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Starr first made his name as
"Agent Double-O-Soul," and when his contract was transferred to
Motown, he instantly became one of the roughest, toughest vocalists on the
crossover-friendly label, with his debt to James Brown and the Stax soul
shouters. Even if nothing else ever matched the phenomenon of
"War," Starr had several Top Ten hits on the R&B charts over
the late '60s and early '70s, and also enjoyed a brief renaissance during
the disco era.
Starr was born Charles Hatcher in Nashville, TN, on January 21, 1942. Starr wrote the hit in the spy-themed "Agent Double-O-Soul in 1965 and had his biggest hit to date with 25 Miles in 1969. In 1970, Starr took the storming protest classic "War," to the top of the charts that became his signature tune. In 1974, he handled the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Hell Up in Harlem and he charted again in 1975 with "Pain," and "Who's Right or Wrong." He recorded albums for small labels, including 1975's Free to Be Myself and 1977's Afternoon Sunshine, before finding a new home on 20th Century in 1978. Here he briefly reinvented himself as a disco singer, scoring his biggest hits in years with 1979's "Contact" and "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio"; his final release with the label came in 1980. |
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Starr moved to the U.K. during the '80s, recording a Marvin Gaye tribute album and a handful of singles for Hippodrome. His participation in the Ferry Aid charity project led to a deal with Virgin and a session with the hot production team of Stock, Aitken & Waterman, but he didn't take to their high-tech dance-pop style. Later he guested on dance remakes of his past hits by Utah Saints and Three Amigos. He toured extensively up to his untimely death in 2003. - from the All Music Guide by Steve Huey | |
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