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Singing Legend Kay Starr

Series: Swing Ladies Swing
From: KUOW
Length: 00:23:00

Interview with 1940s-50s singing star Kay Starr Read the full description.

Default-piece-image-2 Popular singer Kay Starr became a band singer in her teens with the legendary violinist bandleader Joe Venuti and through the 1940s she worked with the bands of Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby and Charlie Barnet. She signed a solo contract with newly formed Capitol records in 1947 and recorded her biggest hits on that label, including 1953's "Wheel of Fortune," her first gold record. A powerful and versatile performer, Kay moves through jazz, pop, R&B, and western swing with equal ease. Kay Starr now lives in Bel Air and spoke to KUOW's Amanda Wilde from her home Southern California.

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Piece Description

Popular singer Kay Starr became a band singer in her teens with the legendary violinist bandleader Joe Venuti and through the 1940s she worked with the bands of Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby and Charlie Barnet. She signed a solo contract with newly formed Capitol records in 1947 and recorded her biggest hits on that label, including 1953's "Wheel of Fortune," her first gold record. A powerful and versatile performer, Kay moves through jazz, pop, R&B, and western swing with equal ease. Kay Starr now lives in Bel Air and spoke to KUOW's Amanda Wilde from her home Southern California.

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Review of Singing Legend Kay Starr

Wow! A Super Legend Interview!

That was great beyond words! I'll throw you an A+ for just being able to get Kay Starr to your studio for the interview . You captured her well and your special guest was very interesting thorughout.

The musical pieces, her gold record and the other tunes, were rolled in very smoothly during the talk with Kay Starr. I liked the questions that brought out how she adopted the show name of Starr with two r's and the other thoughful questions that made it seem that Miss Starr was right at home with you during the interview and with all of us listening to her.

The mix of the informtive talk and the excellent musical pieces left me feeling like I learned something valuable in an enjoyable and entertaining way. The humor in the program spun well with the down-home and charming style of Kay Starr.

I kind of feel like I know her now -- and it certainly makes me like her as a senior now who sang so well those spirit lifting tune such as "I'll Never Be Free -- No One Can Take Your Place," "Side by Side," "Rock & Roll Waltz," and others and the one you closed the show with "Wheel of Fortune."

The host was correct that this music is still so resonant with audiences today and new audiences re-discover this music for the first time and come to love it. I have often observed young people come into a dance hall for their first time to hear a big band orchestra playing swing -- and watch them catch on to it as if it were a new creation.

Your program is a good example of having the right kind of questions ready that not only seemed to make your guest feel at ease and responsive but well guided the direction of the program. Your questions lead the guest to make revelations that answered the curiosities that the questions provoked. Good example of hosting when you're fortunate enough to have the caliber of guest you had here.