rights Movement
"It's dark in the US right now, but I turn on a light, you know," Staples declares with the conviction that has defined her career. Her music has never been just entertainment - it's been a tool for social change since she first toured with her family band, The Staple Singers, during the height of the civil rights movement.
Staples shares intimate memories of marching with Dr Martin Luther King Jr, recalling how his message became woven into their family's music. "We were the soundtrack to the movement," she reflects. "Daddy would say, 'If he can preach it, we can sing it.'"
The Unforgettable Friendship With Prince
One of the most poignant relationships of her career was with the late music icon Prince, who produced two of her albums. "That little fellow saved me," she reveals, her voice softening. "When my sisters passed, when my father passed, Prince was there. He'd call me at 3am just to check I was okay."
Their creative partnership resulted in some of her most powerful work, including the album "We'll Never Turn Back," which Prince insisted she record despite her initial reluctance.
75 Years and Still Shining Light
As she approaches the 75th anniversary of her career, Staples shows no signs of slowing down. Her latest work continues to address contemporary struggles while maintaining the hopeful spirit that has defined her music since the beginning.
"People need hope now more than ever," she asserts. "They need to hear that message we've been singing all these years - that we can overcome."
With new projects in development and a calendar that would exhaust performers half her age, Mavis Staples remains what she's always been: a beacon of light in troubled times, proving that some voices only grow more essential with age.
