DECEMBER 2013: Rosebud Artists Score 8+ Grammy Nominations!
..Mavis Staples' One True Vine scored nominations for Best Americana Album. ..
And Wilco's Jeff Tweedy was nominated for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, including his production on Mavis Staples' One True Vine CD. Mavis is also featured, along with The Staple Singers (Rosebud clients in their later years) on the Muscle Shoals soundtrack for their hit, "I'll Take You There" - nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media.
NOVEMBER 2013: James Cotton And Mavis Staples Nominated For Canada's Maple Blues Awards
James Cotton and Mavis Staples are both nominated for the 17th Annual Maple Blues Awards. The Maple Blues Awards is Canada’s national blues awards event whose goal is to promote blues music across Canada, and to recognize outstanding achievement in the field. James and Mavis are both nominated in the B.B. King International Artist of the Year category. This is Mavis' fourth nomination for a Maple Blues Award, having been nominated most recently in 2010. Voting for the Maple Blues Awards is now open to the public until midnight Pacific Standard Time on December 7, 2013. The 17th Annual Maple Blues Awards ceremony will be held at Koerner Hall at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Ontario on Monday, January 20th, 2014.
AUGUST 2013: Bill Frisell With Earl Klugh And Mavis Staples With Willie Nelson On New Releases, Plus Rave Reviews For Mavis' And Bill's Latest Albums
Earl Klugh - HandPicked
A making-of video for the album, which features interviews with Klugh as well as sound clips from HandPicked
Bill Frisell is featured on jazz guitar icon Earl Klugh's latest album, HandPicked, released July 30, 2013. On the album, Frisell and Klugh perform a duet version of the classic, "Blue Moon". The album also features ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill performing duets with Klugh. Klugh said of his partnership with Frisell, "He's such an eclectic player... after about thirty or forty seconds in, it really caught on and ended up being a great piece. That's exactly what I wanted from him.". The track featuring Bill Frisell can be streamed from EarlKlugh.com.
Mavis Staples is featured on country singer-songwriter legend Willie Nelson's upcoming album, To All The Girls, out September 24, 2013. In addition to Mavis, the record features an all-star cast of female collaborators including Dolly Parton, Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Alison Krauss, Carrie Underwood and Emmylou Harris. Mavis' duet with Willie, "Grandma's Hands", exclusively premiered on A.V. Club on August 6, 2013 and was pegged by A.V. Club as "one of the album's best tracks".
Mavis' and Frisell's own releases from June 2013 have both garnered impressive reviews from key news outlets. Rolling Stone proclaimed about Mavis' Jeff Tweedy-produced (Wilco) album, "One True Vine shows there isn't much the ex-Staple Singer can't make gorgeous and lived-in". The New York Times' Nate Chinen described Frisell on his new album, Big Sur, as "...the forefront of a hybrid you might call jazz Americana... his gorgeously evocative new album, fits squarely into this portfolio, with a welcome twist."
JULY 2013: The Blind Boys of Alabama, Allen Toussaint and Mavis Staples Among Artists Chosen For NPR's The Mix: Songs Inspired By The Civil Rights Movement
The Blind Boys of Alabama, Allen Toussaint, Mavis Staples and John Lee Hooker (a Rosebud artist until his passing) all have songs featured on NPR's The Mix: Songs Inspired By The Civil Rights Movement, a special program commemorating 50 years since the national peak of the civil rights movement. NPR have selected 100 songs that either provided the musical backdrop to the protests and marches back in the Sixties or songs that drew direct inspiration from those pivotal years in the movement's history. NPR's mix of music from the height of the civil rights period through the five decades following, is available to stream online now. For the full playlist and to listen to the program, please visit NPR The Mix: Songs Inspired By The Civil Rights Movement.
The Blind Boys of Alabama appear on the NPR special with their version of the traditional song "Free At Last". They can also be heard on the songs "This May Be the Last Time" with Anthony Hamilton and on "We Shall Overcome" again with Anthony Hamilton plus Joss Stone, Mary Mary and John Legend - the latter song having been recorded for the soundtrack to the 2009 civil rights documentary film, Revolution (written and directed by Dan Sturman and, two-time Oscar winning documentary and feature film writer-producer-director, Bill Guttentag). The program's playlist also includes a version of Allen Toussaint's songs "Yes We Can Can" performed by The Pointer Sisters and "Hercules" performed by Aaron Neville. The song "The Motor City Is Burning" as recorded by John Lee Hooker. Mavis Staples sings "Down in Mississippi", "Eyes on the Prize" and the iconic protest anthem "We Shall Not Be Moved". Mavis also appears alongside her father, Pop Staples, and her sisters as The Staples Singers on four tracks. One of the four is the Staples Singers' classic "I'll Take You There". The group was a familiar sight during the peak of the movement given their rallying songs and close friendship with the Movement's voice, Martin Luther King, Jr.
