Candice Caleb (November 13, 1961 – May 6, 2016), known professionally as Candye Kane, was an American adult film star, and later a blues singer. She loved to sing as a young girl and appeared on "The Gong Show," as a child. She dreamed of a successful music career and performed at some music gigs, but worked in the adult entertainment industry briefly in the early to mid 1980s during pornography's golden age to help finance her music career. Candye was recognized as an award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer in the

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

genres.

Early life

Kane was born Candice Caleb in Ventura, California. She was raised in Highland Park, a Los Angeles suburb.

Adult film star

When she turned 18, she turned to adult modeling and stripping to make some money, appearing in videos and over 150 magazines from 1983 to 1995. Eventually she worked as a columnist for ''

Gent Gent is a shortened form of the word gentleman. It may also refer to: * Ghent ( Dutch: Gent), a Belgian city ** K.A.A. Gent, a football club from Ghent ** K.R.C. Gent, a football club from Ghent ** Gent RFC, a rugby club in Ghent ** .gent, ...

'' magazine.

Music career

Candye was accepted into the University of Southern California's music conservatory's junior opera program in 1976, but she disliked opera and dropped out. She became part of the

punk rock Punk rock (also known as simply punk) is a rock music genre that emerged in the mid-1970s. Rooted in 1950s rock and roll and 1960s garage rock, punk bands rejected the corporate nature of mainstream 1970s rock music. They typically produced sh ...

music scene of the early 1980s. She started country punk bands and befriended and shared the stage with musicians as diverse as Black Flag,

Social Distortion Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. It consists of Mike Ness (vocals, guitar), Jonny Wickersham (guitar), Brent Harding (bass), David Hidalgo Jr. (drums), and David Kalish (keyboards). Emerg ...

James Harman James Gary Harman (June 8, 1946 – May 23, 2021) was an American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. The music journalist Tony Russell described Harman as an "amusing songwriter and an excellent, unfussy blues harp player". Biograp ...

The Circle Jerks Circle Jerks (stylized as Ciʀcle JƎʀᴋs) are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The group was founded by former Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. To date, Circle ...

Los Lobos Los Lobos (, Spanish for "the Wolves") is a Mexican American rock group, rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, zydeco, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional ...

The Blasters The Blasters are an American rock music, rock band formed in 1979 in Downey, California, by brothers Phil Alvin (vocals and guitar) and Dave Alvin (guitar), with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman (drummer), Bill Bateman. Their s ...

and

Lone Justice Lone Justice was an American country rock band formed in 1982 by guitarist Ryan Hedgecock and singer Maria McKee in Los Angeles. The band released two albums, '' Lone Justice'' in 1985 and '' Shelter'' the following year, before disbanding in ...

. In 1985, she caught the attention of CBS/Epic A&R Head, Larry Hanby. She was signed to a developmental deal and recorded her first demo with Grammy winner

Val Garay Val Garay (born May 9, 1942) is an American recording engineer and record producer who has worked with Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Kim Carnes, The Motels, Neil Diamond and others. Garay also co-founded Los Angeles recording studio Record One ...

. Kane was marketed as a country singer, but CBS dropped her upon learning of her controversial past. At 17, Kane became pregnant with her first son. In 1986, she moved from Los Angeles to San Diego. She married bass player Thomas Yearsley (of

rockabilly Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music. It dates back to the early 1950s in the United States, especially the Southern United States, South. As a genre, it blends the sound of Western music (North America), Western musi ...

power trio

The Paladins The Paladins are an American roots rock-rockabilly band from San Diego, California. Founded in the early 1980s by guitarist Dave Gonzalez and his high school friend and double bass player Thomas Yearsley, they have recorded nine studio albums a ...

