Canzetta Maria "Candi" Staton (, ) (born March 13, 1940) is an American singer–songwriter, best known in the United States for her 1970 remake of

Tammy Wynette Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was an American country music artist, as well as an actress and author. She is considered among the genre's most influential and successful artists. Along with Loretta Ly ...

's " Stand by Your Man" and her 1976

disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...

chart-topper "

Young Hearts Run Free "Young Hearts Run Free" is a disco song written by David Crawford and originally recorded by American soul singer Candi Staton in 1976. In 1996, it was covered by American house music singer Kym Mazelle for the triple-platinum selling soundtr ...

". In Europe, Staton's biggest selling record is the anthemic "

You Got the Love "You Got the Love" is a song by British songwriting team The Source featuring American singer-songwriter Candi Staton. Originally released in 1986, the song was remixed and re-released in 1991, 1997, and 2006. It reached number three on the UK ...

" from 1986, released in collaboration with

the Source ''The Source'' is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the ma ...

. Staton was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame and is a four-time

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

nominee.

Biography

Early life and career

Born in

Hanceville, Alabama Hanceville is a city in Cullman County, Alabama, United States. At the 2020 census, the population was 3,217. History Founded in Blount County, Hanceville was established in 1832 and incorporated in May 1879. At the time of Cullman County's cr ...

, Staton and her sister Maggie were sent to

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

at around age 11 or 12 for school. While attending Jewell Christian Academy, Staton's vocal abilities were soon noticed by her peers and the school's pastor. Amazed by her voice, the pastor paired Staton and her sister with a third girl, Naomi Harrison, and they formed the Jewell Gospel Trio. As teenagers, the group toured the traditional gospel circuit during the 1950s with

the Soul Stirrers The Soul Stirrers were an American gospel music group, whose career spans over eighty years. The group was a pioneer in the development of the quartet style of gospel, and a major influence on soul, doo wop, and Motown, some of the secular musi ...

C. L. Franklin Clarence LaVaughn Franklin (Birth name, ''né'' Walker; January 22, 1915 – July 27, 1984) was an American Baptist Churches USA, American Baptist Minister (Christianity), minister and civil rights, civil rights activist. Known as the man with t ...

and

Mahalia Jackson Mahalia Jackson ( ; born Mahala Jackson; October 26, 1911 – January 27, 1972) was an American gospel singer, widely considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. With a career spanning 40 years, Jackson was integral to t ...

.from an interview o
episode 191 of the Americana Music Show
published May 12, 2014. They recorded several sides for Nashbro,

Apollo Apollo, grc, Ἀπόλλωνος, Apóllōnos, label=genitive , ; , grc-dor, Ἀπέλλων, Apéllōn, ; grc, Ἀπείλων, Apeílōn, label=Arcadocypriot Greek, ; grc-aeo, Ἄπλουν, Áploun, la, Apollō, la, Apollinis, label= ...

and

Savoy Records Savoy Records is an American record company and label established by Herman Lubinsky in 1942 in Newark, New Jersey. Savoy specialized in jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel music. In September 2017, Savoy was acquired by Concord Bicycle Music. ...

between 1953 and 1963.

Solo career

In 1968, Staton was introduced to

Rick Hall Roe Erister "Rick" Hall (January 31, 1932 – January 2, 2018) was an American record producer, songwriter, and musician who became known as the owner of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. As the "Father of Muscle Shoals Music", he was i ...

Clarence Carter Clarence George Carter (born January 14, 1936) is an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. His most successful songs include " Slip Away", "Back Door Santa" (both released 1968), " Patches" (1970) and "Strokin" (1986). Ear ...

and launched her solo career as a Southern soul stylist, garnering 16 R&B hits for Rick Hall's Fame Studios and gaining the title of "First Lady of Southern Soul" for her Grammy-nominated R&B renditions of the songs " Stand by Your Man" and "

In the Ghetto "In the Ghetto" (originally titled "The Vicious Circle") is a 1969 song recorded by Elvis Presley and written by Mac Davis. It was a major hit released in 1969 as a part of Presley's comeback album, and also on the single release of " Any Day Now ...

". Staton appeared on the September 23, 1972, edition (Season 2, Episode 1) of ''

Soul Train ''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. It aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. Across its 35-year history the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists. The series w ...

''. In 1976, Staton began collaborating with producer David Crawford on disco songs such as "

", which reached No. 1 on the US R&B charts, No. 2 in the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and went Top 20 on the Pop Hot 100 during the summer of 1976. It was remixed and re-released in 1986, reaching the UK Top 50. Follow up song "Destiny" hit the Top 50 in the UK. and her version of "

Nights on Broadway "Nights on Broadway" is a song by the Bee Gees from the ''Main Course'' album released in 1975. The second single released from the album, it immediately followed their number-one hit "Jive Talkin'". This track was credited to Barry, Robin and ...

