Publication: The Toronto Star [US]
Date: July 20, 1995
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Title: "The Gospel According To Mavis Staples"
Written By: Lenny Stoute

"He really is a God-fearing child. The Bible is his favorite book. But I tell you, the first time I saw that child's show, 'Oh my,’ I'm thinking, this boy is nasty."

That's Mavis Staples on the wire from L.A., and the subject is her newest collaborator, Prince.

Mavis arrives with her kin, the Chicago-based Staple Singers, at Harbourfront tonight as part of the Molson Dry Soul 'n' Blues festival, a week-end-long affair which includes JackSoul, Beau Jocque & The Zydeco Hi-Rollers, Michael Hill's Blues Mob, Molly Johnson and others.

Mavis is looking forward to an evening of high-calibre gospel, but she's also pumped about her latest solo album, The Voice (italics).

Back in '88, Prince flipped over Mavis' pipes and initiated what was to prove fruitful contact. The Voice (it.) is the latest fruit and the little guy's all over it, as writer, producer, arranger and player.

But he didn't strike Mavis as a natural collaborator at first, and family patriarch Pops made her do it.

"First thing I knew was I went over to Pops' house one day and he said, 'Prince is looking for you?' I said, 'Which prince? I don't know no prince.' Pops said, 'No, I'm talking about the little guy, wears all the purple.'

"I'd heard some of his music so I still didn't know what he would want with me. Pops talked to his manager, saying like, 'You know, Mavis is a gospel singer and she ain't going to be comfortable with what this boy does.'

"But the manager assured Pops Prince was well aware of Mavis' talents and special needs and would write a number of adult-oriented songs for her that wouldn't compromise her standards in any way."

The pair had a first meeting backstage at the L.A. Forum after a Staples Singers gig. The experience moved Mavis to accept Prince's offer to join his label.

"I was impressed that he'd flown out here to see me. I figured he meant business and I thought we would get acquainted and talk about working.

"Now I knew about all the girls screaming for him and everything, but as far as I was concerned, I didn't have anything to do with that. So the he walks in his white suit, big brown eyes smiling, carrying a Lucite cane and my heart is racing and I'm feeling like one of those schoolgirls.

"But after the introductions, the boy is so shy he just hangs in the background. I go over and all I can get out of him is one and two word answers, and he's looking at his shoes. I'd ask him about the studio setup, and he'd say, 'You'll see.' So I'm thinking how am I going to communicate with the child when he won't talk to me?" As the relationship unfolded, Prince was revealed as more of a spiritual voyager than Mavis anticipated. Also, he was well versed in gospel music.

"It wasn't that he knew the music and respected the artists, he had a love for it, he had it in his soul. It's very strange that he came to me at a time in my life when I was in a deep valley. He came along and lifted me up.

"One of the marks of modern gospel is that the singers don't sing the name of the Lord Jesus anymore. It's always 'He' and 'Him'. I don't like that; I myself love to sing the name Jesus. I lvoe the sound of it. I can't understand gospel singers who are shy about praising up the name Jesus.

"We talked about that one time, just in passing, and then one day Prince sends me this beautiful tune, 'A Man Called Jesus'. It's one of my favourite things on the album."

It isn't only Mavis who's getting her due. She reminds us The Staples Singers is a much copied group. Among the acts they've busted scooping their songs are James Brown and, more recently, The Rolling Stones.

"Can you believe it? All these years we didn't know that The Rolling Stones had put their name to 'The Last Time'.

"But Pops is on the case; He's been in touch with Jagger and last time we were in London, Mick's brother Chris, looks just like him, came around and assured Pops they would do right.

"James, bless his heart, he put his name to a tune by Pops called 'Why Am I Treated So Bad.' I was there when Pops went up to him and said 'Why are you doing me like this, James?'

"And James, he gave Pops that big smile, then he said 'Pops, I'm real sorry but I don't know how this thing happened. And he set it right.'

"But I don't have to tell you The Staples Singers aren't in it for the money. It's our calling, it's how we serve and nowadays, there aren't that many gospel groups touring. Makes is all the more important that we're out there doing it.