In related news, both The Blind Boys of Alabama and Allen Toussaint have new releases due out this Fall. The Blind Boys of Alabama's new CD, I'll Find A Way, was produced by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and will feature other very special guests. It is set to be released on October 1st. Allen Toussaint's new CD and DVD, Songbook, which was recorded live over two nights at New York's Joe's Pub, is set for release on September 24 on Rounder Records. Mavis Staples released her latest CD One True Vine in June. One True Vine is the follow up to Mavis' 2010 Grammy winning CD, You Are Not Alone. The new CD has already garnered rave reviews worldwide and hit the Top 100 of Billboard's Pop charts in its first week of release.
JULY 2013: Mavis Staples' One True Vine Debuts In Top 100 On The Billboard 200 Chart, And Mavis Featured On NPR's Talk Of The Nation
Mavis Staples' new album, One True Vine, debuted in the top 100 on the Billboard 200 top selling albums chart (for sales during the first week of its release). Produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and released June 25, 2013, the album has garnered rave reviews from key news outlets in the U.S. and internationally. Rolling Stone proclaimed, "One True Vine shows there isn't much the ex-Staple Singer can't make gorgeous and lived-in", and The Independent UK stated, "...Staples reprises the collaboration with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy that created 2010's hugely successful You Are Not Alone, with even more spectacular results." The Wall Street Journal said in its interview feature with Mavis, "Ms. Staples is moving with a confident stride. Through her continuing collaboration with producer Jeff Tweedy, ...she has found a fresh audience and a fresh sound".
Mavis was recently featured on NPR's flagship show, Talk of the Nation, on June 26, 2013. On the program, Mavis was interviewed about the things she learned from her reunion in the studio with Jeff Tweedy, how her new release reminds her of singing with her family, as well as the great influence of her father, Pops Staples, whose song "I Like The Things About Me" Mavis revisits on One True Vine. She also goes on to talk about her hopes to possibly make a country album, as well as a tribute to Bob Dylan.
JUNE 2013: Mavis Staples To Appear On Conan, June 25, On TBS Network
Mavis Staples was featured on Conan O'Brien's show, Conan, on the TBS network Tuesday, June 25, the same day her new CD, One True Vine, was released. Mavis joined actress Heather Locklear and comedian Nick Swardson as guests on the show. This appearance on Conan marks her second appearance on the show as well as her second TV appearance this month following her interview and performance on The Daily Show on June 12.
One True Vine follows Mavis' 2011 Grammy winning album, You Are Not Alone, and sees her reunited once more with producer Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco). Paste Magazine's cover story feature (June 18, 2013) proclaimed about the album, "Staples' throaty bellow is tightly restrained throughout, filled with heartfelt nuance; she inhabits every last note as if she'd sculpted it herself, and her talent seems to have only grown stronger, more majestic and deep, over the years." The Guardian (UK) stated, "One True Vine sees Staples stripping back her sound to the basics... letting that wondrous voice stand out. … We think it's great." The full CD premiered on NPR, and both NPR and The Guardian are currently streaming the full CD as of this writing. The CD's first official music video for the single "I Like The Things About Me" premiered exclusively on Entertainment Weekly.
JUNE 2013: Mavis Staples Featured On The Daily Show June 12, And Entertainment Weekly Debuts Her New Music Video With Producer, Jeff Tweedy Of Wilco
Mavis Staples was featured on The Daily Show on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. On the episode, Mavis performed in support of her upcoming CD, One True Vine, produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy and set for release June 25, 2013. This marks Mavis' fourth appearance on Comedy Central, having been featured twice as a guest on the Colbert Report as well as at Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in 2010. The episode also marks a unique occasion as Mavis was one of the first guests of lead Daily Show correspondent, John Oliver, who is taking over hosting duties for Jon Stewart during his hiatus to direct his first movie. For further program information, please visit thedailyshow.com.
In other news, Mavis' new music video "I Like the Things About Me" from One True Vine premiered exclusively on Entertainment Weekly on June 5, 2013. The video, shot during the upcoming album's recording sessions in Chicago, includes rare behind-the-scenes footage and photos focusing on the relationship between Mavis and Tweedy. It also introduces Tweedy's seventeen-year-old son, Spencer, playing on drums. Entertainment Weekly declared that "the song itself is a great jam... Staples and the Tweedys affirm themselves in the 'I Like the Things About Me' video." The track, which was originally recorded by The Staples Singers, is the second taster from the forthcoming CD. Its first single "Can You Get To That" premiered back in April and can be purchased as a digital download at amazon.com and iTunes store.