" hit the UK Top 10 in 1977;. In 1978, Staton scored another Top 50 hit in the UK with "Honest I Do Love You". In 1979 from her album ''Chance'', Staton released the single "When You Wake Up Tomorrow" (co-written by Patrick Adams and Wayne K. Garfield) and the title song "Chance", a top 20 R&B charted record. Other dance club chart hits included "When You Wake Up Tomorrow" and "Victim". In 1982, Staton again hit the UK chart with a version of

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

's "

Suspicious Minds "Suspicious Minds" is a 1968 song written and first recorded by American songwriter Mark James. After this recording failed commercially, it was cut by Elvis Presley with producer Chips Moman, becoming a No. 1 song in 1969, and one of the most ...

". In 1982, Staton returned to gospel music. Staton and her then-husband, John Sussewell, founded Beracah Ministries in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

, Georgia, with help from

Jim Jim or JIM may refer to: * Jim (given name), a given name * Jim, a diminutive form of the given name James * Jim, a short form of the given name Jimmy * OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism * ''Jim'' (comics), a series by Jim Woodring * ''Jim ...

and

Tammy Faye Bakker Tamara Faye Messner (née LaValley, formerly Bakker ; March 7, 1942 – July 20, 2007) was an American evangelist, singer, author, talk show host, and television personality. She gained notice for her work with ''The PTL Club'', a televangelist ...

's PTL Ministries. Staton has since recorded twelve gospel albums, two of which received

nominations. Staton appears on the United Nations Register of Entertainers, Actors And Others Who Have Performed in Apartheid South Africa.

Later

In 1991, Staton returned to UK popular charts by lending her vocals to the Source's British hit, "

". Staton signed with

Intersound Records Intersound Records was an American independent record label that operated in the 1980s and 1990s. The company was founded by industry veteran Don Johnson in 1982, who purchased some assets of Pickwick Records from its parent company and named his ...

in 1995. In 2000, she released her eleventh album, ''Here's a Blessing''. In 2004, the British record label

Honest Jon's Honest Jon's is a British independent record shop based on Portobello Road in Ladbroke Grove, London, operating since 1974. The shop is owned and run by Mark Ainley and Alan Scholefield, who took over from one of the original proprietors, "Hone ...

released a compilation album of her soul work from the late 1960s and early 1970s, the self-titled ''Candi Staton''. Staton followed it up with a secular project in 2006 entitled ''His Hands'', produced by Mark Nevers of Lambchop and with the title track written by

Will Oldham Joseph Will Oldham (born January 15, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. From 1993 to 1997, he performed and recorded in collaboration with dozens of other musicians under variations of Palace (Palace, Palace Flophouse, Palace Br ...

. Two of Staton's children, Cassandra Williams-Hightower (background vocals) and Marcus Williams (drums), joined her on the album. A second studio album for Honest Jon's, titled ''Who's Hurting Now?'', appeared in 2009. She and Rick Hall reunited to make a half dozen more tracks for Staton's 2014 southern soul album, ''Life Happens''. The lead Americana radio single, " I Ain't Easy to Love", featured Jason Isbell and John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars). The trio performed the track on ''The Late Show with David Letterman''. Staton's television show ''New Direction'' aired on TBN. Staton has also made appearances on the '' Praise the Lord'' telecast with the late

Paul Crouch Paul Franklin Crouch /kraʊtʃ/ (March 30, 1934 – November 30, 2013) was an American television evangelist. Crouch and his wife, Jan, founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in 1973; the company has been described as "the world’s l ...

and his late wife

Jan Crouch Janice Wendell Crouch () (née Bethany; March 14, 1938 – May 31, 2016) was an American religious broadcaster. Crouch and her husband, Paul, founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) in 1973, along with Jim Bakker. She, along with her ...

, as well as regularly performing on

Robert Tilton Robert Gibson Tilton (born June 7, 1946) is an American televangelist and the former pastor of the Word of Faith Family Church in Farmers Branch, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. At his ministry's peak in 1991, Tilton's infomercial-style program, ''Su ...

's ''Success-N-Life'' show. In August 2018, Staton released her 30th album, "Unstoppable," which has been touted as a retro psychedelic R&B project. NPR music journalist, Alison Fensterstock, wrote that it, "Delivers the kind of forthright confidence and soul-girding power that can only be summoned by a grown woman who has learned a thing or two. And Staton has lived many lives. Creatively, the quadruple Grammy nominee and Christian Music Hall of Famer has moved between soul and R&B, gospel, disco and even EDM before returning to her roots as an elder stateswoman."

Personal life

Staton has been married six times and has five children. Staton first married Pentecostal minister Joe Williams from 1960 until 1968. Together they have four children: Marcus Williams, Marcel Williams, Terry Williams and Cassandra Williams-Hightower. In 1970, Staton married singer

and together they had one child; Clarence Carter Jr. They divorced in 1973. Staton was married to Jimmy James from 1974 until 1977. Two years after divorcing James, Staton married John Sussewell (who was a drummer for

Ashford & Simpson Ashford & Simpson were an American husband-and-wife songwriting-production team and recording duo of Nickolas Ashford (May 4, 1941 – August 22, 2011) and Valerie Simpson (born August 26, 1946). Ashford was born in Fairfield, South Carolina, ...

and also

Dory Previn Dorothy "Dory" Veronica Previn ( Langan; October 22, 1925 – February 14, 2012) was an American lyricist, singer-songwriter and poet. During the late 1950s and 1960s, Previn was a lyricist on songs intended for motion pictures and, with her t ...

