Biography of Kay Starr

Starr's torchy "Wheel of Fortune" was one of 1952's biggest sellers, holding down the #1 spot on Billboard's pop list for ten weeks. She picked up early experience singing with the big bands of Glenn Miller and Charlie Barnet before racking up the first of many hits for Capitol in 1948. Starr blasted up the charts with "Bonaparte's Retreat," "Oh Babe!," "Side by Side," and plenty more during the early '50s, as well as enjoying a hit duet with Tennessee Ernie Ford in 1950, "I'll Never Be Free." After moving to RCA, Starr topped the pop charts once more in 1955 with the stately "Rock and Roll Waltz." She continued to tally chart hits into the early '60s. ~ Bill Dahl