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Kay Starr

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203: 33: 189:, where her father obtained a job installing building sprinklers. Her mother raised chickens to support the family as well. Catherine began singing during early childhood, often performing to the chickens that her mother was raising. She sang frequently around the house which caught the attention of her aunt, with whose help she took part in a local talent contest and won at the age of seven. 395: 422:'s publishing house in Nashville and spoke to Acuff directly. He was happy to let her record it, but it took a while for her to make clear that she was a singer, not a fiddler, and therefore needed to have some lyrics written. Acuff came up with a new lyric, and "Bonaparte's Retreat" became her biggest hit up to that point, with close to a million sales. 390:
was threatening a strike, Capitol wanted to have each of its singers record a back list for future release. Being junior to all these other artists meant that every song Starr wanted to sing was taken by her rivals on the label, leaving her a list of old songs which nobody else wanted to record.
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alongside Miller's orchestra. At age 16, Starr recorded her first tracks with Miller's orchestra: "Baby Me" and "Love with a Capital 'You'". The songs failed to become a success. This was in part because the band played in a key that, while appropriate for Hutton, did not suit Kay. Starr later
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in the summer of 1937. Starr's parents accepted the performance opportunity, as long as she was home by their midnight curfew. Venuti did not tell the hotel her real age, and fibbed about Starr's mother being her sister. For the next two summers, Starr performed alongside Venuti.
429:. However, at this time, rock-and-roll was displacing the existing forms of pop music and Kay had only two hits, the aforementioned, which is sometimes considered her attempt to sing rock and roll, and sometimes as a song poking fun at it, " 366:'s ensemble, retiring for a year after contracting pneumonia and later developing nodes on her vocal cords as a result of fatigue and overwork. In 1946 Starr became a soloist and a year later signed a contract with 492:
After leaving Capitol for a second time in 1966, Starr continued touring in the US and the UK. She recorded several jazz and country albums on small independent labels, including
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and played with Crosby's band for two weeks until she was dismissed by the show's sponsor for being considered "too earthy". Despite being let go, she caught the attention of
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Starr and her mother then returned to Memphis, where she completed high school in 1940. She then moved to Los Angeles and worked alongside Venuti until 1941.
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station. Due to many people incorrectly saying her last name, she adapted the stage name of "Kay Starr". During high school, she worked with various
448:" (her biggest hit, No. 1 for 10 weeks), "Side by Side", "The Man Upstairs", and "Rock and Roll Waltz". One of her biggest hits was her version of " 1030: 760: 1594: 1539: 1529: 465: 1629: 1619: 1574: 1399: 411: 157:; July 21, 1922 – November 3, 2016) was an American singer who enjoyed considerable success in the late 1940s and 1950s. She was of 1579: 1634: 1624: 1614: 1544: 1534: 1584: 1554: 1232: 267: 937: 908: 811: 1196: 239: 286: 1589: 1564: 387: 433:". She stayed at RCA Victor until 1959, hitting the top ten with "My Heart Reminds Me", then returned to Capitol. 1609: 1380: 303:
radio station. She performed two times a week and earned three dollars a performance. The Starks family moved to
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and Irish heritage. Starr performed multiple genres, such as pop, jazz, and country, but her roots were in jazz.
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to Annie and Harry Starks. Her mother's ancestors were Irish-American while her father was a Native American
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After rock-and-roll swept established performers from the charts, Starr appeared in the television series
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Young Catherine continued to enter talent contests, and eventually landed a spot performing on Dallas's
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Starr died on November 3, 2016, in Los Angeles at the age of 94 from complications of
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recalled that she sounded like "a jazzed up Alfalfa" since they weren't in her range.
