Mavis Staples Shares New Prince-Inspired Song, “Worthy”

A legendary performer who turns 85 next month on July 10, Mavis Staples continues to be a tour de force in music and a voice for the voiceless in today’s divided society. Well known for her work in gospel and Americana, Staples is also an R&B icon who worked with the one and only Prince during his ’80s heyday. In remembrance of those records, she shares the new song “Worthy.”

Written and produced by Mark Ronson’s protégé MNDR, the song was brought to life by an all-female team, with Ms. Staples making it her own. “It’s an uplifting song – it’s a celebration, and you can’t stop moving,” she says. “Some songs cover you, and this song is so sassy and fiery. This excited me. As a black woman who lent her voice to the civil rights movement, the song pulses through Mavis’ unique perspective, both as a call to action and as an infectious dance-worthy melody; check it out below.

“Working with the legendary Mavis Staples seems like a dream,” exclaimed MNDR. “Listening to her soulful voice, spending time in her grace, and observing her artistry in the studio as a pioneering icon of music and culture was an experience too profound for words and one I will never forget. Listening to him bring our song “Worthy” to life – a song of celebration in good times and bad, a song to celebrate ourselves and others – I realized there was no other artist who could give this song more spirit and soul than Mavis Staples, a legend, an icon This was one of the most profound moments of my life, and I will be forever grateful.

The artwork for “Worthy” features the painting The Darker the Berry, The Sweeter the Juice (2015, acrylic on canvas) by renowned American artist Henry Taylor. Much like Staples, Taylor’s works are driven and defined by empathy, engaging the dynamic subtleties of his eclecticly sourced subjects and their environments, historical and personal, each constitute a holistic visual narrative.

Hailed by NPR as “one of the defining voices for freedom and peace in America,” Staples is the kind of once-in-a-generation artist whose impact on music and culture would be hard to overestimate. She is a member of both the Blues and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame; a civil rights icon; a GRAMMY Award winner; a chart-topping soul/gospel/R&B pioneer; a recipient of National Lifetime Achievement Arts Awards; and a Kennedy Center honoree. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, and sang at Barack Obama’s White House.

At a time when most artists were starting to wind down, Staples stepped things up, releasing a trio of critically acclaimed albums in his 70s with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy that prompted Pitchfork to rave about the fact that “her voice has only grown in texture and power over the years” and people proclaim that it “offers the comfort of a higher power”. “I sing because I want to make people feel better than I found them,” Staples says. “I want them to leave with a positive message in their hearts, feeling stronger than before. I also sing for myself for the same reasons.

On July 9, Staples and award-winning children’s poet Carol Boston Weatherford will release the new children’s book “Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples,” a vibrant and poetic new picture book that introduces young readers to the life story of Staples, who began singing at age 8 and has since used his voice as a national rallying cry at numerous civil rights protests and continues to sing and perform today share his message of love, faith and justice before a large audience. Pre-order it HERE.

Staples recently celebrated his upcoming anniversary in stellar fashion at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles this past April, gracing the stage alongside an all-star lineup including Hozier, Chris Stapleton, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Black Pumas, and more. Currently touring Europe, Staples will return to the United States and perform at Willie Nelson’s picnic on July 4, the nation’s birthday. The next day, she begins a series of dates with Norah Jones, whom she affectionately calls “my little sister.” All upcoming dates are listed below.

TOUR DATES

June 18 – Paris, France @ Casino de Paris
June 20 – Barcelona, ​​Spain @ Parallel 62 – Sala Club
June 22 – Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain @ Azkena Rock Festival
June 24 – London, United Kingdom @ Union Chapel
June 25 – London, United Kingdom @ Union Chapel
July 4 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
July 5 – Canandaigua, NY @ CMAC #
July 6 – Lewiston, NY @ Artpark Mainstage Theater #
July 10 – Huber Heights, OH @ The Rose Music Center at The Heights #
July 11 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center #
July 13 – Interlochen, MI @ Kresge Auditorium #
July 14 – Highland Park, Illinois @ Ravinia Festival #
July 19 – Trumansburg, NY @ Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival
August 4 – Los Angeles, California at the Greek Theater #
August 6 – San Diego, California @ The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park #
August 15 – Park City, UT @ Park City Song Summit
August 17 – Three Oaks, MI @ Acorn Theater
August 28 – Beverly, MA @ The Cabot
August 29 – North Truro, MA @ Payomet Performing Arts Center
August 31 – Orkney Springs, VA @ Shenandoah Valley Music Festival
September 13 – Abiquiu, New Mexico at the Blossoms & Bones Ghost Ranch Music Festival
September 29 – Monterey, California at the Monterey Jazz Festival
# – with Norah Jones

Photo credit: Myriam Santos

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