Candi Staton
March 13, 1940
2014 Inductee

A native of Hanceville, AL., Candi Staton has received Grammy nominations in both Rhythm and Blues and Gospel categories during her illustrious career. She began traveling with the Jewell Gospel Trio at age 13.

Her secular career began in the early 70s in Muscle Shoals where she recorded classic rhythm and blues hits such as “I’d Rather Be an Old Man’s Sweetheart (Than a Young Man’s Fool),” “I’m Just a Prisoner (of Your Good Lovin’),” “Sweet Feeling,” “Stand by Your Man,” and a cover of “In the Ghetto” that remains nearly as celebrated as Elvis Presley’s original. All of these songs were recorded under FAME Recording Studios, which were distributed by Capitol Records.

Moving on to other labels, Miss Staton recorded the million sellers "Young Hearts Run Free" and "Disco Hit Victim". She has shared the stage with artists such as Mac Davis, Al Green, Bobby Womack, Freda Payne, Ashford and Simpson, B.B. King, Boz Scaggs, Little Richard, The Commodores, Johnny Mathis and Donny Hathaway.

In 1979, Miss Staton was a special guest of President Jimmy Carter during the Black Music Association Dinner on the White House lawn, along with Andrae Crouch, Joe Williams and Chuck Berry.

In 1980, she began her move into gospel music, and has since created her own label and established a long running television series, "New Direction", on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.

In 2014, Staton’s career came full circle with the release of Life Happens, which featured Rick Hall’s final production before his retirement and eventual passing: “I Ain’t Easy to Love,” which paired Staton’s soulful croon with two of the many artists she’s influenced, Jason Isbell and The Civil Wars’ John Paul White. “Maybe it was God’s will that I was his last project,” Staton ponders. “Rick loved me more than just as an artist. We had a great relationship. I still miss him.”