Biography
Los Angeles-born vocalist Candye Kane fused blues and soul with a bold, theatrical flair that commanded attention across all audiences. Over the course of her life she balanced many roles, including motherhood, dedicated academic pursuits, pinup modeling, stage and adult-film acting, and an intense period fronting punk bands. Two qualities set her apart from other Los Angeles outsiders: an extraordinary vocal command and a sharply erotic yet thoughtful artistic direction that aligned perfectly with her singing.
She entered the world on November 13, 1961, in Ventura, California, and endured a challenging upbringing in the Highland Park neighborhood, where music and theater became her twin refuges. At seventeen a pregnancy created financial strain that led her to work as a stripper; she later appeared in numerous adult videos such as Bra Breakers and Big Busty. After a short enrollment in USC’s junior opera program in 1976 she pivoted abruptly to punk, forming several country-punk outfits in the early 1980s that attracted CBS/Epic. The label placed her under a developmental contract in 1985 expecting a country artist, yet terminated the arrangement once her earlier career came to light—though not before issuing the 1986 compilation A Town South of Bakersfield. Kane then settled in San Diego, married, welcomed another child, and studied women’s studies at Palomar Community College while refining her songwriting. Immersed in the classic recordings of Bessie Smith, Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, and Big Maybelle, she began to envision her own path as a blues and soul performer.
She issued the independent album Burlesque Swing in 1991 and joined Antone’s Records the following year, resulting in Home Cookin’ in 1994 and Knockout in 1995. Discovery Records released Diva la Grande in 1997; Sire/London followed with Swango in 1998; and Rounder/Bullseye presented The Toughest Girl Alive in 2000. Three further sets appeared on Germany’s Ruf Records: Whole Lotta Love in 2003, White Trash Girl in 2005, and Guitar’d and Feathered in 2007. Kane moved to Delta Groove Records in 2009, issuing Superhero that year, then returned to the label for the 2011 collection Sister Vagabond, a potent showcase of blues and soul. Coming Out Swingin’, recorded with guitarist Laura Chavez, came out on her own Sister Cynic imprint through Vizztone in 2013. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the late 2000s, she maintained an active performing and recording schedule until the illness ended her life on May 6, 2016, at age fifty-four.
She entered the world on November 13, 1961, in Ventura, California, and endured a challenging upbringing in the Highland Park neighborhood, where music and theater became her twin refuges. At seventeen a pregnancy created financial strain that led her to work as a stripper; she later appeared in numerous adult videos such as Bra Breakers and Big Busty. After a short enrollment in USC’s junior opera program in 1976 she pivoted abruptly to punk, forming several country-punk outfits in the early 1980s that attracted CBS/Epic. The label placed her under a developmental contract in 1985 expecting a country artist, yet terminated the arrangement once her earlier career came to light—though not before issuing the 1986 compilation A Town South of Bakersfield. Kane then settled in San Diego, married, welcomed another child, and studied women’s studies at Palomar Community College while refining her songwriting. Immersed in the classic recordings of Bessie Smith, Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, and Big Maybelle, she began to envision her own path as a blues and soul performer.
She issued the independent album Burlesque Swing in 1991 and joined Antone’s Records the following year, resulting in Home Cookin’ in 1994 and Knockout in 1995. Discovery Records released Diva la Grande in 1997; Sire/London followed with Swango in 1998; and Rounder/Bullseye presented The Toughest Girl Alive in 2000. Three further sets appeared on Germany’s Ruf Records: Whole Lotta Love in 2003, White Trash Girl in 2005, and Guitar’d and Feathered in 2007. Kane moved to Delta Groove Records in 2009, issuing Superhero that year, then returned to the label for the 2011 collection Sister Vagabond, a potent showcase of blues and soul. Coming Out Swingin’, recorded with guitarist Laura Chavez, came out on her own Sister Cynic imprint through Vizztone in 2013. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the late 2000s, she maintained an active performing and recording schedule until the illness ended her life on May 6, 2016, at age fifty-four.
Albums
Coming Out Swingin' (feat. Laura Chavez)
2013
Sister Vagabond
2011
One Night In Belgium
2011
Superhero
2009
The Toughest Girl Alive
2000
Diva La Grande
1997
Knockout
1995
Home Cookin'
1994
Live