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In 1950, she returned home to Dougherty and heard a fiddle recording of
343:, who needed a substitute female performer while his regular performer ( 1313: 1289: 1201: 624: 600: 552: 332: 320: 316: 227: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 518: 419: 371: 300: 202: 455: 418:. She liked it so much that she wanted to record it. She contacted 307:
when she was 15 and was given her own "Starr Segment" on Memphis's
178: 174: 158: 386:, so it was hard to find her a niche of her own. In 1948 when the 182: 370:. The label had a number of female singers signed up, including 1031:"Kay Starr, Hillbilly Singer With Crossover Appeal, Dies at 94" 761:"Kay Starr, Hillbilly Singer With Crossover Appeal, Dies at 94" 1210: 394: 335:'s manager and had her join Crosby on the road. She went to 308: 105: 436:
Most of Starr's songs had jazz influences. Like those of
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descent. At the age of three, the Starks family moved to
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A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers
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Kay Starr interview on KUOW 94.9 (NPR) Seattle, 2006
452:", a Christmas song that became a holiday favorite. 890: 888: 793: 791: 789: 787: 785: 783: 347:) was ill. For two weeks, Starr performed at the 1511: 885: 536:Playin' with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues 323:, who had obtained a contract to perform at the 820: 780: 450:(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man with the Bag 1570:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in California 1226: 505:In the late 1980s she performed in the revue 331:Starr's singing attracted the attention of 1233: 1219: 859: 857: 855: 853: 851: 849: 826: 754: 752: 750: 748: 746: 744: 742: 740: 31: 923: 797: 473:. She recorded several albums, including 362:'s band. From 1943 to 1945 she sang with 287:Learn how and when to remove this message 734:, findagrave.com. Accessed June 3, 2023. 469:, mostly associated with the bandleader 454: 393: 1028: 1022: 955:"Kay Starr: Memphis Music Hall of Fame" 846: 758: 737: 1512: 946: 863: 529:, was released in 1997. She sang with 1214: 1161: 1140: 1119: 1098: 1077: 1056: 169:Catherine Laverne Starks was born in 894: 555:. Starr was survived by a daughter. 225:adding citations to reliable sources 196: 1595:People from Murray County, Oklahoma 1540:21st-century American women singers 1530:20th-century American women singers 1029:Belcher, David (November 3, 2016). 952: 759:Belcher, David (November 3, 2016). 177:. She would later claim to be both 13: 1630:21st-century Native American women 1620:20th-century Native American women 1575:Deaths from dementia in California 974: 864:Vacher, Peter (November 6, 2016). 14: 1646: 1180: 398:Kay Starr with Andy Mansfield on 1080:Tears and Heartaches/Old Records 670:Tears and Heartaches/Old Records 388:American Federation of Musicians 201: 1477:If You Love Me (Really Love Me) 1155: 1134: 1113: 1092: 1071: 1050: 1009: 996: 212:needs additional citations for 1580:Glenn Miller Orchestra members 1015:There's Christmas in the Air, 917: 800:The later swing era, 1942-1955 722: 558: 1: 1635:21st-century Native Americans 1625:20th-century Native Americans 1615:Traditional pop music singers 1545:21st-century American singers 1535:20th-century American singers 1240: 1002:Order Christmas Records Now, 715: 315:bands. She was discovered by 164: 93:Los Angeles, California, U.S. 38: 1585:Jazz musicians from Oklahoma 1191:NAMM Oral History Collection 1099:Starr, Kay (January 1968). " 901:University of Oklahoma Press 897:Stories of Old-Time Oklahoma 798:McClellan, Lawrence (2004). 525:Tour. Her first live album, 7: 1555:American women jazz singers 1282:The One, The Only Kay Starr 1101:When the Lights Go on Again 1019:, November 29, 1952, pg. 29 1006:, December 9, 1950, page 17 729:Gravestone photo with name 676:When the Lights Go on Again 593:The One, The Only Kay Starr 16:American singer (1922–2016) 10: 1651: 960:Memphis Music Hall of Fame 866:"Kay Starr obituary: Jazz" 804:Greenwood Publishing Group 562: 1491:(The) Rock and Roll Waltz 1391: 1364: 1257: 1248: 984:. Digital.library.unt.edu 425:In 1955, she signed with 192: 127: 119: 97: 83: 63: 53: 48: 30: 23: 1484:Am I a Toy or a Treasure 924:Friedwald, Will (2010). 827:Moore Campbell, Ginnie. 