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"I have been healing nicely since my pancreatic cancer surgery on May 2," reports blues belter Candye Kane, who's about to embark on a tour of the midwest, east coast, Florida, and then on to France and Holland.
"While I still have some inoperable cancer on my mesenteric artery, I am now on octreotide injections. Octreotide stops this cancer from progressing further and many of my friends have been on the drug for years with terrific results. I have had to introduce the drug slowly to my system with injections three times a day but now I am nearing the end of the trial and will get to the point where I can just have the injection once a month!"
"I visualize with each injection, the evil cancer being isolated and unable to spread, and my body with the injections help, fighting off the invader. It’s a powerful visualization and I believe it is working -- and so, of course, it is!"
Kane will be honored with a "Courage Award" at this year's San Diego Music Awards ceremony, happening August 13 at Humphrey's. All ticket proceeds from the event go to provide musical instruments to students in local schools.
She'll next perform in San Diego on September 28 at Anthology,, along with Gregory Page, and Jimmie Vaughan.
As for Kane's mounting medical bills, "I am so lucky so far, that I still have the pre-existing health care that is paying for most of my medical bills. Although I will likely have to declare bankruptcy at some future date to stave off the other mounting medical bills that my insurance doesn’t cover, I am in a better position now than I was back in 2008 when I was first diagnosed. I had no insurance then, and was denied at every turn so I am grateful today for the revisions President Obama made to the pre-existing health care clause."
With the presidential election looming in November, Kane goes on to say "I know he isn’t a perfect president and many believe he hasn’t done the job he promised he would do. The disillusionment is growing as more and more struggle with unemployment and its fall out. I hope that you are in a better position today than you were five years ago. I send you health, courage and guts. You have the strength inside you now to overcome every obstacle. I truly believe in your internal reservoir and that you can tap in when you need it most."
Raised in a dysfunctional, blue-collar family, Candye Kane became a teenage mother, a pinup cover girl and a punk rock, hillbilly, and blues-belting anarchist by the time she was just 21 years old. Nearly a dozen CDs, six record labels, millions of international road miles, and countless awards later, Miss Kane has proven to be a true survivor as she scrambled her way to the top of the roots music heap, creating a world-renowned reputation that has spanned two decades.
Kane first gained attention after being signed by CBS Records in 1986, though the label later dropped her. Then married to Thomas Yearsley of the Paladins, she was touched by the music of Big Maybelle, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, and more. Her self-released 1991 album Burlesque Swing caught the ear of Texas impresario Clifford Antone, who signed her to a deal with Antone’s Records.
Los Lobos’ Cesar Rosas and Paladin/Hacienda Brother/Stone River Boy Dave Gonzalez co-produced the first album of the deal, Home Cookin’. Picked up by Discovery (later Sire) Records, the Dave Alvin/Derek O’Brien-produced Diva La Grande was followed by Swango, released during the height of the swing craze.
She moved to Oceanside around 1991 and began evolving musically into an accomplished blues belter. Her subsequent battles with cancer became fodder for a new musical based on Kane's early life story. The Toughest Girl in the World debuted in workshops at the Diversionary Theatre in January 2009. The production includes many of her songs, with guest pianist Sue Palmer, a longtime Kane associate.
In summer 2011, she released a new album, Sister Vagabond. “I take things one day at a time and today I am feeling great and very optimistic about my new CD,” Kane says. It’s been awesome to write and co-produce again with my guitarist Laura Chavez. I am grateful for every chance I get to make music live, or in the studio. Most people are given only three months to live after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and three years later, I am still here. So any opportunity I have to create music makes me humbled and grateful.”
“People ask me why I want to work so hard and so much, since I tour 250 days a year. Everyone says I should stay home and relax after my health struggle. But music is my life and neuroendocrine cancer is a mostly manageable disease. I will continue to work as much as I can because I know life is fragile anyway. I would be fine if I died onstage doing what I love like Country Dick Montana or Johnny Guitar Watson. I’m not planning on going anytime soon, but when I do exit this plane, I hope it’s making someone else feel inspired by the powerful words in my songs.”
Her eleventh album Sister Vagabond hit the streets on August 16, 2011, on Delta Groove Records. The album was produced by Kane and her guitarist Laura Chavez -- the same duo did her previous album in 2010, Superhero. Her Toughest Girl Alive autobiographical stage musical opened in New York City on August 14.
Sister Vagabond hit #1 on the Living Blues Charts, as well as earning a pick-to-click slot on the XM/Sirius radio program Bluesville. Her son Evan, after eight years with her touring band, has left the group (“we both agreed it was time to go our separate ways for awhile”), to be replaced by Baldhead Fred Rautmann.
The Blues Foundation 33rd Blues Music Award Nominees included Kane, up for the BB King Entertainer of the year award, as well as best Contemporary Blues Female Artist. Around the same time, her album Sister Vagabond was nominated for a German Blues Award.
