Kay Starr was successful in every field of music she tried, jazz, country and pop. But her roots were in jazz, Billie Holiday, considered by many the greatest jazz singer of all time, called Starr "the only white woman who could sing the blues."
She is best remembered for introducing two songs that became #1 hits in the 1950s, "Wheel of Fortune" and "The Rock And Roll Waltz".
Kay Starr was born on a reservation in Dougherty, Oklahoma. Her father, Harry, was a full-blooded Iroquois Indian; her mother, Annie, was of mixed Irish and American Indian heritage. When her father got a job installing water sprinkler systems, the family moved to Dallas, Texas.
While her father worked for the Automatic Sprinkler Company, her mother raised chickens, and Kay used to sing to the chickens in the coop. As a result of the fact that her aunt, Nora, was impressed by her singing, she began to sing at the age of seven on a Dallas radio station, WRR, first in a talent competition where she finished third one week and won every week thereafter, then with her own weekly fifteen minute show. She sang pop and "hillbilly" songs with a piano accompaniment. By the age of ten, she was making $3 a night, a lot of money in the Depression days.
As a result of her father's changing jobs, her family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and she continued performing on the radio, singing "Western swing music," still mostly a mix of country and pop. It was while she was on the Memphis radio station WMPS that, as a result of misspellings in her fan mail, she and her parents decided to give her the name "Kay Starr". At the age of fifteen, she was chosen to sing with the Joe Venuti orchestra. Venuti had a contract to play in the Peabody Hotel in Memphis which called for his band to feature a girl singer, which he did not have; Venuti's road manager heard her on the radio, and suggested her to Venuti. Because she was still in junior high school, her parents insisted that Venuti take her home no later than midnight.
Although she had brief stints in 1939 with Bob Crosby and Glenn Miller (who hired her in July of that year when his regular singer, Marion Hutton, was sick), she spent most of her next few years with Venuti, until he dissolved his band in 1942. It was, however, with Miller that she cut her first record: "Baby Me"/"Love with a Capital You." It was not a great success, in part because the band played in a key more appropriate for Marion Hutton, which was less suited for Kay's vocal range.
Come on-a My House
Kay Starr Lyrics
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Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give a you
Apple, a plum and apricot-a too eh
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house I'm gonna give a you
Figs and dates and grapes and cakes eh
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you candy
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you everything
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you Christmas tree
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you
Marriage ring and a pomegranate too ah
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house I'm gonna give a you
Peach and pear and I love your hair ah
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house a come on
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you Easta-egg
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you
Everything, everything, everything
Come on-a my house
Kay Starr's "Come On-A-My House" is a song that was written by Ross Bagdasarian and his cousin, William Saroyan. The song was released in 1951 and became a hit for Starr, who was known for her powerful voice and ability to convey emotion in her singing. The lyrics of the song are playful and inviting, with the singer inviting someone to come over to their house for some sweet treats and good company.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song by inviting the listener to come over and enjoy some candy, apples, plums, and apricots. The repetition of the phrase "come on-a my house" emphasizes the singer's eagerness to have company and share their treats. The second verse expands on this invitation, offering the listener a Christmas tree, a marriage ring, and a pomegranate. The fruit offered in the lyrics is exotic and suggests that the singer comes from a culture that values hospitality and generosity.
The playful tone of the lyrics is matched by the upbeat music, which features a catchy melody and simple, repetitive chords. The song's popularity in the 1950s can be attributed to its catchy melody, relatable lyrics, and upbeat tempo. "Come On-A-My House" remains a beloved classic today, with its catchy tune and infectious energy giving listeners a taste of the joy and playfulness of 1950s music.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you candy
Please come to my house, I would like to offer you some sweet treats.
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give a you, Apple, a plum and apricot-a too eh
I have a variety of fruits such as apples, plums, and apricots that I would like to share with you.
Come on-a my house, my house I'm gonna give a you Figs and dates and grapes and cakes eh
Along with the fruits, I also have figs, dates, grapes, and cakes that I would like to offer you as well.
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you Christmas tree
During the Christmas season, I would like to share the festive spirit with you by offering a Christmas tree.
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you Marriage ring and a pomegranate too ah
As a symbol of my love, I would like to give you a marriage ring along with a pomegranate, which is a symbol of abundance and fertility.
Come on-a my house, my house I'm gonna give a you Peach and pear and I love your hair ah
I have some juicy peaches and pears for you, and I also appreciate your beautiful hair.
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you Easta-egg
For Easter, I would like to offer you an Easter egg as a sign of new beginnings and renewal.
Come on-a my house, my house, I'm gonna give you everything, everything, everything
Overall, I am eager to welcome you into my home and provide you with everything that I can offer.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ross Bagdasarian, William Saroyan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sstavsky
She sounds a little like Eartha Kitt here (pre-Eartha Kitt!).
@freemangriffin4953
I prefer this version to Rosemary Clooney's...