Mavis Staples is a cultural treasure, one of the greatest and most important voices to emerge in both popular music and civil rights since the ’50s, when she began as an integral member of the legendary family group the Staple Singers as a high-schooler. The Staples initially were gospel standouts, then later soul stars. Simultaneously, they also became principal voices of the civil rights movement through Pops Staples’ close friendship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. While the Staple Singers continued scoring hits into the mid-’70s, Mavis Staples began establishing herself outside the family setting. She has subsequently enjoyed an extraordinary solo career. Her extensive list of classic sessions ranges from a Curtis Mayfield soundtrack LP for the film A Piece of the Action to two albums produced by Prince, a Mahalia Jackson tribute release and a host of magical moments during collaborations with artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Dr. John, Los Lobos to Patty Griffin. She’s the recipient of multiple honors, and her latest recording Sad and Beautiful World is a gem. Any opportunity to hear Mavis Staples should not be missed, and she’ll headline at the Ryman Saturday night. Alt-country wunderkind MJ Lenderman opens.
8 p.m. at the Ryman
116 Rep. John Lewis Way N.
