Provost Candy

Article by Kathleen Hay
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December 2, 2008

Candy Provost comes from South of the border. Born in Malone, N.Y., she attend G. Burton School (where she sang her first-solo as a young tyke), then the Franklin Academy Sr. High. Music was always there in her life, whether it was performing in local musicals or singing with the group, Swinging Sounds, whiles till in high school.

Originally, Candy had considered and operatic career. She enrolled in the Crane School of Music at age 17, but then began doing a lot of big band and jazz with the Starlighters.

In 1974, Candy met Loretta Lynn at the Franklin County Fair, in Malone. The star gave her the names of some Nashville contacts she had, including the Hart Family. Candy sent the group a demo, successfully auditioned and found herself performing with them for the next three years.

The group lived at the Regency Towers, in Las Vegas. It was a star-studded existence: Jerry Lewis lived on the floor above, Candy walked Debbie Reynolds' dog and on her 18th birthday, Eddie Arnold sang for her. The Grammy-winning gospel group toured internationally, appeared on Charlie's Angels and even in a movie, J. D. and the Salt Flat Kid.

Life on the road eventually got to her, however, and Candy decided to return home. She began singing at Moira's popular Crossroads where Ed Hebert, of Coco's-fame happened to hear her and suggested she seek singing gigs north of the 49th Parallel.

Candy took his advice. Singing for the next six years with the band, Foxx, in The Taboo Room at the Murray Hill, she not only got gainful employment but met her future husband, Paul, with whom she celebrates a 26th wedding anniversary next year. The couple are parents to Ashley and Evan, and have two grandchildren, Ashton and Sawyer.

While she still enjoys singing jazz and big band, Candy has a special love of contemporary Christian music. She's recorded her own CD, Letter to My Heart, and is a guest artist on Christmas at Homel/Noël chez-nous! She also performed with the group, Walk by Faith, for five years and currently teaches vocals at the Limelight Studio.

She and Paul reside in Cornwall.

Q1. What's your strangest experience on-tour?
For me, it was being in Los Angeles and seeing guys dressed as girls. I was just17. Back then it was very different. Besides, they dressed better than I did!

Q2 What's been your oldest job?
I carhopped in Knobnos - Missouri. I was living with my sister, Sarah, and her husband Eland, Bob, who was in the forces. It wasn't an A & W, but we had to roller-skate out with meals. It was different and fun.

Q3. What's your favourite hymn?
Amazing Grace. It just always has been part of my life. I've known it since I was a little girl

Q4. If you could perform a duet with anyone, who would you choose?
Barbara Streisand. I know it would never happen, but I can dream right? Our duet would be Holy Night. But, if you asked med who may favourites singer is, that's Doris Day. If I was to do a CD with my favourites, those two would be at the top of my list.

Q5. What would your children say gets on your nerves?
My house not being clean or them not picking up after themselves. I like my bed made my way. The Queen's not coming, but I'm here.

Q6. What star has made the greatest impression on you?
It would definitely be Loretta Lynn. She's gone through so much in her own life, and she's still going strong. Her faith keeps her going, I know that. She's lost some of her children and then her husband.

Q7. Where was your favourite place to hang out as a kid?
Oh, my gosh. I just used to like to go out in the open field. We lived on a farm and I liked to go out in the fields by myself, lay down in the grass and watch the clouds go by.

Q8. Have you ever had stage fright?
Many times! For some reason, singing national anthems gets to me. I think it's because of what they represent. The worst was one time when there was a ship docked in Cornwall and they asked me to do the anthem. I got up to sing and I literally blacked-out for five or 10 seconds. Not physically, but mentally. It was very scary and I was very embarrassed. I'm American, but when I sing the American anthem, I have to write the words on my hand so I won't forget.

Q9. What is your favourite time of day?
That's a hard one. I'm so busy. Probably right after coming home from work now. I fix supper for my husband, my son and myself, then relax. A couple of my favourite shows are Star Trek Voyager and Little House on the Prairie. I have no in-between!

Q10. What was your last purchase?
Today I just bought new boots for winter. They're high-heel dress boots. I needed a proper pair.

Q11. What are you known for in the kitchen?

My son likes my chicken divan. That's his favourite. I cook chicken, then put Cheddar broccoli soup, carrots, peppers and things like that in it. It's a really, really good recipe .

Q12: Worst personal fashion faux pas?
That's a good one. My fashion faux pas would definitely be the tight, black leather pants in the mid-70s. Tube tops, too, back then. Shiny ones with the sequins. Of course, our hair was puffy and teased, even the bangs. I'd never want to look like that again!

Q13. Who was your first crush?
It was Tony Tutino. He was my music teacher's son. I was probably in Grade 7 or 8. He was a little bit younger than me, curly black hair - Italian! - and played bass and keyboards .

Q14. What's your ultimate day of relaxation?
Going to a spa. My nails, my pedicure, a facial, massage. Christmas is coming! This is the ultimate day of relaxation for me! Then have a nice chicken dinner, with fresh veggies and fresh spring water .

Q15. Most embarrassing moment on stage?
Oh, this is easy. When I was traveling with the Hart Family we toured to Hong Kong. We were performing at a major hotel. I played a keyboard called a Farfize piano that played like a bass. I was behind it and I had to come around, I slid around to the front of the stage, right on my backside. I didn't know what happened. It turned out in Hong Kong they wax their stages to keep them nice and shiny.

Q16. What's your favourite, Christmas song?
It would have to be The Christmas Song. I love the words and style of it, plus it's romantic and jazzy. That's the kind or music I like .

Q17. What bands did you listen to in high school?
That's a long time ago! ABBA, III especially Chiquitita. But it was more musicals, and not bands I listened to. I grew up on musicals. Grease, of course, and Funny Girl.

Q18. What did you eat for breakfast?
I had a protein shake. Chocolate. Don't drink coffee. I drink Domatcho green tea.

Q19. What's in your DVD player right now?
White Christmas! I love the characters, the whole representation of what it talks about, the costumes.

Q20. In your purse, what do you always carry?
My lipstick. I have to bring my lipstick. Mirror, brush, wallet, driver's license, a little bottle of perfume, hand cream. Bills!