Billy Starr

Billy Starr (born December 30, 1913 in Wesleyville , Kentucky , † June 4, 1981 ) was an American country musician , who was also known under the names Bill Stallard , Indian Bill and Billie Starr .

Life

Billy Starr's date of birth is controversial. Family members give 1913 as the year of his birth, but trade magazines of the time wrote that he was born in 1918. At the age of 15 he moved to Portsmouth , Ohio , where he started his career as a musician. He got a job at a local radio station when the station manager heard him play.

In 1942 Starr worked as "Indian Bill" with Cowboy Copas and his partner Natchee at WSAZ in Huntington , West Virginia . Together with his wife Evalina Stallard, known as "Little Montana", Starr was also part of the Hill-Billie Varieties group . Two years later, Starr was with WIBC in Indianapolis , Indiana .

Just a year later, Starr moved to Fort Wayne , Indiana, where he appeared regularly as "Bill Stallard" in the Hoosier Hop . In 1946 Starr organized a one-time country show in Chattanooga , Tennessee , with Grand Ole Opry stars Uncle Dave Macon , Curly Fox and Texas Ruby , the Cackle Sisters and Natchee, the fiddler from West Virginia. It was one of the biggest shows of that time in the southern states . That same year, Starr traveled to Hollywood to make films. However, to this day not a single film is known in which Starr starred.

In February 1946, Starr and Little Jimmy Dickens joined the WIBW program from Topeka , Kansas . Both musicians could often be heard in its program and also appeared on the Saturday night show Kansas Roundup . At the same time, Starr was also working in St. Louis , Missouri , at KMOX and their Old Fashioned Barn Dance . At the end of 1948, Starr left WIBW and began performing at KXLA and later KMPC. He also acted as moderator for KMPC's new Country Carnival Barn Dance . In 1947 Starr made his first recordings for an unknown label; underneath was the Truck Driver's Blues .

From 1950 Starr managed his old musical partner Cowboy Copas and went on tours with him. As early as 1946 he had written various songs as a member of the Down Homers and in 1951 he made his recording Steppin 'Out for the London label . The song became very popular and recorded by stars like Mervin Shiner , Johnny Bond , Jimmy Wakely , Ernest Tubb and Cowboy Copas. In the same year he got a recording contract with Columbia Records and in 1953 moved to Imperial Records , where he recorded a country version of the rhythm and blues classic Hound Dog . In the next few years he played records for various smaller labels that were unsuccessful.

Nothing is known about Starr's further career. He was married four times and died completely impoverished in 1981.

Billy Starr is not identical to the rock and roll singer Bill Starr, who released three singles from 1960.

Discography

year	title	#	Remarks
London Records
1951	Steppin 'Out /?
Columbia Records
1951	The Last Time / Steppin 'Out Again
1951	Don't Be Angry Darling / You're Back a-Cheatin '
1951	If You Come Home and Find Me Gone / Cruel Cold Heart
1951	Where You Go, My Heart Goes Too / Oh Yes I'm Lonely
1952	Baby Don't Cry / Angel In Person	20928
1952	There's an Ache In My Heart / Tomorrow You'll Be Free
Imperial Records
1952	Gonna Play The Field / If Only I Had Your Heart
1953	Lonely Lonesome World / Angels
1953	Hound Dog / Borrowed Heart
Twy-Lite Records
	I wanta /?
	? /?
ARK Records
	Steppin 'Out /?
Clarion Records
	A Million Lonely Tears / At the End of the Way	C-101
	Blue Pacific Waltz / Danger Zone	C-102
Other titles
1947	Truck Driver's Blues	[Status unknown]

Web links

• Billy Starr on Hillbilly-Music.com (English)