Buddy Starcher
b. Oby Edgar Starcher, 16 March 1906, Kentuck, Jackson County, West Virginia, USA. He first learned to play banjo but later became an outstanding guitarist. 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. In 1946, he recorded in Chicago for Four Star, including his best-known song I'll Still Write Your Name In The Sand. Now a much recorded bluegrass standard, it reached number 8 in the country charts. Later he recorded for other labels including Columbia, Starday, Decca, Bluebonnet and Bear Family. In 1960, his television show in Charleston had higher local ratings than NBC's Today. In 1966, he had a number 2 country and number 39 pop hit with History Repeats Itself — his cleverly written narration detailing the many similarities between the assassinations of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy. In the late '60s, he returned to radio and for some years managed radio stations, being usually brought in as a troubleshooter to pick up ailing stations — once they were running successfully, he moved on to the next challenge. He has written 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, Vasas (Vasas) who in 1941, took over from Patsy Montana on WLS Chicago.