Candi Staton On 'Muscle Shoals,' Racism, 'Young Hearts'

Candi Staton, disco, soul and gospel singer, best known for the 1976 #1 hit "Young Hearts Run Free," is featured in the new documentary Muscle Shoals. The film celebrates the famous Muscle Shoals, Ala., recording studios where some of the most memorable songs in the American canon were recorded, including hits by Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Percy Sledge, the Rolling Stones and Staton herself. "You sing what comes out of your spirit," Staton told Uinterview exclusively. "When we got together with the microphones in the studio those things just kind of came out in our music, the feeling, the hurt, the emotions. We sung life songs, songs that meant something to people."

While recording in Muscle Shoals, Staton could not foresee the impact the sound would have on musical culture worldwide. "I just wanted to make a hit record, so I could feed my family. I am as much in awe as anyone else — that a little country girl from a small town would make it this far."

Staton had faced prejudice living in the South, so she was shocked by the racial harmony in the recording studio. "I was quite surprised when I walked in the studio, being from Alabama, [races] just didn’t mix that well. You got looked at real funny if you walked in with a bunch of white guys," said Staton. "When we got in the studio… we were just musicians. We were just people who loved the music, so that was a big hurdle we got over. I think in a small way we were able to break down some of the racial barriers."