Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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STARR, Kay

(b Katherine LaVerne Starks, 21 July 1922, Dougherty OK; d 3 November 2016, Los Angeles) A singer whose style was described by Gary Giddins '85 as a 'brassy fusion of urban swing and country twang'. Of Native American and Irish ancestry, she was born on a reservation, moved to Dallas at age three and to Memphis at age ten. She sang to the chickens at age seven and her family knew she had a talent. She began as country singer on the radio and turned jazz-inflected, singing with Joe Venuti, Bob Crosby, Glenn Miller, Venuti again and Charlie Barnet, and recording for Capitol with a Dave Cavanaugh small group including Red Norvo in 1947 (tracks reissued by Mosaic in a twelve-CD set Classic Capitol Jazz Sessions '97). I've Got To Sing 1944-48 on Hep has rare tracks including some from her manager's Lamplighter label, all made in Los Angeles and all featuring first-rate jazzmen in the backing combos.

Then she became a solo pop star on Capitol from 1948 with a big accurate voice and lots of personality: 30 hits included 'Bonaparte's Retreat' '50, 'Wheel Of Fortune' '52 (no. 1 for ten weeks), 'Side By Side' (the double-tracked duet with herself was particularly effective on the delightful 1927 chestnut). She was such a good all-rounder that Capitol perhaps used her in too many categories; she deserved more fame as a jazz-oriented singer: Lester Young told Chris Albertson in 1958 that he heard some Bessie Smith in Starr's style. She switched to RCA '55-7 for more hits including the unfortunate 'Rock And Roll Waltz' '55 (no. 1 for six weeks, also a hit in UK), 'My Heart Reminds Me' (top ten '57); back on Capitol, she covered the Jim Reeves country hit 'Four Walls' '62.

She was suprised and delighted that fans kept turning out for her appearances even after the fame waned. There were albums on GNP and compilations on Capitol; Live At Freddy's on Baldwin Street Music was made '86 with arranger/ pianist Frank Ortega leading a quartet. She came back in 2001 to record a duet with Tony Bennett.