Thursday 16 March 2023

Buddy Starcher born 16 March 1906

Oby Edgar "Buddy" Starcher (March 16, 1906 – November 2, 2001) was an American country singer whose first record releases were in 1946, although he had been performing since his teens, often billed as "The Boy from Down Home". 

Buddy was born in Jackson County, West Virginia, The first fifteen years of his life were spent on a farm in Nicholas County, where he attended school. He first learned to play banjo but later became an outstanding guitarist.His early influences came from the songs of Jimmie Rodgers, the Carter Family and Riley Puckett whose records were a source of inspiration for him.  In 1928, he was probably the first hillbilly artist to appear on radio in the Baltimore area. Between 1930 and 1960, he continually moved around, not only playing venues in his home state, Virginia and Kentucky (especially Charleston and Fairmont), but further afield to Miami, Iowa and Philadelphia. 

He wrote many fine songs including ‘Song Of The Water Wheel’ (a hit for Slim Whitman) and also some prose. In the late 30s, he married fellow artist Mary Ann (Vasas), who in 1941 took over from Patsy Montana on WLS Chicago. Compared with other artists, he recorded rather sparingly, but still had more than 100 songs on disc beginning with 14 sides on 4 Star in 1946 which yielded his first national hit and best known composition, “I’ll Still Write Your Name in the Sand.” Now a much recorded bluegrass standard, it reached number 8 in the country charts. 


In 1949, he moved on to Columbia where he did 10 numbers over a three-year period. He recorded for DeLuxe in 1954, and many numbers for Starday including the 1962 LP Buddy Starcher and His Mountain Guitar.Later he  recorded for other labels including Decca, Bluebonnet and Bear Family Records. 

He starred in his own television show WCHS-TV in Charleston between 1960 and 1966 and at one point it had higher local ratings than NBC’s Today. His wife often appeared with him. He also ran a record label named B.E.S. (for his initials) during 1961 – 1965 and is fondly remembered throughout much of the Mountain State and adjacent portions of Ohio. 

In 1966, he had a number 2 country and number 39 pop hit with ‘History Repeats Itself’ - his cleverly written narration composed with Minnie Pearl, detailed the many similarities between the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy It was accompanied by a musical background featuring "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "America the Beautiful". Originally released on his own label in 1965, it was re-released on the larger and better distributed Boone Records. The re-released single hit No. 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and the album of the same name from which it was drawn peaked at No. 37 on the US Country Albums chart. 

In the late 60s, he returned to radio and for some years managed radio stations, being usually brought in as a trouble-shooter to pick up ailing stations - once they were running successfully, he moved on to the next challenge. He did this for several years. The artist's life story, written by Robert Cagle and aptly titled Buddy Starcher Biography, was published in 1986. In 1993 Starcher moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia  where he died November 2, 2001 at the age of 95.

In 2015 he was inducted in the West Virginia Hall Of Fame. 

(Edited from AllMusic, Wkipedia, Album liner notes & West Virgiania Hall Of Fame)

 

4 comments:

boppinbob said...

For “Buddy Starcher – History Repeats Itself (1966 Decca)” go here:

https://www.imagenetz.de/jG7sW

1. History Repeats Itself
2. The Great Decade Of The Sixties
3. Eve Of My Multiplication
4. Sniper's Hill
5. Last Supper
6. I'm In A Jam, Jim
7. History Repeats Itself Part II
8. A Taxpayer's Letter
9. Day Of Decision
10. Judge, What About Me?
11. The Fall Of A Nation
12. Brave Men Not Afraid

For “Buddy Starcher – Just Buddy And His Guitar Album Number One (1968 Bluebonnet)” go here:

https://www.imagenetz.de/dRjGb

1. A Few Little Things 2:51
2. Running Away From The Blues 2:00
3. Any Time But Now, Any Place But Here 2:06
4. Wreck Of The Number 9 2:43
5. Just Pickin' (Medley) 1:58
6. Yes, I Love You 1:51
7. A Face I See At Evening 1:58
8. I'll Still Write Your Name In The Sand 2:10
9. Midnight Special 2:34
10. I'll Forget The Faded Roses 2:07
11. Sailor's Plea 1:57
12. The Answer To 'Would You Care?' 2:12
13. Midnight On The Stormy Deep 2:44
14. Why I'm Always Happy 2:41

