Singer, mother, former kid shoplifter, ex-porn actress, bisexual sex
activist, cancer survivor — Candye Kane’s life is more
fascinating than most of the bawdy blues songs she sings. No telling
why the buxom, consistently brassy California girl hasn’t been the
subject of her own big-screen biopic yet, except maybe no skinny
contemporary actresses would be willing to bulk up for the role. (Maybe
Kate Winslet; it would be nice to see her back in her plump, Titanic
prime again…but I digress.) The once-zaftig Kane has slimmed down
considerably — 75 pounds, she says on her Web site — after
a bout with pancreatic cancer forced her to have the Whipple procedure,
removing part of her stomach, small intestine, bile duct, pancreas and
gall bladder. Now on tour to promote next month’s album, Super
Hero, she certainly hasn’t lost her voluptuous, vocally vigorous
vitality.
This article appears in May 21-27, 2009.