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All of the songs performed during this event will be those that Etta James had recorded or performed. DK Stewart has been rehearsing all of the performers. the finale of the show will bring out all of the vocalists trading verses on "At Last."

A MESSAGE FROM CANDYE KANE TO THE CITY OF PORTLAND AND ALL THOSE ATTENDING THE TELL MAMA: A TRIBUTE TO ETTA JAMES & BENEFIT FOR CANDYE KANE CONCERT TONIGHT.


Greetings and Big love to everyone from Europe. I am so humbled and honored by your willingness to help me in this great time of need. I am honored by these awesome musicians donating their time on my behalf tonight - honored by Joey Scruggs who has put this evening together - honored by you, the attendees, who have come tonight to offer your support for live music and for me, personally. Honored to be celebrating the life of the incredible Etta James on this same evening. To even be mentioned in the same sentence as Etta James is a true privilege.


I worked with Etta James five times - opening for her in various locations in Southern California including the House of Blues in Los Angeles and the Belly Up Tavern in San Diego. Etta was also a hard knock gal who persevered in the darkest of times. Like all of the singers you will hear tonight, I was inspired by Etta James. Her voice was a true force of nature and her ability to transcend the troubled life she led, was inspiring to all of us. How I wish I could be with you tonight to sing my favorite Etta James song, "I want a Sunday kind of love." But alas, I had obligations here in Europe to agents, promoters, fans and my own hard working band that I could not, in good conscience, cancel. I am here in Europe doing these last few shows before I return home and focus on strengthening and healing.


Portland is a special place for me. Many of my best friends live here and I have considered moving here myself. One of my closest friends, the late Heather Macallister, chose to move to Portland when she was losing her battle with ovarian cancer. She wanted to die with dignity and Portland was the place where she was able to do that, surrounded by people who loved her. The last time I saw her was at my show at Starkys, where she dragged herself from her death bed to come and see me one last time. If I am ever in the position where my cancer is inoperable or incurable, I will move to Portland as well so I can make my last decisions humanely and with the dignity all humans should be afforded. But the right to die is not the only reason Portland is special. Portland is special for a myriad of reasons and most of them are sitting in this room right now. Portland is a unique and beautiful city where the warmth and diversity of its inhabitants can be felt and seen on every corner. From Powells to the Milennium record store, From Voodoo donuts to Duffs Garage, From Darcelles to Starkys, I have felt the love of Portland and made lasting friendships that I cherish. I consider it my second home and certainly my favorite city in the northwestern USA.


Tonight you come together in my honor and in the memory of the great Etta James. I am so humbled by your love. I have a big fight ahead of me and honestly, I am not completely ready. I feel fragile because I am 100 pounds lighter than I was, the first time cancer struck. I feel weak because I have been working so much out here trying to meet my last few obligations. I feel scared because I know how much pain is in store for me - and my scar from the last surgery and the 150 stitches I endured, is still raw and sensitive and now they will cut me open again in the same place and attempt to remove this cancer for good, yet again. But I know I will prevail and part of the reason why is because of your generosity and love, here tonight. Thank you for caring about a girl who isnt even a member of your community. Thank you for caring about someone whom many of you have never even met. I truly believe in karma and that we are all part of a karmic wheel of humanity. I believe we create our own destiny and that we do so by our words and by our deeds. Tonight your deed by being here in this room, is creating a karmic reward for you somewhere else. It may not come tomorrow. It may not come in a form that you even recognize. But believe me, it will come. All of us reap what we sow. I am so grateful to all of you for your love and good will and for the prayers and white healing light you are sending me this evening. Please keep that circle of love coming and especially, light a candle or pray for me to the deity of your choice the morning of April 27th when I undergo this complicated Whipple revision surgery at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles. I may never be able to hug you in person. You may not receive a personal thank you note for me. But please know that your hard earned money and your energy tonight are not in vain. Your money will make it possible for my band to survive during the weeks after my surgery when we are unable to work. Your money will go to help me pay bills and help me survive financially whilst I am healing. Your hard earned money will go to medical bills that are not covered by my Obama care pre existing health plan. Thank you Portland people from the bottom of my heart for your huge hearts and your desire to be here this evening. I will prevail from this current pebble in my path and I will be made better and stronger for it. And rest assured, I will be back in Portland soon, belting out my blues songs of positive affirmation for you. Thank you for your kindness and your love tonight. Thank you for being so wonderful. Thank you for being part of my family -- our human family. May we all continue the circle of love knowing that every kindness we give someone else will return to us tenfold. I send you love, blessings and beauty - and I know it reflects back on me. We are all magnets for love, kindness, compassion and good will and we reflect that on each other with every smile, every positive thought and every gesture of kindness. Thank you for your magnetism this evening. You are all super heros to me.


Big Love and Gratitude,


Candye


When we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success
- Deepak Chopra


www.candyekane.com
www.facebook.com/candyekaneband
Find me at about.me/candyekane

Followed by Rae Gordon.
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The vocal powerhouse LaRhonda Steele was on fire!
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Duffy Bishop closed the night with her own set, followed by all five ladies doing a nice take on "At Last" to finish the show. Will go through more photos tomorrow.
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The venue's website states the room holds 300 people. They added extra seats and had standing room also. I heard the attendance for the night was around 425 people.