Candye Kane, who performs at Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge on Jan. 9, might well be San Diego’s greatest musical ambassador. On the road worldwide for up to 250 dates a year, Kane has led an amazing life. A songwriter, playwright, former adult film star and activist, her biggest challenge to date has been a 2008 bout with a neuroendocrine tumor, which sidelined her for several months. She has been able to overcome the disease, however, ramping up her live performances to a level even more intense than was true before her illness. It all lends credence to the title of her first play, “The Toughest Girl Alive.” Though Kane is a mainstay of local stages and has played the Humphrey’s outdoor summer festival stage numerous times — opening for the likes of The Temptations — she hasn’t performed at the Backstage Lounge in well over a decade. Kane arrived in San Diego in 1986, following love and her soon-to-be first husband south from Los Angeles. She released her first album “Burlesque Swing” the following year, setting in motion a career now 10 albums and countless compilations deep. While Kane is known today for her blues singing, she started out at the opposite end of the musical spectrum: opera. “I had a scholarship when I was 14 to the USC music conservatory,” Kane said. “It was their junior music program for people who didn’t have money. They wanted me to sing opera then. “My teacher was really into it and gave me lots of records at the time — Maria Callas, Beverley sills etc.,” she said. “But I really wasn’t into it, I like singing the songs I heard on radio.” She said her first key influence was Linda Ronstadt. “Once I discovered her, I discovered writers like Hank Williams Sr. and Lowell George,” Kane said. “From that, I started discovering different types of music.” The blues were still a little ways off, as Kane first made a stop as a country singer with her debut group, The Armadillo Stampede, along side noted guitarist Will Ray, later of the Hellacasters. Kane scored a record deal with CBS, only to lose it when the company began to make demands. “I lost the deal because I wouldn’t lose weight or compromise my integrity by lying about my past,” Kane said. “I preferred to be honest, and the price I paid was I lost my $150,000 deal with CBS. But honesty was very important to me.” Though that was definitely a low point in Kane’s career, she said ultimately it was the right decision. “I feel like I did the right thing,” Kane said. “Right after that, I found my home in the blues. And right after that, I ended up pregnant with my son Tommy, who is now 21.” While Kane today has a dedicated fanbase in the U.S., it’s in Europe where she has made the biggest impact. “I think Europeans, in general, love American roots music,” Kane said. “Also, music and art are irreplaceable elements of cultural life in Europe. It’s really important to them to bring their children and grandchildren and their grandparents and parents to live music shows and it’s a far more inclusive family event to see shows. “There is also no bar age, so you can go in a bar with your parents or family members and see live music,” she added. “It makes music more of an interactive thing and I think that’s partially why Americans tend to be successful in Europe.” Upcoming plans for Kane include a new production of “The Toughest Girl Alive,” set for this fall at the Moxie Theatre, along with more recording. But touring will take a large part of her time over the next 12 months. “‘Superhero’ is only six months old, so we’ll be working hard promoting that for another year,” Kane said. “Our plan is to make another record in 2010. I’m doing collaborations with musician Skip Heller.” She is also nominated for three national Blues Foundation Awards — “Entertainer of the Year,” “Best Blues Contemporary Female Singer” and “Best Blues Album” for her album “Superhero.” Kane acknowledges that dealing with her tumor has made things slightly more difficult for her, but she said she’s up to the challenge. “Cancer was a blessing for me,” Kane said. “It really has changed the way I view my life and my relationship with food. I think about that a lot now.” Kane still belts out the blues with fervor in concert, but she notes that there has been a subtle change in the audience since her cancer struggle was revealed. “My show has taken on a healing element,” Kane said. “People come and share stories about their own cancer situation. It’s like cancer’s a dirty word or something. “I feel really lucky to be alive,” Kane said. “So every day that I am blessed to open my mouth and make music is amazing.” Kane performs Saturday, Jan. 9 at 9:30 p.m. at Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. Tickets are $12. For information, visit www.candyekane.com.