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Star singer of iconic 70's music band dies aged 80 at her home in Chicago

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By Justo Alvarez
Apr 12, 2018
02:50 A.M.

It is really nice to remember the members of the most iconic music bands and collaborations in history, and this one is really important.

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One of the bands considered iconic would obviously be the Staple Singers, a hit-making pop and soul group founded by family members.

According to The New York Times, Yvonne Staples, who provided background vocals for the Staple Singers, died on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at her home in Chicago at the age of 80.

Ms. Staples was born in Chicago on October 23, 1937, to Oceola and Roebuck Staples, who was commonly known as "Pops."

The same outlet revealed that Bill Carpenter, a close family friend, stated that the cause of death was a complicated colon cancer.

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Ms. Staples started singing with her family’s group in 1971 and ended performing on some of their biggest hits, including “Respect Yourself” and “I’ll Take You There.”

Mr. Carpenter, author of Uncloudy Day: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia stated that she was happy with the role she had in the group.

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“She had no desire to be a front singer, even though people in the family told her she had a great voice," he revealed.

Her father founded the Staple Singers with his children Pervis, Mavis, and Cleotha in 1948, and Yvonne Staples joined the group in 1971 right after Pervis left for military service.

And while the group's music blended gospel, soul, and pop, they enjoyed success when they manage to compose several hit songs in the 1970s.

“Respect Yourself” reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts in 1971, “I’ll Take You There reached No. 1 in 1972, and “Let’s Do It Again” was a No. 1 hit in 1975. Those were some really good numbers.

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