Buddy Starcher

Buddy Starcher
Birth nameOby Edgar Starcher
Born(1906-03-16)March 16, 1906
OriginRipley, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedNovember 2, 2001(2001-11-02) (aged 95)
Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S.
GenresCountry
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active1946–1967
Labels4 Star, Boone

Oby Edgar "Buddy" Starcher (March 16, 1906 – November 2, 2001) was an American country singer whose first record releases were in 1946,[1] although he had been performing since his teens, often billed as "The Boy from Down Home".[2]

Born in Ripley, West Virginia, he starred on his own show on WCHS-TV from 1960 to 1966, and ran a record label named B.E.S. (for his initials) during this time.[3] However, he is best known for his spoken word recording entitled "History Repeats Itself", written with Minnie Pearl. Originally released on his own label in 1965,[4] it was re-released on the larger and better distributed Boone Records in 1966. The track recounts uncanny similarities between the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, accompanied by a musical background featuring "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "America the Beautiful".[5]

The re-released single hit No. 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart[6] and the album of the same name from which it was drawn peaked at No. 37 on the US Country Albums chart.[7]

His wife, Mary Ann Starcher (née Estes), was also a musician and often appeared with him on his television show.[8]

Discography

Albums

Year Album US Country Label
1962 Buddy Starcher and His Mountain Guitar — Starday
1966 History Repeats Itself 37 Decca
1967 Just Buddy and His Guitar No. 1 — Bluebonnet
Country Soul and Inspiration — Heartwarming
1986 Me and My Guitar (Bootleg Re-issue of 1967 album for Bluebonnet) — Old Homestead

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions Album
US Country US
[9]
1949 "I'll Still Write Your Name in the Sand" 8 — single only
1966 "History Repeats Itself" 2 39 History Repeats Itself
"Day of Decision" — 131

References

  1. ^ "Praguefrank's Country Music Discographies: Buddy Starcher". Countrydiscography.blogspot.co.uk. 14 November 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  2. ^ The Encyclopedia of Country Music, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, 2012, ISBN 978-0195395631
  3. ^ "B.E.S. Label Discography - USA". 45cat.com. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Buddy Starcher - History Repeats Itself / Sniper's Hill - B.E.S. - USA - 45-91". 45cat.com. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  5. ^ Wolk, Douglas (20 April 2009). "Flukes of the Universe". Slate. Retrieved 9 January 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 7th edn, 2000, ISBN 978-0823082803
  7. ^ Buddy Starcher at AllMusic
  8. ^ Ivan Tribe, Mountaineer Jamboree: Country Music in West Virginia, 1996, ISBN 9780813115146
  9. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 848. ISBN 978-0-89820-188-8.