Candye Kane's blues revival
Candye Kane's blues revival
March 19, 2010
OregonLive.com
eing a porn star isn't the dead-end job it once was. Just ask Candye Kane. The voluptuous blues belter is revered by serious fans of the music, including Dan Aykroyd, Rolling Stone magazine and Penn Jillette of twisted magic duo Penn and Teller.
She was included in the "30 Essential Women of the Blues" compilation produced by the House of Blues record label. Not bad for somebody who started her life as an adult model and actress.
Far from being embarrassed by her former life, Kane has embraced it, routinely adding her voice to a number of related causes, including Rock for Choice. She participated in the World Congress for Downs Syndrome with her United by Music charity in Dublin last year.
Whatever else her life is about, Kane is best known for her music and especially her voice, which is as big as her stage presence. Incorporating traditional singing, growling, moaning, shouting and all other manners of vocalizations, her live shows are a bit like a revival meeting for blues fans, feminists and social outcasts alike.
She intersperses her performances with stories from her life. These can range from the savagely funny to the heartbreaking, and the connection between fan and performer is often reminiscent of a breakthrough in therapy or a moment of religious epiphany.
Kane released her 10th album, "Superhero," last year. It was produced with 27-year-old guitarist Laura Chavez, who plays in Kane's live band. The album has been nominated for three 2010 National Blues Foundation Awards.
