or


[02/08/16 - 10:13 AM]
"Mavis!," The First Feature Documentary About Legendary Soul and Gospel Singer Mavis Staples, Debuts Feb. 29, Exclusively on HBO
Jessica Edwards directs the first feature documentary about this enduring performer.

[via press release from HBO]

"MAVIS!," THE FIRST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY ABOUT LEGENDARY SOUL AND GOSPEL SINGER MAVIS STAPLES, DEBUTS FEB. 29, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Over a 60-year career spanning diverse musical genres and profound social change, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and 2016 Grammy nominee Mavis Staples has helped shape the soundtrack of the '60s, '70s and beyond. Celebrating the extraordinary gospel and soul music legend and civil rights icon, who rose to fame as lead singer of the legendary family group The Staple Singers, MAVIS! debuts MONDAY FEB. 29 (9:00-10:25 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Jessica Edwards directs the first feature documentary about this enduring performer.

Other HBO playdates: Feb. 29 (4:35 a.m.) and March 1 (5:30 p.m.), 2 (12:15 p.m.), 4 (9:00 a.m.) and 12 (3:40 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: March 9 (10:00 p.m.), 13 (1:45 p.m.) and 29 (12:50 p.m., 11:30 p.m.)

The documentary will also be available on HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand.

In conjunction with the film's HBO debut, her new album, "Livin' on a High Note," will be released by ANTI- on Feb. 19.

Highlighted by dynamic live performances, recent behind-the-scenes video, rare archival footage and recordings, and conversations with friends and collaborators, among them Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Tweedy, Levon Helm, Chuck D, Al Bell, Julian Bond and Sharon Jones, MAVIS! explores the struggles and triumphs of this remarkable artist's ongoing journey.

Mavis Staples got her start in music singing with her family, including sisters Cleotha and Yvonne, brother Pervis, and their father, "Pops," at a Chicago church. Featuring Mavis' raw and powerful lead vocals, Pops' smooth baritone and distinctive tremolo-drenched guitar, and sublime four-part harmonies, the group drew notice in local gospel-music circles. By the mid-'50s they'd signed to Vee-Jay Records, subsequently recording "Uncloudy Day," the first gospel song to sell a million copies, while forging a novel, visionary sound that fused two musical genres: blues and gospel.

As the civil rights movement gained momentum in the '60s, the Staple Singers became a mainstay at rallies led by Dr. Martin Luther King, whose favorite song was the group's "Why? (Am I Treated So Bad)." They attracted the attention of musicians like Bob Dylan, who bonded with the group at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival and was admittedly enamored of its young lead singer. Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" ("How many roads must a man walk down/Before you call him a man?") struck a chord with Pops, who decided to record it with the Staple Singers, marking the first time a group outside the folk scene covered a Dylan song.

From the Delta-inflected gospel sound she and her father helped pioneer in the '50s, to the message songs of the civil rights era, to the Staple Singers' rise to mainstream stardom via secular hits like "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yourself," to her recent Grammy(R)-winning renaissance with help from Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Mavis' history is equal parts music and activism. Today, the captivating 76-year-old singer's message of peace and social justice resonates as strongly with audiences as it did when she was a precocious teenager. MAVIS! is the portrait of an electric personality deserving of the exclamation point in its title.

HBO Documentary Films presents MAVIS!; directed and produced by Jessica Edwards; executive produced by Gary Hustwit; produced by Rachel Mills; cinematographer, Keith Walker; editor, Amy Foote; associate editor, Maya Tippett. For HBO: senior producer, Sara Bernstein; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.





  [february 2016]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[11/22/24 - 01:31 PM]
Video: "Suits LA" Arrives February 2025 - NBC
The all-new spinoff of the beloved legal drama, starring Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and Bryan Greenberg, lands on the West Coast.

[11/22/24 - 12:11 PM]
Video: Peacock Releases First Look at the Third Season of Emmy Award-Winning Reality Competition Series "The Traitors" Returning January 9 with Alan Cumming as Host
Last season, "The Traitors" became the #1 unscripted series in the U.S. across all streaming platforms during launch week, according to Nielsen.

[11/22/24 - 10:15 AM]
Apple's Drama "Your Friends & Neighbors" Lands Early Season Two Renewal
Starring and executive produced by Emmy Award winner Jon Hamm, "Your Friends & Neighbors" will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Friday, April 11 with two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly through Friday, May 30.

[11/22/24 - 09:01 AM]
Apple Original Films' "Fly Me to the Moon" to Premiere December 6, 2024
Since its debut in theaters worldwide, the film has received the Verified Hot certification on Rotten Tomatoes by fans.

[11/22/24 - 08:03 AM]
Peacock Exclusively Streams Blumhouse's "Speak No Evil" Beginning December 6
The psychological horror thriller stars James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, Scoot McNairy, and more!

[11/22/24 - 07:35 AM]
2024 "Emirates NBA Cup" Championship Game Exclusively on ABC and ESPN+ December 17
In addition, ESPN platforms will exclusively present a semifinal game and a quarterfinal game as part of its 2024 Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Round coverage.

[11/22/24 - 07:12 AM]
Peacock and Sky's Original Hit Drama Series "The Day of the Jackal" Scores Second Season Renewal
In the US it ranked #1 on Peacock's Top 10 TV Shows on its platform and was a Top 5 streaming original in the US for its opening weekend (according to preliminary Nielsen data).

[11/22/24 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "Chef's Table" Volume 7 - Official Teaser - Netflix
Meet five world-class chefs who redefine culinary boundaries with delicious, innovative dishes honoring their diverse cultures and personal philosophies.

[11/22/24 - 05:41 AM]
"They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce" Set for January 2025 on ESPN
Airing on Friday nights/early Saturday mornings, the new personality-driven, one-hour program will take its inspiration from traditional late-night television, emphasizing a comedic approach throughout all five scheduled episodes which run in conjunction with the finale of the NFL regular season and playoffs.

[11/22/24 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Ad Vitam" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After escaping an attempted murder, Franck Lazarev (Guillaume Canet) must find his wife Léo, who has been kidnapped by a mysterious group of armed men.

[11/21/24 - 04:01 PM]
"Rugged Rugby: Conquer or Die" Premieres December 10: A Battle for Supremacy Begins
In the shadows of Korea's rugby world, seven teams engage in a fierce battle of strength, strategy, and teamwork - all vying to be crowned champion.

[11/21/24 - 04:00 PM]
ABC Presents a Two-Night Special Event To Commemorate the Diamond Anniversary of "Mary Poppins"
First, "The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20," a two-hour special from ABC News Studios chock full of rarely seen footage, photos and stories from the film's living legends, airs Wednesday, November 27 on ABC and streams next day on Hulu and Disney+.

[11/21/24 - 01:32 PM]
2024 International Emmy Nominees on Hulu
Check out these Emmy-worthy international series streaming on Hulu.

[11/21/24 - 01:12 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Semifinals Is Top Program of the Night in Adults 18-49 and All Key Women Demographics
The spectacular season 33 penultimate episode grew over the previous week's 500th episode celebration in both Total Viewers (5.19 million vs. 5.13 million) and Adults 18-49 (0.75 rating vs. 0.71 rating), hitting a season high in Total Viewers.

[11/21/24 - 01:05 PM]
NBC Orders Five Additional Episodes of Its Friday Night Comedy Hit "Happy's Place"
The "Happy's Place" premiere has hit 14 million viewers across all platforms.