), with whom she had another son. Kane majored in

women's studies Women's studies is an academic field that draws on Feminism, feminist and interdisciplinary methods to place women's lives and experiences at the center of study, while examining Social constructionism, social and cultural constructs of gender; ...

at Palomar Community College. She continued to write songs and discovered the brash blues stylings of

Big Maybelle Mabel Louise Smith (May 1, 1924 – January 23, 1972), known professionally as Big Maybelle, was an American R&B singer. Her 1956 hit single "Candy" received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. Childhood and musical background Born in J ...

Ruth Brown Ruth Alston Brown (; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a popular music, pop music ...

Big Mama Thornton Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter of blues and R&B. The ''Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock and Soul'' described Thornton by saying: "Her booming voice, sometimes 200-pound fra ...

Etta James Jamesetta Hawkins (January 25, 1938 – January 20, 2012), known professionally as Etta James, was an American singer and songwriter. Starting her career in 1954, James frequently performed in Nashville's R&B clubs, collectively known as the Ch ...

and

Bessie Smith Bessie Smith (April 15, 1892 – September 26, 1937) was an African-American blues singer widely renowned during the Jazz Age. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Empress of the Blues" and formerly Queen of the Blues, she was t ...

. In 1991, she self-released ''Burlesque Swing'', her first recording since ''A Town South of Bakersfield Part II.'' In 1992, she was signed by

Clifford Antone Clifford Antone (October 27, 1949 – May 22, 2006) was the founder of the eponymous Austin blues club Antone's and independent record label Antone's Records and Tapes, as well as a mentor to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Kim Wilson ...

to a record deal with Antones Records. Her first CD, ''Home Cookin' '', was produced by Yearsley,

Cesar Rosas Cesar J. Rosas (born September 26, 1954) is a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist best known as a member of the rock and roll group Los Lobos. Rosas also participates in the Latin supergroup Los Super Seven. Rosas is known for hi ...

(of

), and Dave Gonzales. It was released in 1992 followed by ''Knock Out''. She then signed with

Discovery Records Discovery Records was a United States–based record company and label known for its recordings of jazz music. Discovery was founded in 1948 by jazz fan and promoter Albert Marx; it was headquartered in Hollywood, California. The record label wou ...

, releasing ''Diva La Grande'', produced by

Dave Alvin David Albert Alvin (born November 11, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. He is a former and founding member of the roots rock band the Blasters. Alvin has recorded and performed as a solo artist since the late 1980s ...

and Derek O'Brien. Next, she was signed by record mogul

Seymour Stein Seymour Steinbigle (April 18, 1942 – April 2, 2023), known professionally as Seymour Stein, was an American entrepreneur and music executive. He co-founded Sire Records and was vice president of Warner Bros. Records. With Sire, Stein signed ba ...

to Sire Records during the height of the swing revival. Candye released ''Swango'', which was produced by Mike Vernon for Sire/London Records; it was her only major label release. This was followed by her Bullseye Blues/Rounder release, '' The Toughest Girl Alive'', produced by Scott Billington. Next she released four CDs on the German label

Ruf Records Ruf Records is a German independent record label, which was founded in 1994 by Luther Allison’s manager, Thomas Ruf, to promote Allison's career. The motto of the blues label is "Where Blues Crosses Over". The company's office is located in L ...

. Subsequent titles included ''Whole Lotta Love,'' produced by

and ''White Trash Girl'', produced in

Austin Austin refers to: Common meanings * Austin, Texas, United States, a city * Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...

and Mark Kazanoff. In 2007, she released ''Guitar'd and Feathered'' on Ruf Records. The CD was produced by former Muddy Waters guitarist

Bob Margolin Bob Margolin (born May 9, 1949) is an American electric blues guitarist. His nickname is Steady Rollin'. Biography Margolin started playing guitar in 1964, and his first appearance on record was with Boston psychedelic band The Freeborne, and ...