731:Catherine Laverne Starks 542: 155:Catherine Laverne Starks 59:Catherine Laverne Starks 1590:Native American singers 1565:Capitol Records artists 1373:Swingin' with the Starr 431:The Rock and Roll Waltz 404:America's Popular Music 358:Starr then signed with 1610:American torch singers 1330:Kay Starr: Jazz Singer 647:Kay Starr: Jazz Singer 460: 407: 49:Background information 1605:Singers from Oklahoma 1550:American jazz singers 1169:GNP Crescendo Records 1148:GNP Crescendo Records 1127:GNP Crescendo Records 565:Kay Starr discography 458: 412:"Bonaparte's Retreat" 397: 1162:Starr, Kay (1981). " 1141:Starr, Kay (1975). " 1120:Starr, Kay (1974). " 1078:Starr, Kay (1966). " 1057:Starr, Kay (1960). " 895:Dary, David (2015). 833:Oklahoma History.org 498:, a 1968 album with 221:improve this article 1498:My Heart Reminds Me 1442:Comes A-Long A-Love 1400:Bonaparte's Retreat 1266:The Kay Starr Style 1187:Kay Starr Interview 1166:(LP Information)". 1145:(LP Information)". 1124:(LP Information)". 1103:(LP Information)". 1082:(LP Information)". 1061:(LP Information)". 1059:Movin' on Broadway! 640:Movin' on Broadway! 577:The Kay Starr Style 549:Alzheimer's disease 171:Dougherty, Oklahoma 77:Dougherty, Oklahoma 1600:RCA Victor artists 1414:Come On-a My House 1407:I'll Never Be Free 1365:Compilation albums 1346:Just Plain Country 1036:The New York Times 766:The New York Times 655:Just Plain Country 487:Just Plain Country 461: 427:RCA Victor Records 408: 349:Glen Island Casino 305:Memphis, Tennessee 1507: 1506: 1470:Changing Partners 1456:Half a Photograph 1143:Back to the Roots 1122:Kay Starr Country 703:Back to the Roots 697:Kay Starr Country 459:Kay Starr in 2009 297: 296: 289: 271: 145: 144: 37:Publicity photo, 1642: 1560:Big band singers 1435:Fool, Fool, Fool 1428:Wheel of Fortune 1298:Rockin' with Kay 1235: 1228: 1221: 1212: 1211: 1174: 1173: 1159: 1153: 1152: 1138: 1132: 1131: 1117: 1111: 1110: 1096: 1090: 1089: 1075: 1069: 1068: 1054: 1048: 1047: 1045: 1043: 1026: 1020: 1013: 1007: 1000: 994: 993: 991: 989: 978: 972: 971: 969: 967: 950: 944: 943: 921: 915: 914: 892: 883: 882: 880: 878: 861: 844: 843: 841: 839: 824: 818: 817: 795: 778: 777: 775: 773: 756: 735: 726: 692: 609:Rockin' with Kay 527:Live at Freddy's 515:Margaret Whiting 479:Losers, Weepers… 446:Wheel of Fortune 384:Margaret Whiting 292: 285: 281: 278: 272: 270: 229: 205: 197: 90: 87:November 3, 2016 73: 71: 56: 43: 40: 35: 21: 20: 1650: 1649: 1645: 1644: 1643: 1641: 1640: 1639: 1510: 1509: 1508: 1503: 1387: 1360: 1322:Losers, Weepers 1306:I Hear the Word 1253: 1244: 1239: 1183: 1178: 1177: 1160: 1156: 1139: 1135: 1118: 1114: 1097: 1093: 1085:Capitol Records 1076: 1072: 1064:Capitol Records 1055: 1051: 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ABC-631. 1088:. ST-2550. 716:References 601:Blue Starr 553:Vic Schoen 523:April Love 466:Club Oasis 333:Bob Crosby 321:Joe Venuti 319:violinist 247:newspapers 165:Early life 136:RCA Victor 120:Occupation 70:1922-07-21 55:Birth name 1242:Kay Starr 1202:Kay Starr 1164:Kay Starr 1067:. T-1374. 988:August 3, 709:Kay Starr 519:Pat Boone 420:Roy Acuff 372:Peggy Lee 277:June 2023 151:Kay Starr 25:Kay Starr 1042:July 21, 539:(2001). 489:(1962). 481:(1960), 477:(1959), 179:Cherokee 175:Iroquois 159:Iroquois 1392:Singles 1314:Movin'! 625:Movin'! 507:3 Girls 261:scholar 183:Choctaw 132:Capitol 110:country 1384:(1960) 1376:(1956) 1357:(1969) 1349:(1962) 1341:(1962) 1333:(1960) 1325:(1960) 1317:(1959) 1309:(1959) 1301:(1958) 1293:(1957) 1285:(1956) 1277:(1955) 1269:(1953) 1193:(1994) 966:May 9, 936:  907:  877:May 8, 838:May 8, 810:  772:May 8, 711:(1981) 705:(1975) 699:(1974) 693:(1969) 687:(with 678:(1968) 672:(1966) 666:(1962) 658:(1962) 650:(1960) 642:(1960) 636:(1960) 628:(1959) 620:(1959) 612:(1957) 604:(1957) 596:(1956) 588:(1956) 580:(1955) 475:Movin' 406:(1968) 382:, and 263:  256:  249:  242:  234:  193:Career 153:(born 128:Labels 123:Singer 98:Genres 79:, U.S. 1421:Angry 543:Death 509:with 400:AFRTS 268:JSTOR 254:books 1206:IMDb 1044:2018 990:2011 968:2023 934:ISBN 905:ISBN 879:2023 840:2023 808:ISBN 774:2023 513:and 440:and 317:jazz 309:WREC 240:news 181:and 106:jazz 84:Died 64:Born 1204:at 1189:at 521:'s 414:by 301:WRR 223:by 1516:: 1033:. 957:. 928:. 899:. 887:^ 868:. 848:^ 831:. 802:. 782:^ 763:. 739:^ 502:. 402:' 378:, 374:, 138:, 134:, 112:, 108:, 104:, 39:c. 1500:" 1496:" 1493:" 1489:" 1486:" 1482:" 1479:" 1475:" 1472:" 1468:" 1465:" 1461:" 1458:" 1454:" 1451:" 1447:" 1444:" 1440:" 1437:" 1433:" 1430:" 1426:" 1423:" 1419:" 1416:" 1412:" 1409:" 1405:" 1402:" 1398:" 1234:e 1227:t 1220:v 1046:. 992:. 970:. 942:. 913:. 881:. 842:. 816:. 776:. 691:) 290:) 284:( 279:) 275:( 265:· 258:· 251:· 244:· 217:. 72:) 68:(

Index

Publicity photo, c. 1950s
Dougherty, Oklahoma
Traditional pop
jazz
country
western swing
Capitol
RCA Victor
Happy Tiger
Iroquois
Dougherty, Oklahoma
Iroquois
Cherokee
Choctaw
Dallas, Texas

verification
improve this article
adding citations to reliable sources
"Kay Starr"
news
newspapers
books
scholar
JSTOR
Learn how and when to remove this message
WRR
Memphis, Tennessee
WREC
country music

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