Randy Starr
Encyclopedia
Randy Starr is the stage name
of Warren Nadel (born 2 July 1930). He was educated at Columbia University
where he took his undergraduate degree from Columbia College in 1951, and his DDS degree in dentistry
from Columbia College of Dental Medicine in 1954. He is currently retired and lives in New York
, New York.
He wrote the music and lyrics
, along with Dick Wolf, and performed the 1957 hit song "After School".
He was also a member of the United States band
, The Islanders
, whose "The Enchanted Sea" was the fifteenth most popular hit in 1959.
He is particularly noted for the music and lyrics he wrote for Elvis Presley
. These songs include:
Starr had several notable television appearances. On 21 August 1957 he performed his hit song, "After School", in one of his five appearances on American Bandstand
. On 10 September 1962 he appeared as a the real songwriting dentist on To Tell the Truth
.
Songs written by Starr were recorded by a number of artists, including Jackie Wilson
, The Kingston Trio
, Teresa Brewer
, Nelson Riddle
, Chet Atkins
, Kay Starr
and Connie Francis
.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Warren Nadel (born 2 July 1930). He was educated at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
where he took his undergraduate degree from Columbia College in 1951, and his DDS degree in dentistry
Dentistry
Dentistry is the branch of medicine that is involved in the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body. Dentistry is widely considered...
from Columbia College of Dental Medicine in 1954. He is currently retired and lives in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, New York.
He wrote the music and lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
, along with Dick Wolf, and performed the 1957 hit song "After School".
He was also a member of the United States band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
, The Islanders
The Islanders (U.S. band)
The Islanders were an American group which included Frank Metis and Randy Starr , in addition to using special sound effects by Ralph F. Curtiss. They are most noted for their 1959 hit single, "The Enchanted Sea", which reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.None of their subsequent...
, whose "The Enchanted Sea" was the fifteenth most popular hit in 1959.
He is particularly noted for the music and lyrics he wrote for Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. These songs include:
- "Kissin' Cousins", written with Fred WiseFred Wise (lyricist)Fred Wise was the co-writer of the lyrics to the 1948 song "'A' — You're Adorable" with Buddy Kaye. He subsequently wrote many of the songs sung by Elvis Presley in his movies....
, and featured in the film, Kissin' CousinsKissin' CousinsKissin' Cousins is a 1964 musical film comedy starring Elvis Presley in two roles, one as an American soldier, the other a hillbilly. The screenplay was nominated in the category of best written American musical by the Writers Guild of America...
. - "The Yellow Rose of Texas", written with Fred Wise, featured in the 1964 film Viva Las VegasViva Las VegasViva Las Vegas is a 1964 American romantic musical movie starring music icon Elvis Presley and actress/dancer Ann-Margret. This movie is regarded by many fans of these actors and by film critics as one of Presley's best movies, and it is noted for the apparent on-screen chemistry between Presley...
- "Carny Town", with lyrics by Fred Wise, featured in the 1964 film Roustabout
- "Look Out Broadway" written with Fred Wise, featured in the 1966 film Frankie and JohnnyFrankie and Johnny (1966 film)Frankie and Johnny is a 1966 musical film starring Elvis Presley as a riverboat gambler. The role of "Frankie" was played by Donna Douglas from The Beverly Hillbillies TV series. The film reached #40 on the Variety weekly national box office list for 1966. The budget of the film was estimated at...
- "Datin'" written with Fred Wise, featured in the 1966 film Paradise, Hawaiian StyleParadise, Hawaiian StyleParadise, Hawaiian Style is a 1966 musical comedy film starring Elvis Presley. It was the third and final motion picture that Presley filmed in Hawaii. The film reached #40 on the Variety weekly box office chart, earning $2.5 million in theaters....
- "Adam And Evil" written with Fred Wise, featured in the 1966 film SpinoutSpinoutSpinout is a 1966 musical film and comedy starring Elvis Presley as the lead singer of a band and part-time race car driver. The movie was #57 on the year end list of the top-grossing films of 1966.-Plot:...
- "Could I Fall In Love" and "Old MacDonald", both songs with music and lyrics by Starr, featured in the 1967 film Double Trouble
- "Who Needs Money", and "The Girl I Never Loved", both songs with music and lyrics by Starr, featured in the 1967 film ClambakeClambakeClambake is a 1967 musical film starring Elvis Presley, and co-starring Shelley Fabares and Bill Bixby—the last of his four films for United Artists. The movie reached No. 15 on the national weekly box office charts.-Plot:...
- "Almost in Love" written together with Luiz BonfáLuiz BonfáLuiz Floriano Bonfá was a Brazilian guitarist and composer best known for the compositions he penned for the film Black Orpheus.-Biography:...
featured in the 1968 film Live a Little, Love a LittleLive a Little, Love a LittleLive A Little, Love A Little is a 1968 musical comedy starring Elvis Presley. It was directed by Norman Taurog, who had directed several previous Presley films. This was to be Taurog's final film. Shortly thereafter, he went blind...
- "I've Got News for You" written with Fred Wise, featured in the 1965 Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
film Girl HappyGirl HappyGirl Happy is a 1965 American musical romantic comedy in the beach party film and spring break style, starring Elvis Presley.This was the last mega-successful Elvis Presley film at the box office, finishing at #25 on the Variety year-end top-grossing films of 1965 chart and making $3 million,...
was sung by Shelly Fabares and Nita Talbot.
Starr had several notable television appearances. On 21 August 1957 he performed his hit song, "After School", in one of his five appearances on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
. On 10 September 1962 he appeared as a the real songwriting dentist on To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
.
Songs written by Starr were recorded by a number of artists, including Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
, The Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio
The Kingston Trio is an American folk and pop music group that helped launch the folk revival of the late 1950s to late 1960s. The group started as a San Francisco Bay Area nightclub act with an original lineup of Dave Guard, Bob Shane, and Nick Reynolds...
, Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer
Teresa Brewer was an American pop singer whose style incorporated elements of country, jazz, R&B, musicals and novelty songs. She was one of the most prolific and popular female singers of the 1950s, recording nearly 600 songs. Born Theresa Breuer in Toledo, Ohio, Brewer died of a neuromuscular...
, Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
, Chet Atkins
Chet Atkins
Chester Burton Atkins , known as Chet Atkins, was an American guitarist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well.Atkins's picking style, inspired by Merle...
, Kay Starr
Kay Starr
Kay Starr is an American pop and jazz singer who enjoyed considerable success in the 1940s and 50s. She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz"....
and Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
.
External links
- http://www.automobiledir.com/press/catalog/150/