VH1 books Jennifer Hudson, Mavis Staples to honor the soul of ... Memphis?

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Jennifer Hudson performs in New York last month. | Mike Coppola~Getty Images

Updated: January 16, 2012 10:27AM

Jennifer Hudson and Mavis Staples have never met.

But as sure as there are mighty clouds in the sky, the spiritual sisters will introduce the gospel-driven sound of Chicago soul music to the “VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul” concert, which tapes Sunday at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City and airs on VH1 the next night. The show honors the soul music of Chicago and four other cities — Detroit, London, Memphis and Philadelphia — while expanding on the genre’s definition.

Other performers include Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Florence + the Machine, Jill Scott, Wanda Jackson and many others. They will be backed by the Roots with ?uestlove as musical director.

Hudson grew up near 70th and Yale in Englewood. Her grandmother sang at Pleasant Gift Missionary Baptist Church, 4526 S. Greenwood, where Hudson got her start at age 7.

Her grandmother used to sing “How Great Thou Art,” and as Hudson prepared for her Oscar-winning role in “Dreamgirls,” she kept a recording of Mahalia Jackson singing “How Great Thou Art” on her iPod.

When Grammy winner Staples was 11, she was in the Staple Singers as the group opened for Jackson at the 44th Street Baptist Church.

Staples learned about diction and demeanor. She noticed how Jackson did not wear jewelry onstage to distract from her message. To this day, Staples, avoids jewelry onstage, likely the only “Diva” in the VH1 special to do so.

On Sunday, Staples said, she’ll sing the 1972 Staple Singers hit “I’ll Take You There” with Chicagoan Chaka Khan and Erykah Badu. But it will be part of Memphis’ segment, not Chicago’s.

“Besides Thomas A. Dorsey and Sister Mahalia, Chicago has Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf,” Staples said earlier this week from her South Side home. “I didn’t like the fact they have me representing Memphis. Chicago is my home.”

Hudson and Jessie J. will sing the Eddie Floyd hit “Knock on Wood” as part of a Memphis medley, according to Lee Rolontz, executive vice president of original music production and development at VH1.

So, if Chicagoans Hudson, Khan and Staples are singing for Memphis, who is representing Chicago?

That would be Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings (from Brooklyn) and Ledisi (from New Orleans) covering the 1965 Fontella Bass hit “Rescue Me” from Chicago’s Checker Records. And Mary J. Blige will team up with Khan to cover the 1983 Rufus hit “Ain’t Nobody.”

“Just because you’re from the town, we didn’t make that a prerequisite,” Rolontz said. “We went back and forth with the artists. Florence is doing something from London. Jill Scott is doing something from Philly. Mavis was a big part of the Memphis Stax scene.”

The Staple Singers indeed had their greatest commercial success between 1971 and 1974 at Stax Records in Memphis. “The only big change for us at Stax was adding a rhythm section,” Staples said. “Before Stax we just sang with [her father] Pops’ guitar. Our voices were always the same. You can’t take away the Staples’ harmonies.”

Hudson added, “My grandmother’s harmony group used to sing Staple Singers music, which is where I was introduced to them. Actually, we’re distant relatives. One of the aunts in my grandmother’s group was married to one of Mavis’ relatives.”

Staples grew up in a brown-brick four-flat at 89th and Langley. Her mother, Oceola, and sister Yvonne would host an annual Fourth of July barbecue that drew everyone from Mahalia Jackson to Gene “The Duke of Earl” Chandler.

Staples believes the entrenched Chicago neighborhoods also define Chicago soul. “Lou Rawls and our family [her siblings Cleotha and Pervis] went to the same school [Dunbar Vocational High].” Hudson also attended Dunbar, while Mavis and Yvonne Staples went to Francis Parker.

Hudson, 30, added, “We went on a Dunbar field trip to see Lou Rawls at the Drury Lane Theatre. They made me get up and sing for him at the end of the concert. I was still a kid. I will never forget that experience.”

Rawls also was delivered from South Side churches. Hudson said gospel influenced not just soul music but “music, period. The majority of soul artists come from the church: Aretha Franklin, Mavis, myself.

“I’m excited to meet Jessie J. And what’s odd is Kelly Clarkson is the original winner from American Idol. It’s been almost 10 years since she won and eight years since I was on the show. And I have never met Kelly.”

The backstage scene at “VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul” would be worth another show. Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah and Common will participate as presenters. And it is odd to see Oklahoma rockabilly icon Wanda Jackson associated with soul — or being a diva. “When we were talking to Adele two years ago we learned from English soul performers how Wanda is a giant in England with the neo-soul singers,” Rolontz said. “That’s how she got in.”

Hudson and Staples both would like to work with each other.

“I first heard Jennifer on ‘American Idol,’ ” Staples said. “I thought she had a beautiful voice. I thought she was done wrong in ‘Idol.’ [Hudson finished seventh in 2004.] I was glad to know she never denied her church. She looks good, and she’s carrying herself in a ladylike way. Hopefully, I’’ll get a chance to speak with her at the ‘Divas.’ ”

But then, Staples cautioned that she is not a diva. “Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross could be divas,” she said. “I’m an evangelist!”

Hudson said, “I would love to work with Mavis. My favorite song is ‘I’ll Take You There.’ The roundness and the soul of her voice has such a flavor. You feel brand-new all over again when you hear her.”

A diverse approach to soul keeps Staples vital. At the end of Monday’s Wilco concert at the Civic Opera House, she encored with the band and Nick Lowe on Robbie Robertson’s “The Weight.” Staples said, “Nick cracked me up. I’d never met him. I started calling him ‘The Silver Fox,’ and he blushed.

“But Chicago became a smorgasbord of soul. Motown came with the slick sound,” and Staples began singing a snippet of the Supremes’ “Baby Love.” She continued, “Memphis came with the funk like Otis Redding and Johnnie Taylor. The Rolling Stones even stole from the Staple Singers. They recorded [the Staples’ 1955 uplifting ballad] ‘This May Be My Last Time’ [as their 1965 hit ‘The Last Time’] and put on their record how they borrowed from the Staple Singers. ‘This May Be My Last Time’ was traditional gospel. [Pops re-recorded it on his 1992 “Peace to the Neighborhood” album].

“But Chicago is the stomping ground of it all.”