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A solid jazz singer whose early recordings tended to be forgotten after her ascendancy into the commercial sphere during the mid-’50s, Kay Starr was among the first pop singer to capitalize on the “rock fad” with her 1955 novelty “Rock and Roll Waltz.” Her biggest hit came with the era-defining “Wheel of Fortune,” a prime slice of ’50s adult pop with a suitably brassy reading. Born in Oklahoma, she moved to Dallas at a young age and made her debut on radio while still in school. A brief stay with Glenn Miller & His Orchestra precipitated her working with groups led by Bob Crosby, Joe Venuti and finally Charlie Barnet. She recorded a few numbers with Barnet that earned her a solo contract with Capitol.
By 1948, Starr made her Your Hit Parade breakthrough with “You Were Only Foolin’ (While I Was Falling in Love).” Subsequent hits like “Hoop-Dee-Doo,” “Oh, Babe!” and “I’ll Never Be Free” (the latter with Tennessee Ernie Ford) framed her in an emerging vein of the popular market that also looked back to traditional country and folk. In 1952, “Wheel of Fortune” became her biggest hit and one of the signature songs of the ’50s pop sound. She struggled to reach a similar chart peak for several years afterwards, though “Comes A-Long A-Love” topped the British charts. With her move to RCA in 1955, though the comical “Rock and Roll Waltz” spent several weeks at number one. It was her last major hit, followed by just one additional Top Ten entry, 1957’s “My Heart Reminds Me.” By the 1960s, she had begun to concentrate more on performing (especially in Las Vegas) than recording, despite moving back to Capitol in 1961. In the ’90s, she played several oldies packages, including the 3 Girls 3 tour with Helen O’Connell and Margaret Whiting. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
Duration : 0:2:46
[youtube 2MJX7nliJcQ]
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
love this old song …
love this old song brings back childhood memories
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
They were called …
They were called record machines back in 1956? We’ve come a long way since.
Love this song.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
Thanks for posting …
Thanks for posting this John! I think Kay Starr is the main [Capitol] commercial artist who pushed music from the ’50’s into the ’60’s and the collection of unique stills shows a broadness I haven’t seen before. I think she got over-shadowed by Patsy Cline a little too quickly…let’s also salute the Capitol horn section or those times!!!
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
seonfox I totally …
seonfox I totally can hear how Patsy would have been influenced by Kay. You can really hear it here. Thanks for the comment. I love both of them!
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
Kay Starr was one …
Kay Starr was one of Patsy Cline’s influences
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
@John1948Seven I …
@John1948Seven I second that. I heard Miss Starr’s version of this from the beginning.
No…don’t figure out my age, LOLOLOL.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
im doin this 4 a …
im doin this 4 a tap dancing show now ive got it in my head but its reeeeeeely catchy great song
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
WOW let’s do the …
WOW let’s do the rock and roll Waltz
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
I love this song! …
I love this song! We danced at this song when we danced waltz at our wedding.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
In all honesty I …
In all honesty I simply heard Lena’s first, when I was very young.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
I just went to …
I just went to listen to Lena. Her little girl voice, while good for her age, can’t hold a candle to Kay Starr. I think her cuteness has swayed your judgment.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
This is good. I …
This is good. I prefer Lena Zavaroni’s rendition.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
My original is for …
My original is for sure the strangest one !!! A 1956 Spanish 45 4 songs EP, alongside with Chet Atkins, Perez Prado and Elvis Presley
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
Great song!!! I’m …
Great song!!! I’m 28 and play it over and over!
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
Whoa! this is …
Whoa! this is just wonderful ! The rock n roll watlz ? I’m all for that. Lovely video!
10*!
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
I found one that …
I found one that says it’s from the 1950s but remastered for a Readers Digest LP. I will try to upload this video with that one this evening.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
Thanks. That gives …
Thanks. That gives me something to search with.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
The original 1956 …
The original 1956 RCA recording had Hugo Winterhalters Orchestra backing her up, this recording was probably made in the early 60’s when she returned to Capitol Records to put out an album of her greatest hits. She sounds a little more country on this youtube recording as she sings “a – one two and then rock, a – one two and then roll” , she sang it more straight pop on the original “one two and then rock, one two and then roll etc”. Listen to your 78 and you’ll catch the difference from this.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
Strange….I have …
Strange….I have this identical original 1956 78.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
Same age.. agree …
Same age.. agree with you
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
memories memories …
memories memories wow thanks for taking me back to my childhood!!!!!!!!!!
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
fabulous songthanks …
fabulous songthanks john 1948
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
ma gran sang this 1 …
ma gran sang this 1 to me now she’s not here n misss her x x x
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
I’m 23 and I love …
I’m 23 and I love this song! It’s so sad people my age don’t know about these amazing songs. They really put you in a great mood.
April 1st, 2010 at 1:19 am
I share what I have …
I share what I have. If you have the original it would be great if you would post it.