|
Candye Kane - A fighter, a lover, a vagabond ...
bio |
promo materials |
discography |
film & television credits |
awards |
booking |
accolades
Bio
Seven time National Blues Awards Nominee Candye Kane has been called a survivor, a superhero and the
toughest girl alive. (All are also titles of her self-penned songs.) Her eleventh CD release,
Sister Vagabond, was released on August 16, 2011 on Delta Groove Records and was #1 on the
Living Blues Charts and on Sirius/XM Radio for two months. Kane is nominated for the BB King
Entertainer of the Year Award and Best Contemporary Blues Female for 2012.
(blues.org) Sister Vagabond was self produced by Kane
and her noted guitarist Laura Chavez. Many critics say that it is Kane’s finest work to date and
unanimously agree that it is a worthy successor to their 2010 collaboration, Superhero,
nominated for Best Contemporary Blues CD along with many other honors.
show more |
show less |
pdf version
The jump-blues singer, songwriter from East Los Angeles has nabbed ten San Diego Music Awards, won
several songwriting and composition awards, been featured in caricature in The New Yorker Magazine
and starred in a sold-out stage play about her life, featured at the New York Fringe Festival in 2011.
The Toughest Girl Alive, directed and staged by San Diego Ballet Director, Javier Velasco, garnered
rave reviews at nytheatre.com.
She’s beaten pancreatic cancer in the last three years, raised two sons and has performed worldwide
for presidents and movie stars but her path to success was not always glamorous or easy. Born into a
dysfunctional blue-collar family, Candye became a mother, a pinup cover girl and a punk-rock,
hillbilly blues-belter 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
’80s onstage with Hollywood musicians and friends Social Distortion, Dwight Yoakam, Dave Alvin,
Los Lobos, The Blasters, X, Fear and the Circle Jerks, 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, gray-haired hippies, sex-positive
feminists and everyday folk of all ages.
In 1986, then married to Thomas Yearsley of the Paladins, she was touched by the music of Big
Maybelle, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown and more. Her self-released 1991 Burlesque Swing caught
the ear of Texas impresario Clifford Antone, who signed her to a deal with Antone’s Records. Los
Lobos’ Cesar Rosas and Paladin/Hacienda Brother/Stone River Boy Dave Gonzalez co-produced the
first album of the deal, Home Cookin’. Picked up by Discovery (later Sire) Records, the Dave
Alvin/Derek O’Brien-produced Diva La Grande was followed by Swango in the height of
the swing craze.
Rounder/Bullseye Records signed her in 1995, releasing The Toughest Girl Alive,
produced by Scott Billington. Four albums followed on the German RUF label,
including the Bob Margolin-produced Guitar’d and Feathered. She then pacted with her
current label, Delta Groove, releasing Superhero in 2010 and now Sister Vagabond in 2011.
Her full-time, 250-days-a-year touring schedule started in 1992 and today, Kane’s 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. In a show that is part humor, part revival meeting and part sexuality
celebration, she'll deliver a barrelhouse-tongue-in-cheek blues tune or a gospel ballad, encouraging
audiences to leave behind religious intolerance and claim power over the words in their daily lives.
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.
Kane has been included in countless blues and jazz CD anthologies including
Rolling Stone Jazz and Blues Album Guide and Musichound: Blues, The Essential Album
Guide and Dan Aykroyd’s 30 Essential Women of the Blues. She appeared on the influential
call-to-arms of Southern California roots music, A Town South of Bakersfield on Enigma Records,
alongside Lucinda Williams and Dwight Yoakam.
In addition to her musical achievements, Kane has become an activist and philanthropist in
recent years. Since 2005, she has been active with the charity organization
United by Music. The 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
challenges. In 2008, she appeared in Cape town South Africa for the World Congress for Downs
Syndrome and in 2009 Kane appeared in Dublin, Ireland again for the World Congress for Downs Syndrome.
A fighter par excellence, Candye has an authenticity, determination and optimism that keeps
her show passionate, honest and irresistible.
“People ask me why I want to work so hard and so much, since I tour 250 days a year. Everyone says
I should stay home and relax after my health struggle. But music is my life and neuroendocrine cancer
(carcinoid.org) is a mostly manageable disease. Although I have cancer again, and will likely
struggle with this disease for the rest of my life, I will continue to work as much as I can because
I know life is fragile anyway. I would be fine if I died onstage doing what I love like Country
Dick Montana or Johnny Guitar Watson. I’m not planning on going anytime soon, but when I do exit
this plane, I hope it’s making someone else feel inspired by the powerful words in my songs.”
Promotional Materials
Join the jubilation by booking a Candye Kane shindig today!
For Bookings:
steve@piedmonttalent.com
piedmonttalent.com
Piedmont Talent, Inc.
Steve Hecht
Phone:(704) 399-2210
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 and affirmation of identity and the courage of her convictions
- 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
Discography
1983 The Mentors/ Up The Dose/ Record Cover
1984 The Fiends/ We've Come for your Beer (background vocals)
1985 A Town South of Bakersfield Part II / Enigma Records compilation
1986 CBS Epic developmental deal (4 song EP never released)
1987 The Jack Daniels Lovers / Italian Band / Release Italy only (background vocals)
1992 Burlesque Swing / Self Release
1992 Let's Put The X Back in Christmas (self release with Country Dick Montana of the Beat Farmers and Kim Wilson of the Fabulous Thunderbirds.)
