Born three months premature, Candi weighed just two and a half pounds. She spent the next two months in an Incubator where she lost her sight.

Growing up, Candi rode her bicycle and skateboard, learned  Judo, horse back riding, navigated in road rallys, and tried surfing. She went to the local public schools, was sent on errands, and was never cloistered or sheltered.

Learning to Play

Before she was two, it was noticed that Candi was attracted to music on the radio, and her parents began playing 78's to her delight, so much so, that she learned to operate the turntable herself shortly after her third birthday.. At 3 1/3 years, Candi received an Emenee Golden Pipe Organ chord organ for Christmas, at 5, she began playing piano from memory, progressing to fully chorded music with harmony, rhythm and embellishments by the time she was seven, began playing organ at age seven, and performing organ, piano  and vocals in concert a month past her eighth birthday, about the same time she began receiving piano lessons.

At seventeen, Candi first heard a theatre organ in person and immediately switched from Hammonds to pipes. Though Candi made the change from Hammond to Unit Orchestra, she did not change her musical preferences. As a result, her reception by the theatre organ establishment was cool.

Education

Candi graduated with honors from high school and completed 2 years of college. She received private lessons in classical organ from Richard Purvis,  in popular organ from Gordon Kibbee,  classical piano from Nella Bettinger, Victoria Bond & Maurice Zam, and Voice from Lois Wells.

Pipe and Pizza’s

Candi played in pizza parlors for seven and a half years. Some patrons loved to hear their favorites, others loved to challenge Candi by requesting obscure pieces, and if Candi didn’t know it (she usually did), she would by the following week.

Band Participation

Candi was ‘front girl’ for the ‘Paul Beaver Combo’ singing and playing organ and piano. She also played keyboard for the ‘White Horse Band,’ a country band for a year and a half, providing bass, fiddle, piano and vocals.

 Convention Concerts

Candi has appeared in 5 American Theatre Organ Society conventions and one Theatre Organ Society of Australia  convention.

Church Organist

Candi presently plays at 'Saint James Episcopal Church' in Langhorne PA. This is her 4th church assignment.

Recordings

Candi has made 6 recordings, ‘Candi’ (LP), ‘Just For You’ (LP &  CD), ‘Sweet City Woman’ (LP), ‘Candi Carley in Concert’ (Cassette), ‘Joy’ (Cassette & CD), and ‘Sharing the Love’ (CD).