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Candi Staton
Background information
Birth name	Canzetta Maria Staton
Born	March 13, 1943 (1943-03-13) (age 65)
Origin	Hanceville, Alabama
Genre(s)	Gospel, R&B
Occupation(s)	Vocalist/Singer
Instrument(s)	Vocals
Website	http://www.candi-staton.com/

Candi Staton (pronounced IPA: /ˈsteɪtən/; born Canzetta Maria Staton on 13 March 1943 in Hanceville, Alabama) is an American soul and gospel singer. She is best known for her 1976 disco hit "Young Hearts Run Free".

Biography

Early years

Staton sang with the Jewell Gospel Trio as a teenager. They toured the traditional gospel circuit in the 1950's with the Soul Stirrers, C. L. Franklin, and Mahalia Jackson. They recorded several sides for Nashbro, Apollo, and Savoy Records between 1953 and 1963.

Solo career

In 1968, Staton launched 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 country tunes "Stand by Your Man" and "In the Ghetto." ^[1] In 1975, Staton began collaborating with producer Dave Crawford on dance songs such as "Young Hearts Run Free" and "Victim".^[2] In 1997, singer Kym Mazelle recorded "Young Hearts Run Free" for the film adaption of Romeo and Juliet.^[3] Staton collaborated with acclaimed pop/r&b songwriter, Wayne K. Garfield, Change, Luther Vandross, and Janet Jackson on her 1979 album title song "Chance" and album single "When You Wake Up Tomorrow" (co-written by Patrick Adams).

In 1982, Staton returned to Gospel music. She married her fourth and current husband, John Sussewell (drummer for Ashford & Simpson). Together they founded Beracah Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia with help from Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker's PTL Ministries. ^[1] She has since recorded eight Gospel albums, two of which received Grammy Award nominations.

In 1992 she returned to popular mainstream charts with a Top Ten British hit, "You Got the Love," a club-styled dance hit that sold two million copies.^{citation needed} Staton signed with Intersound Records in 1995. In 2000, she released her 11th album, Here's a Blessing. Following the release of a compilation CD entitled Candi Staton in 2004, Staton returned to secular music with her 2006 project His Hands.

Staton's television show New Direction airs on TBN. Staton has also made appearances on the Praise the Lord telecast with Paul Crouch and his wife Jan Crouch. ^[2]

Albums

• I'm Just a Prisoner (1969)
• Stand By Your Man (1971)
• Candi (1974)
• Young Hearts Run Free (1976) UK #34
• Music Speaks Louder Than Words (1977)
• House of Love (1978)
• Chance (1979)
• Candi Staton (1980)
• Suspicious Minds (1982)
• Make Me An Instrument (1983)
• The Anointing (1985)
• Sing A Song (1986)
• Love Lifted Me (1988)
• Nightlites (1989)
• 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)

Singles

• "Young Hearts Run Free" (1976) US #20 UK #2 R&B #1 (1986 re-release #47, 1999 re-release #29)
• "Destiny" (1976) UK #41
• "Nights On Broadway" (1977) UK #6
• "Honest I Do Love You" (1978) UK #48
• "Victim" (1978)
• "When You Wake Up Tomorrow" (1979)
• "Suspicious Minds" (1982) UK #31
• "You Got The Love" (1986) UK #95
• "You Got The Love" (The Source featuring Candi Staton - 1991) UK #4 (1997 re-release UK #3 (Now Voyager Mix), 2005 import release UK #60, 2006 "You Got the Love (New Voyager Mix)" (featuring Candi Staton - re-release) #7 UK)
• "Love On Love" (1999) UK #27
• "I Just Can't Get To Sleep At All" (2000) Energise Records, UK; limited release
• "Love Sweet Sound" Groove Armada featuring Candi Staton (2007)

References