The Music Preservation Society, Inc.’s W.C. Handy Festival Committee proudly presents Alabama Music Hall of Fame 2014 Inductee Candi Staton, with special guests Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter John Paul White of Civil Wars fame, and legendary veteran singer Donnie Fritts as featured performers at this year’s W.C. Handy Headline Concert. These performers, all of whom have ties to the Shoals, are connected. John Paul White says he’s “happy to work with Candi.” Donnie Fritts, in turn, says “It’s always an honor to work with John Paul”. The headline concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at the Norton Auditorium on the University of North Alabama campus.
Candi Staton, known as the First Lady of Southern Soul – a reputation she earned with her string of gritty southern Top Ten R&B hits recorded in the early ’70’s at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, AL – was hailed by the end of the decade as a disco diva for her danceable songs such as the 1976 #1 R&B smash hit “Young Hearts Run Free.” Then, for twenty years she sang gospel music exclusively before launching an Americana career with 2006’s critically acclaimed album “His Hands” (including a harrowing title track about domestic abuse). She has performed internationally and is continuing a six-decade career. Now, this Alabama native is returning to her Muscle Shoals roots on the 27th album, “Life Happens” (Beracah Records/Fame Records), and returning “home” to bring her vocal magic to the Handy Festival Stage. Staton said, "I am so excited to be a part of The Handy Festival in the Shoals area where I started. It's been a long time coming, but I'm finally going to spend an evening with some of the most wonderful people that I've known for many years. Come out and let's have an amazing evening!" The album shows the talents of other Shoals vocalists and musicians with ties to the Shoals. The first cut, “I Ain’t Easy To Love” features John Paul White and Jason Isbell on vocals with Candi. Whether she’s singing Southern Soul, Disco, Country, Gospel, Inspirational, or Americana, Candi Staton has the gift, and she uses it well.
