THE KANDI KANES
There were a lot of local rock-n’-roll music groups when I was growing up in the late 1950s’ in Indiana.
That was true of so many areas around the country in the mid to late 1950s’. Ask anyone from that time, and I bet they can name you a local group or band they thought was special. In my home area I remember a group called the Fascinators, and another group was The Five Chords or Boone Dunbar.
Local remotes on the radio with local talent was very common. I can remember driving the strip on a Saturday night at 9 p.m. and hearing a disc jockey Bob Rousch or Johnny Palmer bring on the Noel Davenport Trio, "live" from the Wayne Newton American Legion Post.
I was reminded of another group today as I was driving my old Corvette with the top down and listening to an oldies cassette. The group was called the Kandi Kanes. No, they were never famous and never appeared on American Bandstand or toured with Dick Clark’s caravan. They appeared at high school reviews, social clubs, service clubs and your grandmother’s birthday party. Maybe even a Tupperware party. But yes, I do remember them. My cousin, Mona, was a member of the group, as was my childhood friend, Janet. She, her brother and I have stayed in touch over the years. Janet and I rode the Ferris wheel a time or two at the county fair. Well maybe more than a "time or two."
“May You Always”
May you always walk in sunshine, slumber warm
when night winds blow
May you always live with laughter,
for a smile becomes you so
May good fortune find your doorway,
may the bluebirds sing your song
May no trouble travel your way,
may no worry stay too long
May your heartaches be forgotten,
may no tear be spilled
May old acquaintance be remembered,
and your cup of kindness filled
And may you always be a dreamer,
may your wildest dream come true
I’ve been wondering about contacting the group to see if they would be interested in doing one of those reunion tours that old rock groups are doing today. As we said they never appeared on American Bandstand or toured with Dick Clark but they had their circle of influence.
But I have hopes for the Kandi Kanes and so many others that I knew and were a part of my life during this time. For all of them I hope they have walked in sunshine, lived with laughter, found good fortune, not worried too long, their heartaches have been forgotten, and that old acquaintance have been remembered and that their dreams have come true. Really a wish for all of us.
Today when I hear a song from that time those old groups still live on in my mind and that includes the Kandi Kanes.
July 27, 2013
Keep on,
Larry Adamson