. In 2009, she signed to

Delta Groove Productions Delta Groove Productions is an American blues record label in Van Nuys, California, United States. The label was founded by Randy Chortkoff ( Rand Jay Chortkoff; 1949–2015), a producer, concert promoter, and harmonica player. Chortkoff's biog ...

and released ''Superhero'' in June 2009. She made a "topless" video for the song "All You Can Eat" during which she pounded the keyboards with her bare breasts. She dropped this routine from her act after her first bout with cancer, which caused her to lose over 100 pounds and reduced her bust from 44H to 38D. A stage play about Kane's life debuted at San Diego's Diversionary Theatre in January 2009, directed by Javier Velasco. The play, titled ''The Toughest Girl Alive,'' was based on Kane's memoir about her turbulent life. She was included on the ''Essential Women in Blues'' CD set released by the 'House of Blues' record label and the ''Rock for Choice'' compilation. She appeared on the 1988 compilation ''A Town South of Bakersfield Part II'' on

Enigma Records Enigma Records (also known as Enigma Entertainment Corporation) was a popular rock and alternative American record label in the 1980s. History Enigma Records launched as a division of Greenworld Distribution, an independent music importer/d ...

, which included tracks by

Jim Lauderdale James Russell Lauderdale (born April 11, 1957) is an American country, bluegrass, and Americana singer-songwriter. Since 1986, he has released 31 studio albums, including collaborations with artists such as Dr. Ralph Stanley, Buddy Miller, ...

Katy Moffatt Katherine Louella "Katy" Moffatt (born November 19, 1950) is an American musician, lyricist, composer, vocalist. She is the sister of country singer-songwriter Hugh Moffatt. Midnight radio Moffatt became impassioned by music as a child grow ...

Lucinda Williams Lucinda Gayl Williams (born January 26, 1953) is an American singer-songwriter and a solo guitarist. She recorded her first two albums, ''Ramblin' on My Mind (Lucinda Williams album), Ramblin' on My Mind'' (1979) and ''Happy Woman Blues'' (198 ...

Dwight Yoakam Dwight David Yoakam (born October 23, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and filmmaker. He first achieved mainstream attention in 1986 with the release of his debut album ''Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.''. Yoakam had considerable s ...

and several others.

Songwriting

Among the songs that Kane wrote were "The Toughest Girl Alive" (used on the series ''

Hidden Palms ''Hidden Palms'' is an American teen drama television series that ran on The CW in the United States from May 30 until July 4, 2007. It was canceled after eight first-run episodes. The series, created by Kevin Williamson (screenwriter), Kevin W ...

'' for the CW network); "Who Do You Love" (nominated for an OUT music award); "200 Pounds of Fun" (featured in the motion picture, ''The Girl Next Door''); "For Your Love" (included on an episode of ''

The Chris Isaak Show ''The Chris Isaak Show'' is an American sitcom that follows a fictionalized version of the life of American rock musician Chris Isaak. The show portrays Isaak and his band members as everyday people with everyday problems. The series was produced ...

''); "Please Tell Me a Lie" (used in the motion picture ''Heavy,'' starring

Deborah Harry Deborah Ann Harry (born Angela Trimble, July 1, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Four of her songs with the band reached on the US charts between 1979 and 1981. Born in M ...

); "You Need a Great Big Woman" (used on the Oxygen Network series ''

Strong Medicine ''Strong Medicine'' is an American medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict that aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It was created and produced in part by Whoopi Goldberg, who made cam ...

''); and "The Lord Was a Woman" (recorded by comedian

Judy Tenuta Judy Lynn Tenuta (November 7, 1949 – October 6, 2022) was an American comedian, actress, and comedy musician. She was known for her whimsical and brash persona of "The Love Goddess", mixing insult comedy, observational humor, self-promotion, ...

Later career and touring

At the time of her death, Kane was signed to Vizztone Label Group. She toured worldwide more than 250 days a year and appeared in many festivals, including the

Ascona Jazz Festival Ascona Jazz Festival, or Jazz Ascona, is an annual jazz festival held in Ascona, Switzerland. The 10-day festival takes place from late June to early July on the Swiss shores of Lake Maggiore and is devoted to historical styles of jazz, particula ...

