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

Tammy Wynette Tammy Wynette (born Virginia Wynette Pugh; May 5, 1942 – April 6, 1998) was an American country music singer and songwriter, considered among the genre's most influential and successful artists. Along with Loretta Lynn, Wynette helped bring a ...

's " Stand by Your Man" and her 1976

disco Disco is a music genre, genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the late 1960s from the United States' urban nightclub, nightlife, particularly in African Americans, African-American, Italian-Americans, Italian-American, LGBTQ ...

chart-topper " Young Hearts Run Free". In Europe, Staton's biggest selling record is the anthemic " You Got the Love" from 1986, released in collaboration with the Source. Staton was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame and is a four-time

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

nominee.

Biography

Early life and career

Born in Hanceville, Alabama, Staton and her sister Maggie were sent to

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

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, C. L. Franklin and

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

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

Apollo Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...

and Savoy Records between 1953 and 1963.

Solo career

In 1968, Staton was introduced to Rick Hall by

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 (Clarence Carter song), Slip Away", "Back Door Santa" (both released 1968), "Patches (Ch ...

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". Staton appeared on the September 23, 1972, edition (Season 2, Episode 1) of '' Soul Train''. In 1976, Staton began collaborating with producer David Crawford on

songs such as " Young Hearts Run Free", which reached No. 1 on the US R&B charts, No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and went Top 20 on the ''Billboard'' 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" 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 Mark James's " Suspicious Minds". In 1982, Staton returned to

gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music vary according to culture and social context. Gospel music is compo ...

. Staton and her then-husband, John Sussewell, founded Beracah Ministries in

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, Georgia, with help from Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's PTL Ministries. Staton has since recorded twelve gospel albums, two of which received

nominations. Staton appears on the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

Apartheid Apartheid ( , especially South African English: , ; , ) was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. It was characterised by an ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

Later

In 1991, Staton returned to UK popular charts by lending her vocals to the Source's British hit " You Got the Love". Staton signed with Intersound Records in 1995. In 2000, she released her eleventh album, ''Here's a Blessing''. In 2004, the British record label Honest Jon's released a compilation album of her

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

work from the late 1960s and early 1970s, the self-titled ''Candi Staton''. Staton followed it up with a

secular Secularity, also the secular or secularness (from Latin , or or ), is the state of being unrelated or neutral in regards to religion. The origins of secularity can be traced to the Bible itself. The concept was fleshed out through Christian hi ...

project in 2006 entitled ''His Hands'', produced by Mark Nevers of Lambchop and with the title track written by Will Oldham. Two of Staton's children, Cassandra Williams-Hightower (background vocals) and Marcus Williams (

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

), 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 ''

Late Show with David Letterman ''Late Show with David Letterman'' is an American late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS, the first iteration of the ''Late Show'' franchise. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and was produced by Letterman's production com ...

''. 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 and his late wife Jan Crouch, as well as regularly performing on Robert Tilton'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 Christian music is a genre of music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christianity, Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence and lament, and its f ...

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. She was first married to

Pentecostal Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a movement within the broader Evangelical wing of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes direct personal experience of God in Christianity, God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit#Cl ...

minister, Joe Williams, from 1960 until 1968. Together they had 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, her then manager, from 1974 until 1977. Two years after divorcing James, Staton married John Sussewell, who was a

drummer A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drums. Most contemporary western music ensemble, bands that play Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, or Contemporary R&B, R&B music include a drummer for purposes including timekeepi ...

for Ashford & Simpson and also on Dory Previn's sixth album '' We're Children of Coincidence and Harpo Marx'' in 1980. They divorced in 1998 after 18 years of marriage. From 2010 until 2012, Staton was married to former

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...

player Otis Nixon. She has been married to Henry Hooper since 2017. On October 30, 2018, Staton announced that she had been diagnosed with

breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...

. She lives in

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

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'' (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?'' (2009) * ''Life Happens'' (2014) * ''It's Time to Be Free'' (2016) * ''Unstoppable'' (2018) * ''Back to My Roots'' (2025)

Compilations

* ''The Best of Candi Staton'' (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, CAN No. 51 * "I'm Just a Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin')" (1969) R&B No. 13 US No. 56, CAN No. 74 * "Sweet Feeling" (1970) R&B No. 5 US No. 60, CAN No. 78 * " Stand by Your Man" (1970) R&B No. 4 US No. 24, CAN No. 22 * "He Called Me Baby" (1971) R&B No. 9 US No. 52, CAN No. 67 * " In the Ghetto" (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, CAN No. 56 * " Young Hearts Run Free" (1976) US No. 20 UK No. 2 R&B No. 1 (1986 re-release No. 47, 1999 re-release #29) CAN No. 21 * "Destiny" (1976) UK No. 41 * " Nights on Broadway" (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 * " Suspicious Minds" (1982) UK No. 31 * "You Got the Love" (1986) UK No. 95 R&B No. 88 * " You Got the Love" (

The Source The Source may refer to: Film and television * ''The Source'' (1918 film), 1918 American drama directed by George Melford * ''The Source'' (1999 film), a 1999 documentary film about the Beat generation * ''The Source'' (2002 film), a 2002 scienc ...

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 Groove Armada are an English electronic music duo, composed of Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They achieved chart success with their singles " At the River", " I See You Baby" and " Superstylin'". The duo have released nine studio albums, four of ...

featuring Candi Staton (2007) UK No. 77 * "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 21st-century American women singers Positiva Records artists Warner Records artists 20th-century African-American women singers 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singers Trinity Broadcasting Network people