2012 Tour dates:
8/9 Michigan Womyn's Festival
8/10 Cleveland, Oh/ Wilbert's with Blue Lunch
8/11 Ann Arbor, Mi/ The Ark
8/13 San Diego Music Awards at Humphrey's
8/14 Washington DC/ The Hamilton
8/16 Richmond, VA/ The Camel
8/17 Lewes, Delaware/ Bethany Blues
8/18 Albany, NY/ Pauly's Hotel
8/19 Marshfield, Mass/ Green Harbor Roots and Blues Festival
8/20 Rockland, ME/ Time Out Pub
8/21 New, Haven/CT Café Nine
8/22 Patchogue, NY/ Bobbique's
8/24 Chicago, Ill/ Fitzgerald's with Bill Kirchen
8/25 Byron, Illinois/ Crossroads Blues festival
9/1 Nantes, France/ Blues Festival (Laura and Candye ONLY)
9/13 Sacramento, CA/ The Torch Club
9/14 Nicasio, CA/ Rancho Nicasio
9/15 San Jose, CA/ Poor House Bistro
9/16 Felton, Ca/ Don Quixotes Music Hall
9/28 ONLY SAN DIEGO APPEARANCE: Anthology w special guest Gregory Page, Jimmie Vaughan
10/5 TBA
10/6 Sonoma. Ca/ Wedding
10/18 Tallahassee, FL/ Bradfordville Blues Club
10/19 Bradenton, FL/ Aces
11/13 Candye's Birthday!
11/14 Bordeaux, France
11/15 Le Havre, FR/ Magic Mirrors
11/17 Paris, FR/ Blues Sur Seine Festival
11/18 Cleon, FR/Blues de Traverse
11/19 and 20 Paris. Fr/ Blues sur Seine workshops
11/21 Le Mans, FR/ So. Blues
11/22 St. George De Didonne, FR/ Complex Colette Besso
11/24 La Couarde Sur Mer (TBC)
11/24 Rouillac, FR/ La Palene
12/7 Tuolomne, Ca/ Black Oak Casino
12/8 Philipsville, CA/ Riverwood Inn
12/10 Ashland, OR/ Alex’s
12/11 Eugene, OR/ Macs at the Vets
12/13 Vancouver, BC/ Vancouver Fan Club
12/14 Seattle, WA/ Hwy 99 Blues Club
12/15 Portland. OR/ Duff's
"I have been healing nicely since my pancreatic cancer surgery on May 2," reports blues belter Candye Kane, who's about to embark on a tour of the midwest, east coast, Florida, and then on to France and Holland.
"While I still have some inoperable cancer on my mesenteric artery, I am now on octreotide injections. Octreotide stops this cancer from progressing further and many of my friends have been on the drug for years with terrific results. I have had to introduce the drug slowly to my system with injections three times a day but now I am nearing the end of the trial and will get to the point where I can just have the injection once a month!"
"I visualize with each injection, the evil cancer being isolated and unable to spread, and my body with the injections help, fighting off the invader. It’s a powerful visualization and I believe it is working -- and so, of course, it is!"
Kane will be honored with a "Courage Award" at this year's San Diego Music Awards ceremony, happening August 13 at Humphrey's. All ticket proceeds from the event go to provide musical instruments to students in local schools.
She'll next perform in San Diego on September 28 at Anthology,, along with Gregory Page, and Jimmie Vaughan.
As for Kane's mounting medical bills, "I am so lucky so far, that I still have the pre-existing health care that is paying for most of my medical bills. Although I will likely have to declare bankruptcy at some future date to stave off the other mounting medical bills that my insurance doesn’t cover, I am in a better position now than I was back in 2008 when I was first diagnosed. I had no insurance then, and was denied at every turn so I am grateful today for the revisions President Obama made to the pre-existing health care clause."
With the presidential election looming in November, Kane goes on to say "I know he isn’t a perfect president and many believe he hasn’t done the job he promised he would do. The disillusionment is growing as more and more struggle with unemployment and its fall out. I hope that you are in a better position today than you were five years ago. I send you health, courage and guts. You have the strength inside you now to overcome every obstacle. I truly believe in your internal reservoir and that you can tap in when you need it most."
Raised in a dysfunctional, blue-collar family, Candye Kane became a teenage mother, a pinup cover girl and a punk rock, hillbilly, and blues-belting anarchist by the time she was just 21 years old. Nearly a dozen CDs, six record labels, millions of international road miles, and countless awards later, Miss Kane has proven to be a true survivor as she scrambled her way to the top of the roots music heap, creating a world-renowned reputation that has spanned two decades.
Kane first gained attention after being signed by CBS Records in 1986, though the label later dropped her. Then married to Thomas Yearsley of the Paladins, she was touched by the music of Big Maybelle, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, and more. Her self-released 1991 album Burlesque Swing caught the ear of Texas impresario Clifford Antone, who signed her to a deal with Antone’s Records.
