Cleotha Staples, the oldest Staples sibling, has passed away at the age of 78.
Staples Singers
Roebuck ‘Pop’ Staples formed The Staple Singers to sing in churches in 1948. They went professional in 1952 when they signed their first recording contract.
Pop formed the group with his children Cleotha (born 1934), Pervis (born 1935), Yvonne (born 1936) and Mavis (born 1939).
In the 70s they had a string of soul hits including ‘I’ll Take You There’ and ‘Respect Yourself’ on Stax Records. Two of their Stax albums ‘Soul Folk In Action’ and ‘We’ll Get Over’ were recorded with Booker T & the MG’s.
The Staple Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2005, they were awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Cloetha had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Mavis Staples has cancelled her two shows this weekend in Lincoln and Salina. She will resume her performances next month in Australia for Bluesfest, as well as her sideshows in Adelaide and Melbourne with Bonnie Raitt and Brisbane with Blind Boys of Alabama and Allen Toussaint.
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