Candi Staton

Candi Staton is a legend on the global dance scene thanks to tracks such as “Young Hearts Run Free,” “Hallelujah Anyway” and “You Got The Love.” Staton was born March 13, 1940 in Hanceville, AL. She sang with The Jewel Gospel Trio before launching an R&B career with southern soul hits such as “Stand By Your Man” (1970) and “In the Ghetto” (1973) for Rick Hall’s Fame Records. Later, she cut disco-tinged hits such as the 1976 million-seller “Young Hearts Run Free” and “Victim.” Discouraged by her personal life, Staton became a born-again Christian in 1982 and began a 20 year run as a gospel-only artist that resulted in hits like “Mama.” Staton’s 1986 track “You Got the Love” was remixed by DJ Eren Abdullah in 1991 and became a Top 5 UK Pop smash. Later remixes by John Truelove (1997) and The Shapeshifters (2006) also reached the UK Top Ten. Staton has since recorded Americana albums such as the critically-acclaimed "His Hands" (2006). The "Life Happens" set birthed “I Ain’t Easy to Love” featuring Jason Isbell and John Paul White. Rolling Stone magazine hailed it as one of the 25 best country recordings of 2014. In recent years, Staton has collaborated with Groove Armada, and Top DJs such as Larse, Frankie Knuckles, Dr. Shiver and Pete Tong. Her voice was sampled on the hook of One eskimO’s No. 1 hit, “Kandi” (2009). Nashville’s Thirty Tigers label will release a new Staton Trippy-soul set “Unstoppable” in August 2018.