Edwin Starr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edwin Starr
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charles Edwin Hatcher |
| Born | January 21, 1942 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 2003 (aged 61) Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1962–2003 |
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Charles Edwin Hatcher (born January 21, 1942 – died April 2, 2003) was an American singer and songwriter. He was better known by his stage name, Edwin Starr. Starr became famous for his hit songs in the 1970s, especially the number-one song "War". This song was produced by Norman Whitfield for Motown Records.
Edwin Starr was born in Nashville, Tennessee. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Later, he lived in Detroit while singing for Ric-Tic and Motown. His early songs like "Twenty-Five Miles" and "Stop the War Now" were also very popular. In the 1970s, Starr moved to the United Kingdom. He continued to make music there until he passed away.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Charles Edwin Hatcher was born on January 21, 1942, in Nashville, Tennessee. He and his cousins, Roger and Willie Hatcher, moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where they grew up.
In 1957, Edwin formed a singing group called the Future Tones. They sang a style of music called doo-wop, which uses vocal harmonies. After releasing just one song, he joined the United States Army for three years. He was stationed in Europe during this time. After his military service, he decided to become a full-time musician. He joined a music group led by Bill Doggett. Edwin Hatcher changed his name to Edwin Starr. This was suggested by Doggett's manager, Don Briggs. In 1965, he released his first solo song with Ric-Tic Records in Detroit.
Edwin Starr's Music Career
Edwin Starr's first big hit was "Agent Double-O-Soul" in 1965. This song was a nod to the popular James Bond movies. Other early hits included "Headline News" and "Stop Her on Sight (S.O.S.)". While working with Ric-Tic, he also wrote "Oh, How Happy." This song became a hit for another group, The Shades of Blue, in 1966.
Later, Motown Records bought Ric-Tic Records. Many of Starr's songs from Ric-Tic became popular in the "northern soul" music scene. This was a dance movement in the UK. His song "Stop Her on Sight (S.O.S.)" was re-released in the UK in 1968. It became an even bigger hit there. In 1969, Starr had international success with "Twenty-Five Miles." He helped write this song, and it reached number 6 on the music charts.
The Hit Song "War"
The most famous song of Edwin Starr's career was "War" (1970). This song was a protest song against the Vietnam War. Starr's powerful singing turned a song originally by The Temptations into a huge hit. It stayed at number one on the U.S. Billboard charts for three weeks. "War" became an anthem for people who were against the war. It has been used in many movie soundtracks and hip hop songs since then. Over three million copies were sold, earning it a gold disc.
Starr continued to record music. In 1979, he had two popular disco hits: "(Eye-to-Eye) Contact" and "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio". "Contact" was very successful. It reached number 1 on the dance chart and number 6 in the UK Singles Chart. "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" also made it into the top ten in the UK.
Later Career and Collaborations
In 1985, Starr released "It Ain't Fair." This song was popular in soul and dance clubs. In 1987, he joined other artists for the charity song ""Let It Be" by Ferry Aid", which reached number one. Later that year, he worked with the famous production team Stock, Aitken and Waterman on the song "Whatever Makes Our Love Grow."
In 1989, a group called the Cookie Crew used a part of Starr's song "25 Miles" in their hit "Got to Keep On." In 2000, Edwin Starr worked with the UK band Utah Saints to record a new version of "Funky Music Sho' 'Nuff Turns Me On". In 2002, he recorded "Snowflake Boogie" with British musician Jools Holland. He also recorded another version of "War" with Utah Saints, which was his last recording.
In 1995, Edwin Starr appeared in a British movie called Blue Juice. He played a soul singer named Ossie Sands. He recorded songs for the film. The movie also featured the Northern soul music scene.
Life in England and Passing Away
Edwin Starr was very popular in England's northern soul music scene. He moved to England in 1983 and lived there for the rest of his life. He lived in the English Midlands, first in Polesworth, Warwickshire, and then in Bramcote in Nottinghamshire.
Edwin Starr passed away on April 2, 2003, from a heart attack at his home in Nottinghamshire. He was 61 years old. He is buried at Wilford Hill Cemetery in Nottingham. He was survived by his partner, Jean, and his son and daughter.
Awards and Recognition
Edwin Starr has received several honors for his music.
- In August 2013, he was inducted into the first class of the Official Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame. This took place at Cleveland State University.
- In 2017, Starr was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.
- There is a mural in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, near where he lived, that features Edwin Starr.