, Midem,

Paléo Festival The Paléo Festival de Nyon, usually just called Paléo, is an annual open-air festival held in Nyon, Switzerland. It is one of the major open-air music festivals in mainland Europe and the biggest in Switzerland. Both a springboard for young t ...

Monterey Jazz Festival The Monterey Jazz Festival is an annual music festival that takes place in Monterey, California, United States. It debuted on October 3, 1958, championed by Dave Brubeck and co-founded by jazz and popular music critic Ralph J. Gleason and jazz ...

Dubai International Jazz Festival The Dubai International Jazz Festival is an annual music festival which is held in February and takes place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 2011 Dubai International Jazz Festival The 2011 Dubai International Jazz Festival was held between th ...

Waterfront Blues Festival The Waterfront Blues Festival is an annual event in Portland, Oregon, United States, featuring four days of performances by blues musicians. The festival started in 1988 and takes place in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, along the west bank of the W ...

, Byron Bay Blues Festival in Australia and

Notodden Blues Festival Notodden Blues Festival (NBF) is one of the largest blues music festivals in Europe and the largest in Scandinavia. The festival is held in Notodden, Norway, usually the first weekend August. It has been running annually since 1988. The festival ...

. She played for the president of Italy at the French embassy in Rome and at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...

, and her music often was featured on B.B. King's Bluesville on XM radio.

Awards

In 2011, Kane was nominated for two Blues Music Awards by the Blues Foundation, BB King Entertainer of the Year, and Best Contemporary Blues Female. Kane was nominated for four

Blues Music Award The Blues Music Awards, formerly known as the W. C. Handy Awards (or "The Handys"), are awards presented by the Blues Foundation, a non-profit organization set up to foster blues heritage. The awards were originally named in honor of W. C. Handy, " ...

s, for the BB King Entertainer of the Year Award, Best Contemporary Blues CD for Superhero, and Best Contemporary Blues Female of 2010. She has won numerous awards, including the Best Blues Band award at the

San Diego Music Awards The San Diego Music Awards is an awards show held annually in San Diego, California, United States, to recognize the best artists and bands in local music. The awards show benefits the San Diego Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedica ...

seven times. Her other honors included Best Blues CD of 2005 at the

; the Trophees France International Award 2004 for Best International Blues Chanteuse and Artist of the Year. She unseated Jewel for Artist of the Year at the San Diego Music Awards and won the California Music Award for Best Swing-Cabaret Artist. In May 2007, Kane won an award for Best Original Blues composition by the West Coast Songwriters Association for her song, "I'm My Own Worst Enemy." In 2012, Kane received a special Courage in Music Award at the San Diego Music Awards ceremonies. In 2014, Kane was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the category "Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year".

Personal life

Kane had two sons, one of whom, Evan Caleb, played drums in her road band for almost 10 years, and on a few of her records. She appeared often at gay pride festivals and identified openly as a bisexual. Kane had become an activist and philanthropist in her later years. In August 2009, she appeared in Dublin, Ireland for the World Congress for Down Syndrome with her United by Music charity.

Health and death

In March 2008, Kane revealed on her website that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was undergoing treatment. This was found to be a

neuroendocrine tumor Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are neoplasms that arise from cells of the endocrine (hormonal) and nervous systems. They most commonly occur in the intestine, where they are often called carcinoid tumors, but they are also found in the pancreas, lu ...

and was successfully resected on April 18, 2008 at UCSD Thornton Hospital. Kane died from the disease at the

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, Tertiary referral hospital, tertiary, 915-bed teaching hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre, academic health science center located in Los Angeles, California. Part of the Cedars ...

in Los Angeles on May 6, 2016, aged 54.

