says singer-songwriter Kandi Johnston. She was truly born to sing!
She grew up in the small Western Oklahoma farm town of Custer City.
Raised by her grandparents, the late Vernon and Linda Deaton,
Kandi is the oldest daughter of four children born to Timothy and Janet Johnston.
“Music was definitely in my genes,” says Kandi. Her father, who passed away at the young age of 29,
taught himself how to play the banjo. “Some of my fondest memories are of my
dad playing his banjo,” Kandi recalls. Her grandparents also had the gift of musical talent.
“My grandma wrote songs and played the guitar. She even sang on the radio when she was a young girl.
My grandpa also sang and played the harmonica. For ten long years,
they drove me 30 miles round trip each week for piano and voice lessons.”

While growing up, Kandi was encouraged to share her musical gifts.
At age 15, she was selected to the Sound of America Honor Band and Chorus European Tour
as one of only two Oklahoma Qualifiers. She also won many awards in area talent contests,
honor choirs, show choirs and solo competitions.

Kandi received a scholarship to study voice at Oklahoma City University where
she went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in music. While at OCU, she consistently performed lead roles in
OCU productions, was a member of the Surrey Singers, toured Singapore and Malaysia with the musical
The Boyfriend and was Ambassador of Song for the University singing in area Oklahoma churches.
While in college, Kandi directed church choirs and played the piano for several area congregations.

Fate has a funny way of directing our lives. “Although I have always known in my heart that country music
was my soul, opportunity and fate led me in the opposite direction of Nashville,”
After finishing her degree at OCU, Kandi was given the opportunity to further her musical
education at the University of Southern California where she earned a Masters Degree in Vocal Arts.

It was after moving to sprawling Los Angeles that fate again played an unexpected
hand in Kandi’s future. It was at USC that she met fellow musician George McIntyre.
A long way from Anderson, South Carolina, George was also pursing a Masters Degree
in Guitar and Recording Engineering. Kandi has spent the past several years writing songs
and performing with George in and around the Los Angeles area.
Last year, Kandi was the opening act for the legendary country swing band, Asleep At The Wheel.
She has also toured extensively in Oklahoma and Southern California.

Most recently, Kandi sang the National Anthem for a Dodger’s baseball game at Dodger Stadium.
Kandi’s debut CD entitled “Chance On Change” was released last year
on their own independent record label called Friday At Five Records. George and Kandi co-wrote
and produced all of the songs and George also recorded, mixed, and played guitar
on the album. “George is the wizard behind the curtain,” says Kandi.
“He made this CD (my dream) a reality.”

With a rare talent and a gift for delivering captivating, energetic performances,
Kandi’s music will enlighten you heart and set your spirits ‘a dancin.’ Her songs are
a tour of her soul and her voice like a velvet bath of warmth and beauty.
She captivates her listeners with her energetic voice and “true to the heart” words.