Candi Staton | Artist

Canzetta Maria "Candi" Staton is an American singer–songwriter born 1941 in Hanceville, Alabama. She is best known in the United States for her 1970 remake of Tammy Wynette's "Stand by Your Man" and her 1976 disco chart-topper "Young Hearts Run Free". As a girl, her singing abilities stood out at church where she joined her sister Maggie with a third girl, Naomi Harrison, to form the Jewell Gospel Trio. As teenagers, the group toured the traditional gospel circuit during the 1950s with the Soul Stirrers, C.L. Franklin and Mahalia Jackson. They recorded several sides for Nashbro, Apollo and Savoy Records between 1953 and 1963. In 1968 Staton was introduced to Rick Hall by her future husband Clarence Carter, which launched her solo career as a Southern soul stylist, garnering 16 R&B hits for Rick Hall's Fame Studios. She gained 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 1976, Staton began collaborating with producer David Crawford on disco songs such as "Young Hearts Run Free", which reached No. 1 on the US R&B charts and No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart, and was a staple in discos for decades. In 1982, Staton returned to gospel music and she and her then-husband, John Sussewell founded Beracah Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia, with help from Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's PTL Ministries. Staton has since recorded twelve gospel albums, two of which received Grammy Award nominations. Standout albums include I'm Just a Prisoner (1970), Stand by Your Man (1970), Candi Staton (1972) and His Hands (2006). Also recommended is the 1974 compilation Evidence: The Complete FAME Records Masters.

Artist Website: wikipedia/Candi_Staton

Featured Albums: Candi Staton

Related Artists: Jewel Gospel Trio

Video Clips: Nights on Broadway, Young Hearts Run Free, Victim