Discography
Albums
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUS |
US |
US R&B |
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| Soul Master | 1968 | – | — | — | |||
| 25 Miles | 1969 | – | 73 | 9 | |||
| Just We Two (with Blinky) | – | – | – | ||||
| War & Peace | 1970 | – | 52 | 9 | |||
| Involved | 1971 | – | 178 | 45 | |||
| Hell Up in Harlem (Soundtrack) | 1974 | – | – | – | |||
| Free to Be Myself | 1975 | – | – | 43 | |||
| Afternoon Sunshine [UK] Edwin Starr [US] |
1977 | – | – | – | |||
| Clean | 1978 | – | 80 | 22 | |||
| Happy Radio | 1979 | 83 | 115 | 44 | |||
| Stronger than You Think I Am | 1980 | – | – | – | |||
| For Sale | 1983 | – | – | – | |||
| Through the Grapevine (includes several of his mid-1980s singles) |
1990 | – | – | – | |||
| You Can Have It | 1991 | – | – | – | |||
| Where Is the Sound | – | – | – | ||||
| "–" means the album did not appear on the charts. | |||||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Certifications | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop |
US R&B |
US Dance |
AUS |
UK |
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| 1965 | "Agent Double-O-Soul" | 21 | 8 | – | – | – | |
| "Back Street" | 95 | 33 | – | – | – | ||
| 1966 | "Stop Her on Sight (S.O.S.)" | 48 | 9 | – | – | 35 | |
| "I'll Love You Forever" (with the Holidays) |
63 | 7 | – | – | – | ||
| "Headline News" | 84 | – | – | – | 39 | ||
| 1967 | "Girls Are Getting Prettier" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| "You're My Mellow" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "I Want My Baby Back" | 120 | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1968 | "I Am the Man for You Baby" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| "Way Over There" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Stop Her on Sight (S.O.S.)" / "Headline News" (reissue) |
– | – | – | – | 11 | ||
| 1969 | "Twenty-Five Miles" | 6 | 6 | – | – | 36 | |
| "I'm Still a Struggling Man" | 80 | 27 | – | – | – | ||
| "Oh How Happy" (as Blinky & Edwin Starr) |
92 | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1970 | "Time" | 117 | 39 | – | – | – | |
| "War" | 1 | 3 | – | 37 | 3 |
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| "Stop the War Now" | 26 | 5 | – | – | 33 | ||
| 1971 | "Funky Music Sho' 'Nuff Turns Me On" | 64 | 6 | – | – | – | |
| 1972 | "Who Is the Leader of the People" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1973 | "There You Go" | 80 | 12 | – | – | – | |
| "You've Got My Soul on Fire" | – | 40 | – | – | – | ||
| 1974 | "Ain't It Hell Up in Harlem" | 110 | – | – | – | – | |
| "Big Papa" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Who's Right or Wrong" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1975 | "Pain" | – | 25 | – | – | – | |
| "Stay with Me" | – | 51 | – | – | – | ||
| "Abyssinia Jones" | 98 | 25 | – | – | – | ||
| 1976 | "Accident" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1977 | "I Just Wanna Do My Thing" | – | 94 | 28 | – | – | |
| 1978 | "I'm So into You" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1979 | "Contact" | 65 | 13 | 1 | 37 | 6 |
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| "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" | 79 | 28 | 7 | 54 | 9 | ||
| "It's Called the Rock" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Tell a Star" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1980 | "Stronger" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| "Boop Boop" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| "Get Up, Whirlpool" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1981 | "Sweet" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1983 | "I Wanna Take You Home" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| "Smooth" | – | – | – | – | 90 | ||
| 1984 | "Marvin" | – | – | – | – | 89 | |
| 1985 | "It Ain't Fair" | – | – | – | – | 56 | |
| "Missiles" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1986 | "Grapevine" | – | – | – | – | 83 | |
| "Soul Singer" | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1987 | "Whatever Makes Our Love Grow" | – | – | – | – | 98 | |
| 1988 | "Long Line of Lovers" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1989 | "25 Miles '89" | – | – | – | – | 82 | |
| 1990 | "She's The One" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" (with David Saylor) |
– | – | – | – | – | ||
| 1992 | "Darling Darling Baby" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1993 | "War" (as Edwin Starr and Shadow) |
– | – | – | – | 69 | |
| 1994 | "Can't Stop Thinking About You" | – | – | – | – | – | |
| "–" means the song did not appear on the charts. | |||||||
See also
In Spanish: Edwin Starr para niños
