Roebuck "Pops" Staples was born in Winona, Mississippi in 1914. The first music he remembers was acapella singing in church. It was traditional gospel. By the time he was 12 or 13 he had heard the blues and also picked up the guitar.

Pops worked very hard at regular jobs before starting his own group after WWII. The original group was made up of his son Pervis and daughters Mavis and Cleotha. They began singing at home and then in church. After Mavis, his youngest daughter, graduated from high school, he quit working and the group went on the road.

For a number of years they performed on gospel caravans. It was in the late '40's when they first recorded their music. They became the first family of gospel. The 1960's found them singing songs and following the civil rights movement.

The Staple's music has been criticized as being too worldly, but in each song there is a message. Pops' guitar licks are famous throughout all of popular music. In the Blues and Rock world, his distinct sound is well known. In March 1999 Pops along his children were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. During the induction ceremony Pops' famous guitar licks were still a dominate sound behind the music. The Staples performed a medley of their songs to a packed house of well wishers.

Pops told the audience how happy he was to have lived to recieve such wonderful regcognition. Daughter, Mavis still at his side only added to the excitement of the group's performance.