Fireside Chat

Candi Staton

Honest Jon's, EMI, Atlanta

From early days in gospel to a signature southern soul sound, from disco diva to British club heroine and back to gospel again, Candi Staton's career is a full and varied one. Candi Staton (pronounced Stay-ton btw) has been a force in modern music for a half century, defying musical industry odds and overcoming a number of personal hurdles to become one of the greatest singers of her generation. Leaving gospel for soul in the late sixties propelled her to Fame (Studios). She amassed a number of smash top 10 R&B hits including 'I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart (Than To Be A Young Man's Fool)' and 'Sweet Feeling', before emerging again as a princess in the disco field with another trail of successes including the disco classic 'Young Hearts Run Free'. In the early eighties she returned to the church and to her gospel roots and has since recorded quite a number of popular gospel albums, though making a brief foray back into the pop scene in 1992 with 'You've Got The Love', a two million copy selling rave anthem. Still going strong, we are honored to be bestowed with a glimpse into the life of our 'Sweetheart of Soul'.