As President Kennedy once said, “In serving his vision of the truth, the artist best serves his nation.” Tonight, we honor five amazing artists who have dedicated their lives to telling their truth, and helping us to see our own.
At eight years old, Mavis Staples climbed onto a chair in church, leaned into the microphone, raised her eyes upwards and belted out the gospel. When people heard that deep, old soul coming out of that little girl, they wept – which, understandably, concerned her. (Laughter.) But her mother told her, “Mavis, they’re happy. Your singing makes them cry happy tears.”
It was those early appearances on the South Side of Chicago – South Side! – (laughter and applause) – with Mavis, her siblings, their father, Roebuck “Pops” Staples that launched the legendary Staple Singers. Theirs was gospel with just a touch of country, a twist of the blues, little bit of funk. There was a little bit of sin with the salvation. (Laughter.) And driven by Pops’ reverbed guitar, Mavis’ powerhouse vocals and the harmonies that only family can make, the Staple Singers broke new ground with songs like “Uncloudy Day.” They had some truths to tell. Inspired by Dr. King, Pops would tell his kids, “If he can preach it, we can sing it.” And so they wrote anthems like “Freedom Highway,” and “When Will We Be Paid” – which became the soundtrack of the Civil Rights movement.
As a solo artist, Mavis has done it all and worked with just about everybody from Bob Dylan to Prince to Jeff Tweedy. On albums like “We’ll Never Turn Back,” and “One True Vine,” she still is singing for justice and equality, and influencing a new generation of musicians and fans. And each soulful note – even in heartbreak and even in despair – is grounded in faith, and in hope, and the belief that there are better days yet to come. “These aren’t just songs I’m singing to be moving my lips,” she says. “I mean this.” And we mean, it too. Six decades on, nobody makes us feel “the weight” like Mavis Staples. Give her a big round of applause. (Applause.)
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