1993 Acoustic Variations (Local San Diego Compilation)
1994 Home Cookin' / Antone's Records / Austin, Texas
1994 Rock For Choice / Enigma Records Compilation
1995 Austin Rocks / Antone's Records Compilation
1995 Knock Out! / Antone's Records / Austin, Texas
1995 The Devil Lied To Me/ Country Dick Montana/ backing vocals
1997 Diva La Grande / Antone's - Discovery
1999 Swango / Sire Records
1999 30 Essential Women of the Blues / The House of Blues Record Label
2000 The Toughest Girl Alive / Rounder Records / Cambridge, Massachusetts
2000 Best of Doo Wop Box Set / Rhino Records
2000 This House (A Compilation CD for the Nicole Brown Simpson Foundation)
2001 Any Woman's Blues / Rounder - Bullseye Blues and Jazz
2002 Whole Lotta Love / RUF Records / Germany
2004 White Trash Girl / RUF Records / Germany
2004 Red Cross Charity Compilation / RUF records
2005 Floyd Dixon/ Wake Up! / Highjohn records/ Duet
2005 Diva La Grande / Reissue by RUF Records/ Germany
2007 Guitar'd and Feathered/ RUF Records/ Germany
2008 Ruf Records Blues Caravan DVD and CD/ RUF
2008 Songs of Peace and Protest/ Compilation/ RUF
2009 Superhero!/ Delta Groove Records
Film and Television Credits
Hidden Palms/ WB Network series
The Chris Isaak Show / HBO
Queer As Folk / Showtime
Heavy (starring Deborah Harry)
The Girl Next Door - Stacy Valentine documentary
Everything That Rises - TNT movie
HBO Sexbytes - episodes #8, 12 and 18
Strong Medicine - The Oxygen Network
Maury Povich
Montel Williams
Leeza Gibbons
Donny and Marie
Pajama Party / Oxygen Network
Roseanne
Penn and Teller
CNN/ The Point with Greta Van Susteran
CNN Showbiz Today
MTV News
Queen Latifah
The Love Connection
Ted Mack Amateur Hour
Talk Soup with Greg Kinnear
The Cramps video - The Ultra Twist
Dwight Yoakum video - Little Sister
Awards and Accomplishments:
1985 Nomination - Best Country Artist/ L.A. Weekly Music Awards
1986 Developmental deal with CBS Epic
1989 Student Body Vice President/ Palomar College/ San Marcos, CA
1990 Student Body Senator/ Palomar College
1991 Founded First NOW Chapter (National Organization for Women) at Palomar College
1994 Susan B. Anthony Award Recipient
1994 Best Blues Band/ San Diego Music Awards
1995 Best Blues Band/ San Diego Music Awards
1996 Best Cabaret Swing Artist/ California Music Awards
1997 Best Blues Band/ San Diego Music Awards
1998 Artist Of The Year/ San Diego Music Awards
1999 Buzz Magazine Award/ One of L.A.'s 100 coolest people
2000 Best Entertainer/ San Diego Nicky Awards
2001 Best Blues Band/ San Diego Music Awards
2001 Nomination - Best OUT Song/ Gay Lesbian American Music Awards/ NYC
2002 Best Blues Band Award/ San Diego Music Awards
2002 Nomination - Best OUT Song/ Gay Lesbian American Music Awards
2003 Best Blues Band CD of the Year/ San Diego Music Awards
2003 Trophees France Blues/ International Chanteuse
2003 Trophees France Blues/ International Artist of the Year
2005 OUT Music Award/ Best Out Song
2005 Best Blues Band Award/ San Diego Music Awards
2005 Sexual Intelligence Award/ Marty Klein/ Sex Institute
2006 Nomination - Best Blues Band/ San Diego Music Awards
2007 Nomination - Best Contemporary Blues Female/ National Blues Foundation Award
2007 Winner Best Blues Song- I’m My Own Worst Enemy/ West Coast Songwriters Association
2007 Rainbow Radio Best Bisexual Performer Award
2008 Nomination - Best Contemporary Blues Female/ National Blues Foundation Awards/
2008 Nicky Award/ San Diego Gay Community Awards
2008 Billboard World Song Competition/ Honorable Mention/ Finalist/ Top 1500
2009 Nomination - CD Of The Year/ OUT Music Award/
2009 Billboard Top Ten Blues Charts/ #10 Debut / August 10, 2009
2009 Nomination - Best Blues Release/ San Diego Music Awards
2010 Nominations - Best Contemporary Blues Female, Contemporary Blues Album, Entertainer of the Year/ National Blues Foundation WC Handy Awards
2010 Nomination - Best Contemporary Female/ Blues Blast Magazine Award
2011 Nomination - Best Jazz CD Of The Year for: One Night in Belgium, Candye Kane and Sue Palmer/ San Diego Music Awards
press kit |
tour |
band |
music |
blog |
photos |
store |
reviews |
links |
united by music
|
