candye's son evan is the drummer, on guitar the amazing laura devil baby chavez, on bass the legendary Paul Loranger, on piano smedley B or sue palmer or whomever else I can convince to get in the van and drive!!! I am blessed to be surrounded by creative and wonderful people whom I love! My band is my family.
Influences
etta james, wanda jackson, big maybelle, dinah washington, the cramps, patsy cline, exene cervenka, divine, big mama thornton, koko taylor, janis martin, kitty wells, sister rosetta tharpe, eartha kitt, sophie tucker, mae west, mahalia, bessie smith, janis joplin, little esther, bobbi brat, elton britt, lou ann barton, willie dixon, memphis minnie, led zeppelin, heart, zz top...
Sounds Like
etta james, big mama thornton, mildred bailey, big maybelle, koko taylor, janis joplin, billie holliday, dinah washington and patsy cline.
“The Toughest Girl Alive” is the name of Candyes’ original song and the title of her soon to be released memoir and stage play. It is also an apt description of the jump blues singer and songwriter from East Los Angeles who has earned this moniker the hard way. Nominated for a 2008 National Blues Foundation Award for Best Blues Contemporary Female (the highest honor for blues artists) and beating down pancreatic cancer the same year, Kane is one tough cookie. She has performed worldwide for presidents and movie stars, but her path to success was not always glamorous or easy.
Raised in a dysfunctional, blue-collar family, Candye became a teenage mother, a pin up cover girl and a punk rock, hillbilly and blues-belting anarchist by the time she was just 21 years old. Eight cds, six record labels, millions of international road miles and countless awards later, Miss Kane has proven to be a true survivor as she scrambled her way to the top of the roots music heap, creating a world renowned reputation that has spanned two decades.
A colorful mixture of the traditional and the eclectic, Kane cut her musical teeth in the early 80’s onstage with Hollywood musicians and friends, Social Distortion, Dwight Yoakum, Dave Alvin, The Blasters, X, Fear and Los Lobos, to name just a few. While raising two sons, this role model for the disenfranchised, championed large sized women, fought for the equal rights of sex workers and the GLBT community and inspired music lovers everywhere. Her fans are a mixture of true outsiders: bikers, blues fans, punk rockers, drag queens, fat girls, queers, burlesque dancers, porn fans, sex workers, rockabilly and swing dancers, grey haired hippies, sex positive feminists and everyday folk of all ages, flock to see Candye and hear her musical messages of love, hope and empowerment.
Kanes’ live shows are the stuff of legend. She honors the bold blues women of the past with both feet firmly planted in the present. She belts - growls - shouts - croons and moans from a lifetime of suffering and overcoming obstacles. She uses music as therapy and often writes and chooses material with positive affirmations that leave the audience feeling healed and exhilarated. A show that is part humor, revival meeting and sexuality celebration, she'll deliver a barrelhouse-tongue-in-cheek blues tune or a gospel ballad like Jesus and Mohammed, encouraging audiences to leave behind religious intolerance. She’ll slay the crowd with her balls out rendition of Whole Lotta Love or glorify the virtues of zaftig women with 200 pounds of fun. She often says she is a "fat black drag queen trapped in a white woman's body" and she dresses the part. Bedecked in bright colored feathers, sequins and rhinestones, Kane's performance is Mississippi by way of Las Vegas with a quick stopover in San Francisco.
Kane's ninth cd for premiere West Coast blues label, Delta Groove will be released on June 15th. Produced by Kane and Laura Chavez, it is aptly titled " I'm a Super Hero." The cd features her smoking live band that including Kanes’ eldest son, Evan Caleb on drums and bass veteran, Paul Loranger along with guest drummer Stephen Hodges, guitarists Dave Gonzales and Kid Ramos as well as harp player Mitch Kashmar, saxophonist Jonny Viau and pianist Greg Wydell. This newest effort is chock full of the songs of triumph and raw emotion that have made Kane a favorite with enlightened congregations everywhere. www.deltagrooveproductions.com
Candye has been included in countless Blues and Jazz Anthologies including the Rolling Stone and Musichounds Guide to Jazz and Blues and Dan Akroyds’ 30 Essential Women of the Blues. In addition to her music successes, she is an activist and philanthropist. In August 2008, she appeared in Cape Town, South Africa for the World Congress for people with disabilities with her United by Music show for special needs kids (www.unitedbymusic.eu). This project provides performance opportunities, blues history lessons and songwriting instruction to young people with disabilities, encouraging them to write their own blues songs to help them overcome their daily challenges. Kane will take the UBM project on the road again in august 2009 starting off at the world congress for people with disabilities, this time held in Dublin, Ireland.
Candye is a fighter par excellence and her authenticity, determination and optimism are what keep her shows passionate, honest and irresistible. One evening with Candye will keep the crowds happy, hopeful and coming back for more!
Join the jubilation by booking a Candye Kane shindig today!
For Bookings: steve@piedmonttalent.com
www.piedmonttalent.com
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT CANDYE!!!!!
An Older and Wiser blues diva
– All Music guide
A Blues Diva of the 20th century who can liven up any party without shedding a stitch.
- People Magazine
A serious and seriously powerful singer who lays it all on the line
– The Philadelphia Inquirer
Candye Kane has that big, brassy voice that has authority and sass; the kind of thing men like because its seductive and women like because its powerful – BB King to the San Diego Reader
A voice that is a natural wonder – like the Grand Canyon.
- The Washington Post
This tough cookie wails with a rousing confidence and affirmation of identity and the courage of her convictions
– Downbeat Magazine
Candye Kane may identify as a white trash girl but her music is most certainly high class
– Jazz and Blues report
A smart sassy blues diva mama with a powerhouse voice and a generous frame
– Style Weekly
Bawdy, brassy and gloriously omnisexual, the plus sized singer belts out the blues like nobodys business
– Dallas Voice
Kanes sassy singing is a joy to behold
– Montreal Gazette
The Most powerful and entertaining female blues singer of her generation
– Bluesbytes.com
A natural born, supremely gifted vocalist who can sing her humanity while touching ours
– Illinois Blues.com
Ciao candye ,thank you for the add and the friendship. you are very good, I like your stupendous music a lot,and stupendous voice. compliments ..really. you are one of my prefeitis I feel great admiration for you, talk to you soon, and all of my best wishes to always listen to your good music. all the best.. from italy..and good week neal
Just wanted you to know,we still talk about your performance at our little bluesfest here in Wausau,Wisconsin. My friends and I just love you and respect you for your music and your giving spirit. You are one great Lady and we wish you would return to our town soon. You really livin things up!! Thanks for your music! Much Love!!
HALO ya tuff beautiFULL cookie! I just got back from Pt. Townsend and The Upstage. My family lives there. I MUST tell them you are going to be playing there with your "family". My mama sure could use some of your music! And so do I. I am keepin' my eye out for some of your local gigs.
Be well & stay blessed. You are SUPER! A super shero!
Candye's music is highlighted and she's even interviewed by me on the newest BluzNdaBlood Show, "Nothing Sweeter Than Candye"! Check it out at: http://bluzndablood.com Dave
Saw you Friday night in OKC. It was great to finally see you live. I am no longer a virgin. I can't wait to see you again. Tell Paul hello. I know him from his days with Sardinas. Happy Blues to You.
Candye, I caught your show in Grand Rapids MI this week and you were absolutely amazing! Your music and especially your message is very inspiring. Best wishes for a successful and exciting tour with the band. And best wishes to you personally for continued health~
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