Marcia Ball and Charlie Musselwhite were each nominated for awards for Blues Artist of the Year and Most Outstanding Musician (for their respective instruments). Marcia has won both of these categories three times since 2009 with additional wins for Most Outstanding Musician in 2007 and 2008, and Charlie has won the Most Outstanding Musician category a total of nine times.
Also nominated for Most Outstanding Musician this year were Jon Cleary, Duke Robillard, and James Cotton for keyboard, guitar, and harmonica, respectively, while Mavis Staples was nominated for Most Outstanding Blues Singer.
Ruthie Foster scored two nominations for Blues Artist of the Year (her third year in a row) and for Best Blues Album of 2012 for her 2013 Grammy-nominated album, Let It Burn. Bettye LaVette garnered a nomination in the Best Blues Book of 2012 category for her tell-all, unapologetic biography with David Ritz, A Woman Like Me.
Elvin Bishop was nominated for Best Blues DVD of 2012 for That's My Thing, and Muddy Waters, a Rosebud artist until his passing, was nominated in the same category for his collaboration with The Rolling Stones, Live at the Checkerboard Lounge 1981. Live at the Checkerboard Lounge 1981 also features Stones drummer Charlie Watts who Rosebud represents for his rare jazz performances.
Voting is now open to the public until July 15, 2013. Please vote at livingblues.com.
APRIL 2013: Mavis Staples Reunites With Wilco's Jeff Tweedy For Her New Album, One True Vine, Out June 25, 2013
Mavis Staples has teamed up again with producer Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) for their second full-length record, One True Vine, out June 25, 2013 via Anti- Records. The album follows their Grammy-winning collaboration in 2010, You Are Not Alone. Recorded in Tweedy's renowned Chicago home studio, The Loft, the album features Tweedy playing on nearly every instrument except drums, which were played by his seventeen-year-old son. The album's single, a cover of "Can You Get To That" from the Funkadelic classic, Maggot Brain, premiered on Pitchfork. The album also features tracks written specifically for Mavis by Tweedy and Nick Lowe.
Mavis has been described by Rolling Stone as having "an almost superhuman ability to implant the pure power of passion and emotion." She just returned from a series of dates in Australia with Bonnie Raitt and dates in New Zealand with Wilco directly prior to her appearance at the White House for the filming of a PBS All-Star show dedicated to Memphis Soul on April 9. Mavis will be touring internationally in support of One True Vine.
APRIL 2013: Mavis Staples And Charlie Musselwhite To Perform At White House All-Star Celebration Of Memphis Soul
Mavis Staples and Charlie Musselwhite performed at The White House for the special music event, "In Performance at the White House: Memphis Soul". This performance celebrates "the timeless classics of Memphis Soul," honoring the "memorable soul sounds from the mid- to late-1960s that came from Memphis, Tennessee and legendary labels like Stax-Volt Records." The all-star event includes performances by Alabama Shakes, William Bell, Steve Cropper, Ben Harper, Queen Latifah, Cyndi Lauper, Joshua Ledet, Sam Moore and Justin Timberlake, with Booker T. Jones as music director and band leader. The event was taped on April 9 for a sixty-minute PBS special to be broadcast nationwide starting on Tuesday, April 16 at 8pm EST (check local listings). This is the tenth "In Performance at the White House" that The President and First Lady have hosted to date.
Mavis and Charlie have also been invited, along with a few of the other performers, to participate in the First Lady's student workshop earlier in the day on April 9. The First Lady will host this interactive workshop for middle and high school students from across the country. At this workshop, Mavis and Charlie will have the opportunity to share their experiences in music as well as answer questions from the students. The workshop, "Soulsville, USA: The History of Memphis Soul", begins at 11:00am and will also be streamed live on whitehouse.gov/live.
Mavis Staples will release her new record in June. The new CD sees Mavis working once again with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, following up their previous collaboration on her GRAMMY winning album, You Are Not Alone. Stay tuned for more information about the new CD.
Working with Stax Records today, Charlie Musselwhite recently collaborated on the critically and commercially acclaimed Get Up! with Ben Harper via the legendary label. No Depression declared the CD as, "the first great album of 2013." The pair have just returned from playing shows in Australia and will continue to perform together on select dates in the US and Europe throughout the summer.
