We’ve somehow managed to survive through July so far, eh? Well, July is a busy month in music history.
- One of the most important figures of the blues, Chicago blues especially, Willie Dixonwas born 110 years ago on July 1
- James Cotton was born 90 years ago on July 1
- Syl Johnson was born 89 years ago on July 1
- The B-52s Fred Schneider celebrated his 74th birthday on July 1
- The iconic Debbie Harry celebrated her 80th birthday today on July 1
- Evelyn “Champagne” King celebrated her 65th birthday on July 1
- Depeche Mode‘s Yaz’s/Yazoo’s and Erasure‘s Vince Clarke celebrated his 64th birthday on July 3
- Dr. Lonnie Smith was born 83 years ago on July 3
- Bill Withers was born 87 years ago on July 4
- Huey Lewis and The News‘ frontman Huey Lewis celebrated his 75th birthday on July 5
- Acclaimed, Wu-Tang mastermind and producer The RZA celebrated his 56th birthday on July 5
- 50 Cent celebrated his 50th birthday on July 6
- The Beatles‘ Ringo Starr celebrated his 85th birthday on July 7
- Depeche Mode co-founder Andy “Fletch” Fletcher was born 64 years ago on July 8
- AC/DC‘s first frontman, Bon Scott was born 79 years ago on July 9
- Simple Minds‘ founder and frontman Jim Kerr celebrated his 66th birthday on July 9
- Pet Shop Boys‘ frontman Neil Tennant celebrates his 71st birthday today
The legendary and incomparable Mavis Staples celebrates her 86th birthday today.
Going into a deep dive into her career as a member of The Staple Singers and and a solo artist will be a bit gratuitous — but throughout her career, she has received commercial and critical success, as well as a proverbial boatload of accolades. Stapes has received eight Grammy Awards nominations with The Staple Singers, winning one — a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2004. She also received a Grammy nod for a collaboration with longtime friend Bob Dylan.
As a solo artist, she’s been nominated for five Grammys, winning two — Best Americana Album for 2010’s You Are Not Alone and a Best American Roots Performance for 2015’s ”See That My Grave Is Kept Clean.”She also has been nominated for 11 Blues Music Awards, winning nine, including Album of the Year for 2004’s Have A Little Faith, which featured Song of the Year and album title track “Have A Little Faith.” She’s also won three Soul Blues Female Artist Awards — one in 2004 and back to back wins in 2017 and 2018. Staples was also inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Staple Singers in 1999, was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2016 and inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2017.
She’s a living legend, who deserves her flowers every single day — and all the goddamn time. Happy birthday, Miss Mavis Staples! May there be many, many more!
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