The Staple Singers “Will the Circle Be Unbroken”

Verse 1 I was standing by my window On a cold and cloudy day When I saw the hearse come rollin' Ooo to take my mother away

Chorus Will the circle be unbroken? By and by Lord, by and by There's a better home a-waitin' In the sky Lord, in the sky

Verse 2 I told the undertaker "Undertaker, please drive slow Cause this lady that you're a-haulin‘ Ooo I hate to see her go."

Chorus Will the circle be unbroken? By and by Lord, by and by There's a better home a-waitin' In the sky Lord, in the sky

Verse 3 I will follow close behind her Try to hold up and be brave But I could not hold my sorrow When they laid her in the grave

Chorus Will the circle be unbroken? By and by Lord, by and by There's a better home a-waitin' In the sky Lord, in the sky

The Staple Singers O Family gospel group O Roots in music of the church O Led by Roebuck “Pops” Staples O Gospel-based songwriting O “Pop” bluesy guitar O Mavis’ raspy lead vocals O Cleotha and Yvonne singing harmonies

Roebuck “Pops” Staples O Born in 1915 in Winona, Mississippi. O Grew up playing guitar in the blues style. O 1937, played in a Mississippi-based spiritual group called the Golden Trumpets. O Moved to Chicago with his wife, Oceola, in 1941.

The Staple Singers O They became regulars on a Sunday radio show. O Cut their first single in O Recorded with Chicago Based Vee- Jay Records from

The Civil Right Movement O Recorded with New York based Riverside Records. O Influenced by Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie. O In 1962 they hear Dr. King’s sermon in Montgomery, AL.

Gospel to Pop O In 1968, The Staple Singers sign a contract with Memphis-based Stax Records. O 1970, Pervis leaves the group and Yvonne replaces him. O Move to Curtom Label in 1974 and finally, Warner Bros. until 1980.

Two Number One Singles O Their songs reached the Top 40 eight times from 1971 to O They had two #1 hits: “I’ll Take You There” and “Let’s Do It Again.”

Mavis Staples O Mavis and Pops go on to make solo albums. O They both win Grammy’s for their solo albums. O Mavis received honorary doctorates.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken? Cleotha Pops

The Staple Singers Receive Grammy Lifetime Achievement 2005