Catch Mavis Staples and Charlie Musselwhite perform live, see Tour Dates >>
FEBRUARY 2013: GRAMMY / MusiCares News: Mavis Staples, Charlie Musselwhite And More
Mavis Staples was featured at MusiCares' star-studded tribute honoring Bruce Springsteen as the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year on February 8, 2013. At the event, Mavis joined 2013 GRAMMY Award Winner Zac Brown to perform Springsteen's "My City Of Ruins". Hosted by Jon Stewart, the event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Mavis also performed during the televised GRAMMY Awards Ceremony on February 10, 2013 during a tribute to the late Levon Helm. She collaborated on stage with Elton John, Mumford & Sons, T Bone Burnett, Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes), and Zac Brown for a performance of The Band's "The Weight".
Charlie Musselwite was also featured at the MusiCares Person of the Year ceremony in a performance with Ben Harper and Natalie Maines (of Dixie Chicks). During his acceptance speech, Springsteen noted that he had opened for Charlie some forty years ago in San Francisco. Also featured at the event performing classic Springsteen songs were Neil Young, Patti Smith, Sting, Elton John, Tim McGraw, Eddie Vedder, Tom Morello, Alabama Shakes, Jackson Browne, Kenny Chesney, Emmylou Harris, Faith Hill, John Legend, and Mumford & Sons. Please see the set list at billboard.com.
2013 GRAMMY Nominated Ruthie Foster was also interviewed on the official pre-telecast live stream of the 2013 GRAMMY Awards. To check out video clips from the 2013 GRAMMY Awards and this year's pre-telecast ceremony, please visit grammy.com/live.
In other GRAMMY news, Bonnie Raitt's Slipstream featuring Bill Frisell and a composition by Joe Henry and Rosebud artist Loudon Wainwright III won the GRAMMY for Best Americana Album. Additionally, Zac Brown Band's Uncaged (featuring Trombone Shorty on "Overnight) won Best Country Album. Congrats to all of this year's GRAMMY winners and nominees!
To Catch Mavis Staples, Charlie Musselwhite, Ruthie Foster, Loudon Wainwright III, Bill Frisell and Trombone Shorty Live, See Tour Dates >>
FEBRUARY 2013: Mavis Staples To Perform At The 2013 GRAMMY Awards Ceremony, "Love For Levon" Concert Broadcast And Video Release
Mavis Staples will perform at the 2013 GRAMMY Awards Ceremony on Sunday, February 10, 2013. Mavis will join Elton John, Mumford & Sons, T Bone Burnett, Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes) and Zac Brown on stage in a tribute to the late Levon Helm. The all star cast of musicians will perform one of Helm and The Band's most popular songs, "The Weight". Mavis had been working with Levon just prior to his passing. Their most famous collaboration was The Staple Singers' performance at the Band's legendary performance / film, The Last Waltz. Other artists slated to perform at the GRAMMY Awards include Justin Timberlake, Jack White, the Black Keys, Sting, Bruno Mars and Rihanna. The ceremony is scheduled to air live on CBS at 7:00pm CT.
In related news, a DVD of the October 3, 2012 tribute concert for Helm, Love For Levon, will be released on March 19, 2013. The concert features performances from Mavis along with a star studded group of artists including Garth Hudson, Gregg Allman, John Mayer, Grace Potter, Bruce Hornsby, Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, Jakob Dylan, Allen Toussaintand Dierks Bentley. The concert will also air February 14, 2013 on AXS-TV (formerly HDNet) and will be broadcast on PBS during its spring pledge drive.
JANUARY 2013: Mavis Staples To Perform At Grammy MusiCares Bruce Springsteen Tribute
Mavis Staples will perform on February 8th at the star-studded tribute for Bruce Springsteen, who is being honored as the 2013 MusiCares Person of the Year for his "exceptional artistic achievements and philanthropic work." The sold-out Grammy Awards Gala concert will be held in Los Angeles two days before the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards Ceremony. Past honorees of the MusiCares Person of the Year include Tony Bennett, Bono, Neil Diamond, Gloria Estefan, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Paul McCartney, Luciano Pavarotti, Bonnie Raitt, Paul Simon, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, and Neil Young.
Mavis will be featured along with Alabama Shakes, Jackson Browne, Kenny Chesney, Ben Harper, Emmylou Harris, Faith Hill, Jim James, Elton John, Juanes, John Legend, Natalie Maines, Tim McGraw, Tom Morello, Mumford & Sons, Patti Smith, Sting, Eddie Vedder and Neil Young, with additional performers to be announced shortly. The event, whose mission is to ensure that "music people have a place to turn [to] in times of financial, medical and personal need", will be hosted by Jon Stewart.
This prestigious GRAMMY event follows Mavis' recent appearance on Stephen Colbert's The Colbert Report where she was featured as a special Christmas guest alongside Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco) and Sean Lennon. Mavis is also set to release a new studio album later this year, a follow up to her GRAMMY winning CD You Are Not Alone.
