Cleotha ”Cleedi” Staples (pictured), the eldest member of the famed soul/gospel group, The Staple Singers, passed away on Feb. 21 of causes related to Alzheimer’s disease. The performer had battled the disease for over a decade, according to Philly.com. She was 78. Cleotha was born in Drew, Miss., on April 11, 1934 to Roebuck “Pops” Staples and his wife Oceola. She was soon followed by siblings Pervis, Yvonne, Mavis and Cynthia.
After relocating to Chicago in search of better employment opportunities, Cleotha’s father managed to work a few manual labor jobs while Oceola toiled at a hotel stint overnight. Pops began to teach his children gospel songs in order to keep them entertained during the evenings while their mother worked. Pops’ sister Katie enjoyed her brother and his family’s singing so much that she invited them to sing at her church one Sunday morning in 1948. Congregants loved what they heard and begged for three encores. This event marked the beginning of the Staples family’s professional singing career.
The Staple Singers “Respect Yourself” On Soul Train:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X-UPmTAWMg&w=420&h=315]
Posts published in “Gospel/Country”
The Robinson Global Sports & Entertainment Group announced its plans to build the Gospel Music and Preachers Hall of Fame Museum (Gospel Hall) as an addition to the existing R&B Music Hall of Fame Museum (R&B Hall) project.
“What makes this Gospel Hall unique is that we also honor the preachers alongside with the gospel music to celebrate their significant influence in the history of the black church. We envision the combination of these museums to be one of the top musical entertainment attraction in the country, bringing visitors from everywhere.” says LaMont “ShowBoat” Robinson, Developer and Founder of the project.
Beginning September 2013, the Gospel Hall will hold an induction ceremony annually to honor preachers and music legends who have contributed significantly to the history of gospel music such as the founder of the Church of God In Christ Bishop Charles Harrison Mason in Memphis, TN and Reverend T.D. Jakes of the Potter’s House in Dallas TX, Father of Black gospel music Thomas A. Dorsey and the gospel music icon Kirk Franklin.
The public is invited to visit www.gospelmusicpreachershofm.com to vote for their favorite pastor and gospel singer starting January 3, 2013 and for more information about the Gospel Hall. Groundbreaking is scheduled to take place in the summer of 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio.
Read more at http://www.eurweb.com/2012/11/gospel-preachers-hall-to-be-added-to-rb-music-hall/#wsLE6ytQ7KzJ3Oix.99
“You going to be famous in this world and walk with kings and queens,” an aunt told twelve year-old Mahalia Jackson. Born on October 26, 1911, in New Orleans, where she shared a shotgun house with thirteen people, the future could only get better.
But before it did, Jackson’s mother died when she was just four and she had to leave school in the fourth grade to help out at home. She had music though — the jazz bands that entertained the city and the gospel that healed souls, with some Bessie Smith in between. On Every Wednesday, Friday and four times on Sunday, when Jackson sang at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, the sound wafted out into the street so that, one imagines, sinners also could enjoy her energetic contralto voice.
When most people think of important African-American musicians from history, the list is long and varied, including everyone from Muddy Waters to John Coltrane to Jimi Hendrix to, nowadays, Jay-Z. Black people have a lot to be proud of when it comes to our contributions to America’s musical tapestry. But every now and again an icon gets lost, and Charley Pride has been lost too many times. Which is why it’s exciting to hear that the Smithsonian’s forthcoming African-American history museum is going to include several Pride relics in its permanent collection.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWZWuVCXqRg&w=560&h=315]
On The X Factor this week, 17-year-old Willie Jones delivered a performance that left the show’s judges in complete awe. The Shreveport, Louisiana native took to the stage rocking a Kid ‘n Play old-school high-top haircut along with a cut off jean jacket, and shocked judges when he began singing “Your Man,” a country music hit by Josh Turner.
“Your voice is a sensational recording voice and I want to remember this time, the first day I heard Willie Jones,” Simon said after Willie’s performance.
“Willie Jones you are an absolute original. He sounds like a Willie Jones right? It’s perfect. That was amazing,” praised L.A. Reid.
Britney Spears took to twitter to show some love for Willie, who is from her home state of Louisiana. “Willie’s from my home state! @LouisianaBredAndButtered I bet y’all weren’t expecting that voice. I know I wasn’t…,” she tweeted.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWZWuVCXqRg&w=560&h=315]
On The X Factor this week, 17-year-old Willie Jones delivered a performance that left the show’s judges in complete awe. The Shreveport, Louisiana native took to the stage rocking a Kid ‘n Play old-school high-top haircut along with a cut off jean jacket, and shocked judges when he began singing “Your Man,” a country music hit by Josh Turner.
“Your voice is a sensational recording voice and I want to remember this time, the first day I heard Willie Jones,” Simon said after Willie’s performance.
“Willie Jones you are an absolute original. He sounds like a Willie Jones right? It’s perfect. That was amazing,” praised L.A. Reid.
Britney Spears took to twitter to show some love for Willie, who is from her home state of Louisiana. “Willie’s from my home state! @LouisianaBredAndButtered I bet y’all weren’t expecting that voice. I know I wasn’t…,” she tweeted.
“It’s easy to be independent when you’ve got money. But to be independent when you haven’t got a thing, that’s the Lord’s test.”
–Mahalia Jackson, the “Queen Of Gospel”