Blues Marker for the Staple singers

The Mississippi Link reports that the Staple Singers were honored on Wednesday. The Mississippi Blues Trail unveiled a marker in their honor. One of the few groups who achieved and conquered at least three different levels of music, gospel, blues and R&B. Unveiled on North Main Street in Drew, Ms., the marker honors the legendary singers, noting the location where the leader of the group, Pops, live during the 1920’s and 30s. Some of the Staple Singers biggest hits were: "I’ll Take You There," "Let’s Do It Again" and "Respect Yourself." The Gulflive reports Gov. Haley Barbour as saying,

" I’m glad we can honor the Staple family with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail, "the influence of Pops and his children can be heard today in gospel, folk, blues and pop music. They are great examples of why Mississippi is the ‘Birthplace of American’s Music."

The Staple Singers built their distinctive sound on gospel and blues traditions from the Drew area. Family leader Roebuck "Pops" Staples was born near Winona, around 1923 moved to Will Dockery’s Plantation near Drew. Inspired to learn guitar by local blues artists Charley Patton, Howlin’ Wolf, Dick Bankston, and Jim Holloway they soon after began performing at local juke joints. The Clarion Ledger reports the group included Pop Staples, his children Cleotha and Pervis Staples, born at Dockery, and Mavis and Yvonne, born after the family moved to Chicago in 1936.