By Aicha Bangoura
Longtime singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples made her return to the University of Maryland last Friday night, to perform for the second time since 2013. Since the 1960s, Staples has left an international imprint both on and offstage, as the youngest member of her musical family, The Staple Singers.
She took to the stage at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in the Dekelboum Concert Hall. Staples was joined by a band and two ASL interpreters.
After receiving a standing ovation, Staples began with a passionate performance of the band’s 1974 song “City in the Sky.” She followed with the 1972 song “I’m Just Another Soldier,” which includes a powerful message of survival mentioning civil rights leaders in the lyric that reads “Now Martin, John, and Bobby once fought here by my side,” referring to Martin Luther King, John Brown and Robert Kennedy.
Staples added her own persona to the show by telling the audience — ranging from young to old — her stories, with delight and wit. “I used to try to howl like the wolf, but I messed up so many times,” referring to the musician Howlin’ Wolf, whom she was inspired by.
Staples mentioned the late fellow soul singer Etta James, and spoke about the role James played in recording arguably the most popular track released by The Staple Singers, “Respect Yourself.” “Me and Etta, we sound a lot alike in spots,” she said.
Jamie Thurmond, a freshman technology and information design major at UMD, sat front row and recalled early memories of listening to The Staple Singers while staying with her grandparents down south.
“It was like the soundtrack of my life,” she said.
Thurmond spoke about her opinions regarding Staples’ showmanship. “I’m really impressed that she’s still in a good voice and she’s really taking care of herself,” she said. Thurmond added that she felt like Staples seemed “very accessible.”
Staples may have been the star of the show, but she gave nods to her band and let her background singers shine for a lead moment during the performance of “Friendship,” the final song her father released and recorded, in 1999.
The song relives a valuable message about family, as Staples is the last surviving member of The Staple Singers. Her band has also been by her side for quite some time. Particularly, guitarist Rick Holmstrom, who she described as “the baddest guitar player.”
Holmstrom, who is currently the bandleader, explained that Staples’ message is timeless and is all about justice, human rights, love and standing up for what you believe in.
“It’s so much about feeling,” Holmstrom said, speaking of his work with Staples. “Every song, every chorus, every bridge, we don’t know where it’s going to go next.”
Staples’ audience not only consisted of regular concert-goers, but also diehard fans who are very familiar with her music. She mentioned those who were VIP and brought her gifts. “I’ve been getting so many presents since I’ve been here.” she said.
Faith Pinckney, a graduate student at the University of Richmond, learned about Staples from the 2010s artist Hozier, who collaborated with Staples on their song, “Nina Cried Power”.
“People in this generation, if they didn’t already know Mavis from The Staple Singers, they got it from Hozier,” Pinckney said.
Staples’ performance proved the timelessness of the Staple Singers’ discography, and highlighted an important meaning about love and respect.
With performances of “Freedom’s Highway,” specifically written about voting rights for people of color in the U.S., and “I’ll Take You There,” emphasizing a message about civil rights and its imagined future of prosperity, Staples encouraged the audience with her powerful voice and embrace of equality.
Featured Image: The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. Photo by Brian Cassett