Mavis staples

Pops always taught us that family is the strongest unit in the world. If you stick with your family, nobody can break you, nobody can harm you. You'll always have your family.

We've had a great change. Dr King saw to that. I was so grateful to see the 'colored only' signs come off the water fountains and bathrooms in the south. But the struggle lives on.

Whenever somebody tells me they want me to stop singing, I'm gone.

Music is such a joy, just an absolute joy.

There are songs that I have to play!

I'm just singing what I feel in my heart.

I have fun just about everywhere I go.

It's been an amazing life. It's really just been the most magical thing for me - and I have these musical friends from all walks of life.

I get my voice from my mother's side of the family. My mother and my grandmother both had strong voices.

If you don't get out among the people, how are you going to know what they need to hear about?