Discography

* ''Coming Out Swingin'' (2013 Sister Cynic/VizzTone) † * ''Sister Vagabond'' (2011 Delta Groove) † * ''One Night in Belgium'' with Sue Palmer (2011 self-release) * ''Superhero'' (2009 Delta Groove) * ''Blues Caravan: Guitars & Feathers'' with Deborah Coleman and Dani Wilde (2008 Ruf) * ''Rich Man's War'' (2008 Ruf) * ''Guitar'd and Feathered'' (2007 Ruf) * ''White Trash Girl'' (2005 Ruf) * ''Best of Doo Wop II'' (2004

Rhino A rhinoceros ( ; ; ; : rhinoceros or rhinoceroses), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) in the family (biology), famil ...

) * ''Diva La Grande'' (2004 Ruf reissue) * ''Whole Lotta Love'' (2003 Ruf) * ''Any Woman's Blues'' (2001 Rounder) * '' The Toughest Girl Alive'' (2000 Bullseye Blues/Rounder) * ''Hard Headed Woman – A Tribute to

Wanda Jackson Wanda LaVonne Jackson (born October 20, 1937) is an American retired singer and songwriter. Since the 1950s, she has recorded and released music in the genres of Rock music, rock, Country music, country and Gospel music, gospel. She was among th ...

'' (2000 Bloodshot) * ''Swango'' (1998

Sire Sire is an archaic respectful form of address to reigning kings in Europe. In French and other languages it is less archaic and relatively more current. In Belgium, the king is addressed as "Sire..." in both Dutch and French. The words "sire" an ...

/London) * ''Essential Women in Blues'' (1997 House of Blues) * ''Diva La Grande'' (1997 Antone's/Discovery) * ''Rock for Choice'' (1996 Enigma) * ''Knockout'' (1995 Antone's) * ''Texas Rocks!'' (1995 Antone's) * ''Home Cookin' '' (1994 Antone's) * ''Burlesque Swing'' (1987 self-release) * ''A Town South of Bakersfield, Part II'' (1986 Enigma) † billed as featuring Laura Chavez

DVD

* ''Blues Caravan: Guitars & Feathers'' with Deborah Coleman and Dani Wilde (2008 Ruf) * ''Candye Kane in Concert'' (2003 Ohne Filter)

Selected filmography

* ''Boobsville Cabaret'' (1998) * ''Best of Breasts 3'' (1995) * ''Blue Vanities S-579'' (1995) * ''Candy's Back'' (1995) * ''Blue Vanities 221'' (1994) * ''Candye Kane'' (1992) * ''Ten Years of Big Busts'' (1989) * ''Bra Breakers Vol. 1'' (1988) * ''Legends of Lust 2: Christy Canyon'' (1987) * ''Let Me Tell Ya Bout Fat Chicks'' (1987) * ''Best of Big Busty'' (1986) * ''Between My Breasts 3'' (1986) * ''Bouncin' in the U.S.A.'' (1986) * ''Big Melons 5'' (1985) * ''2 Tons of Fun'' (1985) * ''Huge Bras 4'' (1985) * ''Big Busty 17'' (1986) * ''Big Busty 14'' (1986) * ''Big Melons 3'' (1985) * ''I Want It All'' (1984) * ''Big Busty 5'' (1984) * ''Candy Girls 4'' (1984) * ''Huge Bras 2'' (1983) * ''Big Busty 3'' (1983)

References

External links

*
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kane, Candye 1961 births 2016 deaths People from Ventura, California American pornographic film actresses Bisexual singers Bisexual songwriters Bisexual pornographic film actresses LGBTQ people from California American LGBTQ singers American LGBTQ songwriters Deaths from pancreatic cancer in California American women country singers American country singer-songwriters Musicians from Greater Los Angeles Singer-songwriters from California Pornographic film actors from California Country musicians from California Ruf Records artists Sire Records artists 20th-century American LGBTQ people 21st-century American LGBTQ people 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American singer-songwriters 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singer-songwriters American bisexual actresses LGBTQ women singers