Los Lobos’ Cesar Rosas and Paladin/Hacienda Brother/Stone River Boy Dave Gonzalez co-produced the first album of the deal, Home Cookin’. Picked up by Discovery (later Sire) Records, the Dave Alvin/Derek O’Brien-produced Diva La Grande was followed by Swango, released during the height of the swing craze.
She moved to Oceanside around 1991 and began evolving musically into an accomplished blues belter. Her subsequent battles with cancer became fodder for a new musical based on Kane's early life story. The Toughest Girl in the World debuted in workshops at the Diversionary Theatre in January 2009. The production includes many of her songs, with guest pianist Sue Palmer, a longtime Kane associate.
In summer 2011, she released a new album, Sister Vagabond. “I take things one day at a time and today I am feeling great and very optimistic about my new CD,” Kane says. It’s been awesome to write and co-produce again with my guitarist Laura Chavez. I am grateful for every chance I get to make music live, or in the studio. Most people are given only three months to live after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis and three years later, I am still here. So any opportunity I have to create music makes me humbled and grateful.”
“People ask me why I want to work so hard and so much, since I tour 250 days a year. Everyone says I should stay home and relax after my health struggle. But music is my life and neuroendocrine cancer is a mostly manageable disease. I will continue to work as much as I can because I know life is fragile anyway. I would be fine if I died onstage doing what I love like Country Dick Montana or Johnny Guitar Watson. I’m not planning on going anytime soon, but when I do exit this plane, I hope it’s making someone else feel inspired by the powerful words in my songs.”
Her eleventh album Sister Vagabond hit the streets on August 16, 2011, on Delta Groove Records. The album was produced by Kane and her guitarist Laura Chavez -- the same duo did her previous album in 2010, Superhero. Her Toughest Girl Alive autobiographical stage musical opened in New York City on August 14.
Sister Vagabond hit #1 on the Living Blues Charts, as well as earning a pick-to-click slot on the XM/Sirius radio program Bluesville. Her son Evan, after eight years with her touring band, has left the group (“we both agreed it was time to go our separate ways for awhile”), to be replaced by Baldhead Fred Rautmann.
The Blues Foundation 33rd Blues Music Award Nominees included Kane, up for the BB King Entertainer of the year award, as well as best Contemporary Blues Female Artist. Around the same time, her album Sister Vagabond was nominated for a German Blues Award.
2012 Tour dates:
8/9 Michigan Womyn's Festival
8/10 Cleveland, Oh/ Wilbert's with Blue Lunch
8/11 Ann Arbor, Mi/ The Ark
8/13 San Diego Music Awards at Humphrey's
8/14 Washington DC/ The Hamilton
8/16 Richmond, VA/ The Camel
8/17 Lewes, Delaware/ Bethany Blues
8/18 Albany, NY/ Pauly's Hotel
8/19 Marshfield, Mass/ Green Harbor Roots and Blues Festival
8/20 Rockland, ME/ Time Out Pub
8/21 New, Haven/CT Café Nine
8/22 Patchogue, NY/ Bobbique's
8/24 Chicago, Ill/ Fitzgerald's with Bill Kirchen
8/25 Byron, Illinois/ Crossroads Blues festival
9/1 Nantes, France/ Blues Festival (Laura and Candye ONLY)
9/13 Sacramento, CA/ The Torch Club
9/14 Nicasio, CA/ Rancho Nicasio
9/15 San Jose, CA/ Poor House Bistro
9/16 Felton, Ca/ Don Quixotes Music Hall
9/28 ONLY SAN DIEGO APPEARANCE: Anthology w special guest Gregory Page, Jimmie Vaughan
10/5 TBA
10/6 Sonoma. Ca/ Wedding
10/18 Tallahassee, FL/ Bradfordville Blues Club
10/19 Bradenton, FL/ Aces
11/13 Candye's Birthday!
11/14 Bordeaux, France
11/15 Le Havre, FR/ Magic Mirrors
11/17 Paris, FR/ Blues Sur Seine Festival
11/18 Cleon, FR/Blues de Traverse
11/19 and 20 Paris. Fr/ Blues sur Seine workshops
11/21 Le Mans, FR/ So. Blues
11/22 St. George De Didonne, FR/ Complex Colette Besso
11/24 La Couarde Sur Mer (TBC)
11/24 Rouillac, FR/ La Palene
12/7 Tuolomne, Ca/ Black Oak Casino
12/8 Philipsville, CA/ Riverwood Inn
12/10 Ashland, OR/ Alex’s
12/11 Eugene, OR/ Macs at the Vets
12/13 Vancouver, BC/ Vancouver Fan Club
12/14 Seattle, WA/ Hwy 99 Blues Club
12/15 Portland. OR/ Duff's