That gap twixt secular and sacred music? artificial and easily breached

[jazzboCR]

The Staple Singers and the Holmes Brothers are pretty much it on the African-American side of town (Please prove me wrong, some Contributor). A strong, authentic family unit that has delighted both sacred and secular audiences * for 50+ years. Burnished their chops by backing Jerry Butler, The Impressions and John Lee Hooker (that's getting schooled up quickly). Their Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holmes_Brothers And a Discog: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-holme...iscography <<Whether it's Jesus or a woman, they testify to love and commitment...and get with it--you're expected to sway/ But don't get in the way.
Their Site: http://theholmesbrothers.com/main.html

Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUZ24ZFBiok << had to open with this...had to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9knSWR3chAI A multi-song, multi-genre Tiny Desk perf. One word: entrancing << you'll come back to this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlibWe0tEH0 << Johnny Cash did an excellent version also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPNhnIwT920 << Taking a secular song all the way to church
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16iwqgXptqA << they sure do cover the waterfront--here doing a Jimmy Reed classic

* Staying real here: these may be the same audience, in different circumstances, shall we say?

Here's a session--Joan Osborne w/ the Holmes Bros: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZF3hIg0gFg << obvious musical affection

[jazzboCR]

Despite their name being Staples, their group has no tailing "s", thus The Staple Singers--founder Roebuck "Pops" Staples' whimsy. They belong in "Alternative" also because they mix Gospel phrasing (called "testifying") into secular songs and use R&B elements in the sacred (although Mr. Staples refused to sing the Blues). Big splash in the '70's, petering out in the '80's, and later when Pops died in 2000, Mavis became major as a solo. Here's Wikis on the group and the 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Staple_Singers and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pops_Staples and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples' Site: http://mavisstaples.com/
Discogs--group, then Ms. Staples: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-stapl...iscography << Many excellent compilations available, either whole career or time at 1 label
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mavis-sta...iscography << her solo career started long before the group quit recording; that Stax compilation is outstanding but stops 20 years ago--she's done done tons of stuff since.

The Staple Singers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY3vgBzgYn4 << go ahead give yourself a hug at this promise of Heaven.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pYKdqD1ls << The "self" of Yourself starts with this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6blBC9Vo904 << Stax Records did very well by them and vice versa.
Some Gospel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf9ZzOzb7Hk and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmBNuNNnGHY

Mavis Staples Can't miss the huskiness in her voice...and is technically proficient too. She's worked on the side on some surprising projects but saves her best for solo.
BONUS: Her latest album put up entire * : http://www.allmusic.com/album/one-true-v...0002526498 << Look at her CD previous with Mr. Tweedy--they are both a marvelous surround for her talent. OH MY! Here's the AMG on this: http://www.allmusic.com/album/one-true-v...0002526498
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc3BqMl1NII << an enhanced duet for the ages...on just the right song. Mighty tempted to bookmark this'n...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzK8is_682k << Any Beatles fans here? Up for a 2-fer duet with James Taylor? In a showcase presentation? OH YES!
SEMI-BONUS: 1/4 hour snippet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luV3G_1wFpc << "search" for Tiny Desk Concerts here--be amazed at what you find.

* Big shout-out to her label, Antirecords, for putting this up themselves.

[SteveO]

I have always loved the Staples, both Mavis and the family group! I'll Take You There is a long time favourite of mine! Glad you posted the tribute to Macca with Mavis and James Taylor! Her rendition of Let It Be is a spine tingler! When a great singer sings a Beatle song one can easily appreciate the brilliance of the song even moreso!

[jazzboCR]

If it's not too tacky, I appreciate being appreciated. I put that Beatles duet medley just for you...and everybody else.

[SteveO]

Why thank you Jazzy!mile:

[Music Head]

hey come on
you guys get a room

[jazzboCR]

hey come on
you guys get a room

If we did it would be the "Make-Believe Ballroom" with Roomful of Blues, any group Keith Richards wants to put together and Dizzy Gillespie's United Nations Orchestra and hundreds of our closest friends...maybe even you, if you play your cards right. Back to you, Chet.