Candi Staton was born in Hanceville, Alabama, U.S.A., and her first steps into the World of music was with Gospel Music. Her first notable success was as a member of the Jewel Gospel Trio, marrying her first husband during this period, but leaving the group and her then husband for her own career.
She was eventually discovered by the great Clarence Carter performing at a club, who pushed her towards the Fame label as a solo singer.
Clarence wrote her first hit, the uncompromising "I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart (Than A Young Man's Fool)", and directed Candi through her early releases.
At this point and due primarily to her successful version of Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man", she followed a Country Music direction. Candi married Clarence Carter around this time, although this relationship eventually ended as a divorce.
Candi left the Fame label for Warner Brothers in 1974, and two years later "Young Hearts Run Free" became a pop style hit, followed by "Nights On Broadway" penned by the Bee Gees Gibb brothers, and becoming a top ten hit in the U.K. and other countries.
The singer continued to have sporadic chart success, especially in the U.K., and a big U.S.A. R&B hit "You Got The Love" in collaboration with the Force, was a popular dancefloor track in 1991 and a top 40 hit in the U.K.
Candi's list of albums is as follows:- "I'm Just A Prisoner" (1969), "Stand By Your Man" (1971), "Candi Staton" (1972), "Candi" (1974), "Young Hearts Run Free" (1976), "Music Speaks Louder Than Words" (1977), "House Of Love" (1978), "Chance" (1979), "Candi Staton" (1980), "Suspicious Minds" (1982), "Make Me An Instrument" (1985), "Love Lifted Me" (1988), "Stand Up And Be A Witness" (1990), and various other compilations, but a very prolific amount of recordings.
Candi now spends most of her time singing Gospel or touring concerts, but will always be a "Soul Gem".
