Candye Kane obit

Blues Diva Candye Kane Has Passed

 She was not on the list.

Candye Kane, the West Coast blues diva known as “The Toughest Girl Alive” died at 10 pm, May 6th, 2016 at the age of 54 after an 8 year battle with pancreatic cancer.  The sad news came from her son, Evan Caleb Yearsley, who was a one-time drummer in his mother’s band.

Kane was born November 13th, 1961 in Ventura, California and performed opera, punk and country before finding inspiration in the brash stylings of artists such as Bessie Smith, Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thornton while majoring in women’s studies.  A talented songwriter, her poignant and sometimes comically self-deprecating lyrics were the stuff of legend.

In 2008, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and a neuroendocrine tumor was successfully removed. The cancer reappeared in 2011 and although feeling the effects, with lots of medication and frequent hospital visits, she continued to tour, playing over 250 shows a year, never losing hope and preaching that faith is what keeps us going.

Her 2013 release, Coming Out Swingin’ was the third project with her phenomenally talented guitarist and constant companion, Laura Chavez and took the boogie blues world by storm. Her non-stop touring, combined with the album’s success garnished her a nomination at the Blues Music Awards for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year, her fourth BMA nomination.

Kane had been hospitalized since January 4th of this year at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles.  In one of her last Facebook posts from February, she semi-joked, “Leave it to me to get the weirdest cancer and the rarest condition anywhere!“, but quickly followed it up with her wish that she could leave the hospital and return to music, “It is what gives my life meaning”.

The powerful, barrelhouse voice and never quit attitude of Ms Kane will be missed beyond measure.

Candice Caleb (November 13, 1961 – May 6, 2016), known professionally as Candye Kane, was an American adult film star, and later a blues singer. She loved to sing as a young girl and appeared on "The Gong Show," as a child. She dreamed of a successful music career and performed at some music gigs, but worked in the adult entertainment industry briefly in the early to mid 1980s during pornography's golden age to help finance her music career. Candye was recognized as an award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer in the blues and jazz genres.

Kane was born Candice Caleb in Ventura, California. She was raised in Highland Park, a Los Angeles suburb.

Candye was accepted into the University of Southern California's music conservatory's junior opera program in 1976, but she disliked opera and dropped out. She became part of the punk rock music scene of the early 1980s. She started country punk bands and befriended and shared the stage with musicians as diverse as Black Flag, Social Distortion, James Harman, The Circle Jerks, Los Lobos, The Blasters and Lone Justice. In 1985, she caught the attention of CBS/Epic A&R Head, Larry Hanby. She was signed to a developmental deal and recorded her first demo with Grammy winner Val Garay. Kane was marketed as a country singer, but CBS dropped her upon learning of her controversial past.

When she turned 18, she turned to adult modeling and stripping to make some money, appearing in videos and over 150 magazines from 1983 to 1995. Eventually she worked as a columnist for Gent magazine.