The Staples Jr. Singers were a little known band from rural Mississippi that Luaka Bop featured on our Gospel compilation ‘The Time For Peace is Now‘ which I also made the cover for. I was obsessed with the lead singer of ‘We’ve Got A Race To Run’s voice and sought out how to contact her, eventually discovering her through a Youtube video despite her name changing from Annie Brown to Annie Caldwell. Since then, Luaka Bop has both re-released their seminal album ‘When Do We Get Paid,’ recorded when they were just teenagers, ‘Tell Heaven,’ an EP with a wonderful extended version of the song ‘When Do We Get Paid,’ and most recently ‘Searching.’

All of the type on this album cover I laboriously hand drew, and the jacket features neon pink. The LP includes a booklet which I designed that features beautiful photographs by Adam Wissing and quotes from the Staples Jr. Singers.

I’ve had the opportunity to meet them a few times and they’re the most gracious, kind people. Annie especially exudes an indescribably warm yet peaceful energy. The first time I met them, my son and I showed up barefoot to the venue, an old Catholic church, at the festival they were playing. They remarked that that’s how they grew up, barefoot 🙂