1952
Kay Starr was born Katherine LaVerne Starks, Oklahoma, in 1922, her father was an Iroquois Indian. Due to her precocious talent Katherine had her own spot singing on radio at an extremely young age. She changed her name to Kay Starr after her name was miss-spelt so many times in fan letters. In July 1939 Kay joined the Glenn Miller Orchestra replacing Marion Hutton, and subsequently made her first recording on the Bluebird label Love With A Capitol You. Capitol Records signed her in 1947 and on January 17, 1952 Kay was awakened and called into Capitol’s Melrose studios late one night to record a rush release of a new song titled Wheel Of Fortune. Kay’s version was released along with two others, and became a huge success. It was to be the song most associated her, her biggest hit, and her first gold record. Her version contrasts well with the Cardinals, divine version on Atlantic 958.
Wheel Of Fortune was released in the US on 6 February 1952 (see below) but was only released in the UK on a 45 RPM single play in June 1960.
WHEEL OF FORTUNE * KAY STARR * CAPITOL 1964 * US