Yvonne Staples of the Staple Singers dies at age 80 in Chicago

Published: 20:35 BST, 10 April 2018 | Updated: 08:41 BST, 11 April 2018

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Yvonne Staples, whose voice powered the success of the Staple Singers, has died at age 80.

The Chicago funeral home Leak and Sons says she passed away Tuesday at her home in Chicago.

Family friend Bill Carpenter told the New York Times she died of colon cancer.

Icon: Yvonne Staples, whose voice and business acumen powered the success of the Staple Singers, has died at age 80; seen in March 2011

Staples' family gospel group had a string of Top 40 hits and scored their first No. 1 with I'll Take You There in the early 1970s.

The Staple Singers originally included her father Roebuck 'Pops' Staples, kids Cleotha, Pervis and Mavis; the group formed in 1948.

When Pervis was drafted into the army, Yvonne replaced him; she joined the group in 1971.

She also performed with her sisters Mavis and Cleotha and their father Pops on other hits, including Respect Yourself.

Yvonne also managed the band's business affairs.

Musically gifted: The Chicago funeral home Leak and Sons says she died Tuesday at her home in Chicago; seen in July 2014 in Newport, Rhode Island at a festival

Yvonne was born on October 23, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois to Oceola and Pops, according to the New York Times.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports the family was active in civil rights and performed at the request of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

The newspaper said that Pops once told them that their mom Oceola helped with costumes and 'took care of everything, all the details.'

Family: The Chicago Sun-Time s reports the family was active in civil rights and performed at the request of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr; (from l to r) Pops, Mavis, Yvonne, Cleotha in the 1980s

Legend: Staples' family gospel group had a string of Top 40 hits and scored their first No. 1 with I'll Take You There in the early 1970s; seen in 1999 (from l to r) Pervis, Cleotha, Pops, Mavis and Yvonne

They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and also honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Grammys in 2005.

According to TMZ, the only living Staples sister is Mavis, who is 78 years old.

Pops died in 2000, reports the website; Cleotha died in 2013.

Flashback: They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and also honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Grammys in 2005; seen in 1986 on stage in New Orleans (from l to r) Pervis, Cleotha, Yvonne and Mavis