's sixth album) in 1980, they divorced in 1998 after 18 years of marriage. From 2010 until 2012, Staton was married to former baseball player

Otis Nixon Otis Junior Nixon (born January 9, 1959) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1983), Cleveland Indians (1984–87), Montreal Expos (1988–90), Atlanta Brav ...

. Staton has been married to Henry Hooper since 2017. On October 30, 2018, Staton announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Discography

Studio albums

* ''I'm Just a Prisoner'' (1970) * ''Stand By Your Man'' (1971) * ''Candi Staton'' (1972) * ''Candi'' (1974) * ''Young Hearts Run Free'' (1976) UK No. 34 * ''Music Speaks Louder Than Words'' (1977) * ''House of Love'' (1978) * ''

Chance Chance may refer to: Mathematics and Science * In mathematics, likelihood of something (by way of the Likelihood function and/or Probability density function). * ''Chance'' (statistics magazine) Places * Chance, Kentucky, US * Chance, Mary ...

'' (1979) * ''Candi Staton'' (1980) * ''Nightlites'' (1982) * ''Make Me an Instrument'' (1983) * ''The Anointing'' (1985) * ''Sing a Song'' (1986) * ''Love Lifted Me'' (1988) * ''Stand Up and Be a Witness'' (1990) * ''Standing on the Promises'' (1991) * ''I Give You Praise'' (1993) * '' It's Time!'' (1995) * ''Cover Me'' (1997) * ''Outside In'' (1999) * ''Here's a Blessing'' (2000) * ''Christmas in My Heart'' (2000) * ''Glorify'' (2001) * ''Proverbs 31 Woman'' (2002) * ''His Hands'' (2006) * ''I Will Sing My Praise to You'' (2008) * ''Who's Hurting Now?'' (Release: spring 2009) * ''Life Happens'' (2014) * ''It's Time to Be Free'' (2016) * ''Unstoppable'' (2018)

Compilations

* ''The best of Candi Staton Featuring Young Hearts Run Free'' (1995 Warner Archives) Originals (not re-recorded) * ''The Ultimate Gospel Collection'' (2006) * ''Evidence: The Complete Fame Records Masters'' (2011) – For the first time ever all 48 of the tracks she made for Rick Hall's label between 1969 and 1974 are together in one place. 22 have never been on CD before and 12 are previously unreleased.

Singles (non comprehensive)

* "I'd Rather Be an Old Man's Sweetheart (Than a Young Man's Fool) (1969) R&B No. 9 US No. 46 * "I'm Just a Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin')" (1969) R&B No. 13 US No. 56 * "Sweet Feeling" (1970) R&B No. 5 US No. 60 * " Stand by Your Man" (1970) R&B No. 4 US No. 24 * "He Called Me Baby" (1971) R&B No. 9 US No. 52 * "

" (1972) R&B No. 12 US No. 48 * "Do It in the Name of Love" (1973) R&B No. 17 US No. 80 * "As Long as He Takes Care of Home" (1974) R&B No. 6 US No. 51 * "

" (1976) US No. 20 UK No. 2 R&B No. 1 (1986 re-release No. 47, 1999 re-release #29) * "Destiny" (1976) UK No. 41 * "

" (1977) UK No. 6 R&B No. 16 US No. 102 * "Honest I Do Love You" (1978) UK No. 48 R&B No. 77 * "Victim" (1978) R&B No. 17 * "When You Wake Up Tomorrow" (1979) R&B No. 13 * "

" (1982) UK No. 31 * "You Got the Love" (1986) UK No. 95 R&B No. 88 * "

" (

The Source ''The Source'' is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the ma ...

featuring Candi Staton – 1991) UK No. 4 (1997 re-release UK No. 3 (Now Voyager Mix), 2005 import release UK No. 60, 2006 "You Got the Love (New Voyager Mix)" (featuring Candi Staton – re-release) No. 7 UK) * "Love On Love" (1999) UK No. 27 * "Young Hearts Run Free" (re-recording) (1999) UK No. 29 * "I Just Can't Get to Sleep at All" (2000) Energise Records, UK; limited release * "Love Sweet Sound" Groove Armada featuring Candi Staton (2007) * "Wilder Side" Rasmus Faber & Alf Tumble featuring Candi Staton (2010) * "Hallelujah Anyway" (2012) * "It's Your Season (B.W.Ø Remix)" (2016)

References

External links

Candi Staton website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Staton, Candi 1940 births Living people People from Hanceville, Alabama American dance musicians American house musicians American gospel singers American contraltos Georgia (U.S. state) Democrats 21st-century African-American women singers Positiva Records artists Warner Records artists 20th-century African-American women singers