For “Buddy Starcher - I'll Still Write Your Name in the Sand (2021 AMB Digital Album)” go here:

https://www.imagenetz.de/gff7i

1. My Beautiful Blue Eyed-Blonde 2:39
2. The West Virginia Hills 2:36
3. Let's 2:02
4. The Song of the Old Waterwheel 2:14
5. Those Brown Eyes 2:45
6. I'll Still Write Your Name in the Sand 2:23
7. Wildwood Flower 2:26
8. Foggy Mountain Top 2:24
9. Too Late to Worry 2:04
10. My Shadow Grows Tall 2:37
11. We'll Be Sweethearts When We're Old 3:03
12. Midnight Special 2:38
13. Today's Joy Today 0:41
14. Too Hurt to Cry 2:00
15. A Few Little Things 3:03
16. May an Angel, Sleep on Your Pillow Tonight 1:49
17. Pickalong – Instrumental 1:31
18. Talkin' with the Lord (In the Old Wood Shed) 2:24

After researching I found this digital download is actually the Bear Family album – Country Love Songs (1978) (tracks 1-13) with added bonus tracks (14-18) from 1977 with vocals from Mary Ann Starcher & Bill Clifton
====================================================

For “Buddy Starcher - The Boy From Down Home (1984 Cattle)” go here:

https://www.filefactory.com/file/4ktf53js3a1a

01 - A Faded Rose Broken Heart
02 - Bless Your Little Heart (No. 1)
03 - Wildwood Flower
04 - Song Of The Waterwheel
05 - Fire In My Heart
06 - They Say
07 - I Won't Worry I Won't Care
08 - It's Risky To Be Gone So Long
09 - In Memory Of Halloween
10 - You Can't Break The Chains Of Love
11 - I Will Miss You Tonight
12 - Bless Your Little Heart (No. 2)

For “Buddy Starcher - Pride Of The West Virginia Hills (1985 Cattle)” go here:

https://www.filefactory.com/file/5s0nghka2jhu


01 - The Ghost Of Little Nell
02 - Lorene
03 - The Image In The Mirror
04 - Don't You Remember The Time
05 - Down The Rainbow Trail
06 - You'll Still Be In My Heart
07 - Don't You Know
08 - Too Hurt To Cry
09 - You Give Me Your Love And I'll Give You Mine
10 - Heartbreak Hill
11 - Ridin' Down The Canyon
12 - Are You Tired Of Me Darling
13 - Blue-Eyed Blonde Goodbye
14 - Brown Eyes

boppinbob said...

For "Buddy Starcher - Battle Of New Orleans (2010 BACM)" Go here:

https://www.filefactory.com/file/6gsjvx0fzq8k

01 - I Was Cryin' Then (But You Are Cryin' Now)
02 - Don't Call No More
03 - A Faded Rose A Broken Heart
04 - It's Risky To Be Gone So Long
05 - Song Of The Waterwheel
06 - I Won't Worry I Won't Care
07 - Bless Your Little Heart
08 - Fire In My Heart Will Be Drowned
09 - I Will Miss You Tonight
10 - You Can't Break The Chains Of Love
11 - In Memory Of Halloween
12 - Wildwood Flower
13 - They Say
14 - I Planted A Rose
15 - Isn't He Wonderful
16 - New Wildwood Flower
17 - Walk Lightly You're Stepping On My Heart
18 - Beyond The Sunset
19 - Are You Facing The World All Alone
20 - Battle Of New Orleans
21 - Pale Wildwood Flower
22 - Billy The Kid
23 - Running Away From The Blues
24 - Ace Of Hearts
25 - Cryin'

A big thank you to Elaine4 @ TJ’s Country Forum for the loan of above 3 albums with active links. Please note there are time penalties between downloads.

Bob Mac said...

Thanks Bob, I took the first 3 albums.

Sam76 said...

Bob,

Thanks for keeping the memory of Buddy Starcher alive. Great stuff.

Sam