Edwin StarrPosted 9 years ago under Uncategorized

Edwin Starr was an American soul singer who had hits from the 1960s to the 1970s with “S.O.S”, “Tewnty-Five Miles” and “War”. Todays generation probably remembers him for his hit “War” that was a hit in 1970. His song War has been used in anti-war rallies. Starr also had an associations with English unions at one time.

He died on April 2nd, 2003.

Bio
Starr was born Charles Edwin Hatcher on 21st January 1942 in Nashville, Tennessee United States. His family moved to Cleveland, Ohio when he was three. Growing up he attended Cunard Junior High School. There he and his friends would practice singing the current songs at the time. Later Hatcher and and his friends formed a doo-wop vocal group, calling themselves The Imperials. They had to change their name to The Future Tones as there was already a group called The Imperials. They entered into the “Uncle Jake’s Talent Hour” competition and won 5 weeks in a row.

Hatcher / Starr was drafted into the army and he during that time he performed for fellow officers in Germany and in the US. He left the army in 1962. Ref

In the mid-Sixties he began recording for Detroit label Ric-Tic Records. With that lebel he had his first pop hit, “Agent Double-O Soul” in 1965, which went to No 21 on the charts, A few years later his hit “Twenty-five Miles” went to No 6. In July1970 he had a massive hit with “War” which was on the charts for 13 weekls and spent thirteen weeks on the charts with 3 of them at no 1. His last pop hit was “Stop The War Now” released in January 1971. He continued to do well on the R&B charts for the rest of the decade.

In In 1983, he moved to England and at ended up residing in Nottingham, England . Ref In later years he toured England’s Northern Soul circuit and was a hero there. He played venues such as such as Culdrose bop. Ref He also toured the UK in Motown revival packages in 2000 with Martha Reeves and Mary Wilson.  IN 2003 prior to his death he toured with Geno Washington. Ref

He died at his home of a heart attack in April 2003 aged 61. Ref

Links

• Official Website

References

• Blues & Soul – Feature Edwin Starr: Motown’s 40th Anniversary of the Release Of “WAR”
• * Rolling Stone 02/04/03, “War” Singer Edwin Starr Dead 
• The Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame Museum – Edwin Starr
• The Independent 04/04/03 News > Obituaries, Edwin Starr, Stentorian soul singer best known for his controversial hit ‘War’ 
• Rolling Stone 02/04/03, “War” Singer Edwin Starr Dead