21/04/2021
Remembering Cleotha 'Cleedi' Staples on the day of her birth, singer and founding member of the 1970s music ensemble The Staples Singers. As their act became more polished they found themselves singing in church choirs and appearing on radio programs throughout the Midwestern part of the United States. They were rewarded with a contract from the Chicago-based Vee Jay label and yielded the early hits "This Could Be The Last Time" (1955) and "Uncloudy" (1959). During the 1970s, the Staples Singers secured their place in music history with the commercial hits "Respect Yourself" (1971), which earned platinum status, "I'll take You There" (1972, topping the Pop-Charts), "If You're Ready (Come With Me)" (1973, receiving gold status) and the Curtis Mayfield penned "Let's Do It Again" (1975, achieving a number one placing on the Pop-Charts) from the film of the same title which starred Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. The Staples Singers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. R.I.P.
