BIRMINGHAM RECORD COLLECTORS
DEDICATED TO THE COLLECTING OF MUSIC, ITS PRESERVATION AND LASTING FRIENDSHIP
THIS MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE SECOND SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
NEXT MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE HELD THE FIRST SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH AT 2:00 PM
HOMEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY 1721 OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209
THIS MONTH’S MEETING
At our September meeting we will spend part of it post-record show break-down. Looking at the figures, success and any changs that may make for a better show. After the business part of the meeting, we will spin tunes specifically those by our 2026 BRC Music Hall Of Fame inductee, Candi Staton. Her bio is below so you can brush up on or introduce yourself to her successful career. Drop by and enjoy the fun, music and fellowship.
Next month we will have our local ‘group harmony’ specialist, BRC member Bob Friedman spinning more tunes and educate us with his knowledge of the groups, labels and composers. I know you will enjoy his presentation. NEXT MONTH’S MEETING WILL BE THE FIRST SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH
2026 RECORD SHOW
The 2026 BRC Record Show was another successful show. Thanks to all those whom participated in making sure we can still do such an event as this. It is not easy and does not just happen. If you have not helped out in the past be sure to ask ‘What can I do’ next year. We need you!!
2026 BRC MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
CANDI STATON
Although we were not able to have Candi Staton attend our show this year, we are very pleased to have her as an inductee in our Music Hall Of Fame. Contact with Candi will still go on and maybe one day we can have her come over as our guest at a monthly meeting or in some other way get to meet her. This bio was put together by BRC member and our HOF chairman Martin Johnson. Thanks to Martin for taking time to do this.
Canzetta Maria Staton was born in Hanceville, Alabama on March 13, 1940. Known as the “First Lady of Southern Soul”, Candi launched her singing career at the tender age of four in her local church. As a pre-teen, Candi and her sister Maggie were sent to Nashville, Tennessee for school. While attending Jewell Christian Academy, Candi’s vocal abilities were soon noticed by her fellow students and the school’s pastor. Impressed by her voice, the pastor paired Candi and her sister with a third girl, Naomi Harrison, and they formed the Jewell Gospel Trio. As teenagers, the group toured the traditional gospel circuit during the1950’s with the Soul Stirrers, C. L. Franklin and Mahalia Jackson.
Following a successful gospel career, Candi transitioned to secular music in the late 1960’s after meeting Clarence Carter. In 1968, she was introduced to Rick Hall by Carter and began her solo career as a Southern soul stylist. She recorded16 R&B hits for Hall’s FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Candi earned the previously mentioned title of “First Lady of Southern Soul” for her Grammy-nominated R&B renditions of “Stand by Your Man” and “In the Ghetto”. Candi appeared on the September 23, 1972 airing of Soul Train.
In 1976, Candi began collaborating with producer David Crawford on disco songs such as “Young Hearts Run Free”, which reached No. 1 on the US R&B charts, and went Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of 1976. In 1979 from her album Chance, Candi released the single “When You Wake Up Tomorrow” and the title song “Chance”, a top 20 R&B charted record. Another dance club chart hit included “Victim”.
Candi’s disco music was extremely popular in Europe and her recordings charted frequently in the United Kingdom. In 1991, she performed the vocals on The Source’s “You Got the Love”. This recording was a huge success in the UK.
Candi signed with Intersound Records in 1995. In 2000, she released Here’s a Blessing. In 2004, the British record label Honest Jon’s released a compilation album of her soul work from the late 1960s and early 1970s, eponymously titled Candi Staton. She followed that production up with a secular project in 2006 entitled His Hands, produced by Mark Nevers of the band Lambchop. Two of Candi’s children, Cassandra Williams-Hightower (background vocals) and Marcus Williams (drums), joined her on the album. A second studio album for Honest Jon’s, Who’s Hurting Now? was released in 2009.
She and Rick Hall reunited to make a half dozen more tracks for the 2014 Southern soul album, Life Happens. The track “I Ain’t Easy to Love”, featured Jason Isbell and John Paul White (formerly of The Civil Wars). The trio performed this song on Late Show with David Letterman. Candi’s latest album, Back to My Roots was released in 2025.
Candi received five Grammy Award nominations:
1971 Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Stand by Your Man”
1973 Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “In the Ghetto”
1984 Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female for “Make Me an Instrument”
1987 Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female for “Sing A Song”
2026 Best Roots Gospel Album for Back to My Roots
The five-time Grammy nominee and Christian Music Hall of Famer has moved between soul, R&B, gospel, disco and even electronic dance music (EDM).
Canzetta Maria Staton lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
THIS MONTH IN ROCK ‘N’ ROLL HISTORY
One of the biggest events that occurred in the month of September in R&R History would be Elvis’ first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. That happened on September 9. 1956 and ‘The rest is history’. I have a feeling that some of our members watched Elvis that night. If you did, tell me about it and I will put your comments in next month’s newsletter.
Along the same line of ‘The rest is history’, on September 16, 1963 The Beatles released ‘She Loves You’ in the US. This was on the Swan Record Label and although it did not chart, it laid the groundwork for what was to come just 4 months later.
See ya,
Charlie