Chris Stapleton, The War And Treaty & More To Celebrate Mavis Staples In April

/by

A lineup of talent is set to celebrate music star Mavis Staples with performances during “Mavis Staples 85th: All-Star Birthday Concert.” Presented by Blackbird Presents and Live Nation, the tribute is set for April 18 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.

Those performing include Chris Stapleton, The War And Treaty, Black Pumas, Grace Potter, Hozier, Jackson Browne, Jeff Tweedy, Michael McDonald, Nathaniel Rateliff, Norah Jones, Robert Randolph, Taj Mahal, Keb’ Mo’ and more.

Staples is both a Blues and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer as well as a civil rights icon and three-time Grammy winner. The Kennedy Center honoree has also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and National Arts Lifetime Achievement Award. Considered a soul, gospel and R&B pioneer, Staples was No. 46 on Rolling Stone’s 200 Greatest Singers of All Time list. She marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and for former U.S. President Barack Obama.

Over the past few decades, Staples collaborated with Prince, Bob Dylan, Arcade Fire and Bon Iver, among others.

“At the end of last year, I was talking about retiring,” she says. “But after sitting with it for a while, I stopped myself and thought, ‘Well, what would I do?’ I asked the Lord, ‘Why am I still here? What do you want of me? Have you kept me around for a reason?’ And the only reason I could see is to sing my songs. That’s why I’m still here, and I’m looking forward to this show with my friends singing my songs too!”

“Producing this show is the honor of my life, as we all come together to celebrate a woman whom has given so much to so many over the years through her actions, her music and her magic,” says Keith Wortman, Blackbird Presents CEO & Chief Creative Officer.

Tickets for the celebration will be available this Friday (Feb. 16). For more information, click here.

Lorie Hollabaugh
Latest posts by Lorie Hollabaugh (see all)