Thursday, May 10th 2007
"Clean Boots For Candye"

Exciting recollection by Jason Heath-Fitzgerald:

I realized that the evening was going to be a special event when I found myself cleaning my boots.

It was Sunday, May 6th; Matthew and I had been in Oklahoma City since Friday afternoon. After a week burdened with the move to our new house, Matthew had a show Friday evening with Sonja Martinez and Ginger Lamar at Partners, it was a wonderful show, however that is different story, I digress.

So, there I was standing in front of the mirror in room 110 at The Habana Inn. I'd dressed and put my freshly cleaned and shaped hat on my head when I looked down at my boots. Ugh. Now, those of you who know me know that I rarely clean my boots. Scuffs, mud and dust are quite normal no matter what I'm doing or where I'm going. But this night, right before leaving for VZD's, I felt that dust and dried mud just wasn't going to work.

I looked around the sink basin and found a dirty rag laying on the floor. Running some hot tap water on it and givin' it a wring, I threw my foot up on the sink and started scrubbing. The dust came off, the dried mud stuck to the heel came off too. The scuffs were still there, I had no polish with me to cure them, but this was still an improvement. I put my boot back on the floor and threw the left foot up on the sink. I started scrubbing away and it was that moment the thought popped into my head: 'I'm cleaning my boots!' That was when I realized that I was due for an important evening, I was going to see Candye Kane live for the first time.

Now comes an explanation. All of my life I've held a few entertainers near to my heart, to risk sounding like a freak, I'll say I idolize them. Tina Turner, Ginger Lamar, Kay Starr, Stevie Nicks and Candye Kane. Those are the big goddesses in my life story. I can't tell you how many moments in my childhood that I would rely on divas to help me through the rough times. I can still recall closing myself in my bedroom listening to Tina, Kay, Stevie or Donna Summer, Judy, Bette, Barbra, Liza, Dolly... I think you get the picture. If only Tina, Kay and Stevie knew how many bad times they've gotten me through in my 33 years.

Then there is Candye. Wow. What an entertainer. I can remember the first time I heard her, I stopped in my tracks and said- 'Who is that?!' When I heard the name I didn't recognize it, but after doing a Internet search for photos, I recognized her face quickly. I had been familiar with her brief history in adult entertainment. Yes, folks, I am gay, but a gay man can still have great respect for a beautiful female chest and Candye Kane has a chest one is not likely to forget.

My idolization of Candye Kane began.

Then last year Candye was recording her latest album 'Guitared and Feathered,' which is due out this month, a friend of my who is a phenomenal photographer in Hollywood was recruited to shoot the cover photograph. Alan Mercer is not only an amazing photographer, but an all around nice guy. He dropped me an email and told me the exciting news then kept me posted on the progress. When Candye was preparing to take off on her tour it was Alan who put me in touch with Candye via email- Thanks Alan!

It was wonderful that Candye took the time to drop me an email earlier this year, however I didn't understand what a great person she was until I met her in person.

So, Matthew and I set out for VZD's about 7pm along with Mark, a friend from Missouri. We arrived early enough to catch one of the tables nearest the stage and order a quick bite to eat from the restaurant. We were soon joined by A.J. another friend of ours who has recently moved to the Oklahoma City area.

Before Candye and her band were to perform, Oklahoma City's Stockyard City Band took the stage. It was the first time that we had seen the perform and they were very good.

While watching them the front entrance door opened and in strutted Candye Kane looking gorgeous in her dress and cowboy boots and carrying a confident air. She went past our table and disappeared somewhere behind us.

I was happy just seeing her and the four of us chatted about her a moment while watching the band perform. Then after a few minutes passed I noticed out of the corner of my eye a figure walking up to the bar that ran the length of the club to my left. Turning my head I noticed it was Candye ordering a drink and taking a seat on a bar stool. She received her cocktail sipped it carefully and slung her right foot up on the stool next to her. I realized I was staring and scolded myself for being so rude and turned my attention back to the stage. My mother taught me at a young age that staring was not appropriate.

A few minutes later I chanced another glance over to see if Candye was still seated at the bar, she was and to my amazement, she was looking directly at me, I quickly glanced away, not wanting her to think I was looking at her, but then thought that maybe that was rude also, so in turn looked back up at her.

When I looked back she squinted as if trying to place who I was, then she smiled a big smile and waved me over. I was so honored that she recognized me from my photographs. I left our table and walked over to her, to my surprise she rose from her bar stool and reached out and took both of my hands in hers and greeted me. After telling me that I'm more handsome in person we chatted briefly about nothing specific, then she told me she was wanting to ask the Stockyard City Band if she could do a country number with them. I told her that would be great and I was going to head back to my table.

Arriving back at my table Matthew and the guys were smiling at me, cause they knew that Candye had just made my night and they were right. When the band reached the end of their number Candye approached the stage and I could here her asking if she could do a number with them and, of course, they quickly agreed. Candye took the stage and she crooned out "It's Crying Time Again" and then "Walking After Midnight." It was great! Then she left the stage and disappeared to the back.

After the Stockyard City Boys were finished Candye's Band set up and took the stage, then out comes Candye. Wow! She was amazing. I have to say that she did not disappoint. Her voice is ever more amazing in person! I can't tell you what my favorite part of the performance was, but I know that my friends greeted 'White Trash Girl' with great enthusiasm.

When she was finished performing folks lined up to meet Candye and take photographs, she was very gracious and took her time with each fan, signing CD's and posing for photos. We kind of hung back and waited until the line thinned down before we went up to talk. She thanked all of us for coming out, signed a CD to Matthew and me, then posed for photos with us. I thanked her and stuttered around for a minute then looked at her and said- 'okay, I'm going' We left and I was on top of the world. Thanks Candye!

And now, I sit and write this BLOG in El Dorado, Arkansas. It's been four day since I met Candye Kane and I meant to write about it the day after, but events kept unfolding to elude that.

After we left VZD's Sunday night, we stopped by The Copa to see the end of the Miss Southwest pageant, then on to our favorite bar Tramps. Needless to say, those 'big girl drinks' at Tramps did me in and I crawled into bed that night. The next day we headed back to McAlester to our new home, where I was surprised by a inimical head and chest cold, which turned into an uncontrollable cough on Wednesday.

Now we are at The Best Western and tomorrow night Matthew will be performing for 'The Timothy Higginbottom Memorial AIDS Benefit' at Visions here in El Dorado.

Love To All.
Jason Heath-Fitzgerald

A Candye Kane shot by Alan Mercer
visit Alan's site at:
www.alanmercer.com

Visit Candye's site at:
www.candyekane.com