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.
Superhero is the name of Candyes’ original song and the title of her latest CD for Los Angeles based label, Delta Groove records. 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 three 2010 National Blues Foundation Awards http://www.blues.org for BB King Entertainer of the Year, Best Blues Contemporary CD and Best Contemporary Blues Female (the highest honor for blues artists) and beating down pancreatic cancer in the last two years, 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. Ten 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 tenth CD release, Superhero debuted at number nine on the Billboard Blues Charts. The cd continues to receive amazing reviews worldwide. It was produced by Kane and 27 year old guitar virtuoso, Laura Chavez who also plays in Candyes live band. It features guest performances by Kid Ramos, Dave Gonzales and Mitch Kashmar along with Kanes’ rhythm section featuring eldest son, Evan Caleb on drums and bass veteran, Michael Turturro. This CD is chock full of the songs of triumph and empowerment that have made Kane a favorite with enlightened congregations everywhere.
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 2009, she appeared in Dublin, Ireland for the World Congress for Downs Syndrome with her United by Music charity http://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.
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
Radio and print promotions: Jody Best/ Delta Groove Records
Deltagroove1@earthlink.net
People are talking about Candye!
A Blues Diva of the 20th century who can liven up any party without shedding a stitch.
- People Magazine
A true celebrity diva
- New Yorker Magazine
This tough cookie wails with a rousing confidence, affirmation of identity, the courage of her convictions and wisdom beyond her years.
– Downbeat Magazine
A serious and seriously powerful singer who lays it all on the line
– The Philadelphia Inquirer
A voice that is a natural wonder – like the Grand Canyon.
- The Washington Post
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
If you haven't taken Candye Kane seriously before, now is the time to listen. This is a great album and the best of her career.
- Richard Ludmerer/ Blueswax
Laura Chavez is not just a rising star. She’s already arrived.
- Vintage Guitar Player Magazine
An Older and Wiser blues diva
– All Music guide
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
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
We just got home from the Blues Blast 2010 where you put on a great show. I appreciate your resolve in beating Cancer and inspiring others. I too am a cancer survivor and have been cancer free for 31 years now. I also must say that Laura Chavez is one of the best guitarists I've ever seen. The whole show touched my soul. Thank You!
Did just listened to your beautiful music and remembered the great gig at Scandic Plaza in Umea spring -09. Thank you for being... Send my best regards to Laura, Paul and the rest. /Willy
Don't know how to contact them, except for in person, not even sure of the name, though it's possible that it's still listed under Hot Licks. (Ain't got no phone here, to check, and only got my internet back a minute ago.) Are you afraid to give me a definite commitment to come to my house? And you haven't told me yet if you're talking about the whole band?
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