Kay Starr
Kay Starr | |
|---|---|
Publicity photo, c. 1950s | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Catherine Laverne Starks |
| Born | July 21, 1922 Dougherty, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | November 3, 2016 (aged 94) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Traditional pop, jazz, country, western swing |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Labels | Capitol, RCA Victor, Happy Tiger, His Master's Voice |
Kay Starr (born Catherine Laverne Starks; July 21, 1922 – November 3, 2016) was an American singer who enjoyed considerable success in the late 1940s and 1950s. She was of Iroquois and Irish heritage. Starr performed multiple genres, such as pop, jazz, and country, but her roots were in jazz. Her 1952 song "Wheel of Fortune" was a smash hit, and later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Additionally, she had big hits with "Allez-Vous-En" (from the Broadway Show CAN-CAN) and "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)" in 1953 and 1954, respectively.