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.
My Kinda Love
Kay Starr Lyrics
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Keeps me believing, although you're deceiving
My kinda love, one way to paradise
My kinda lips, your kinda lips
When love comes stealing, encourage that feeling
My kinda love, one way to paradise
You may be gone tomorrow
Love comes but once, don't be a dunce
When you need it, steal it, beg or borrow
I'm fond of you, you're fond of me
Tell me you love me and hug me and squeeze me
My kinda love, one way to paradise
Although you're happy today
You may be gone tomorrow
Love comes but once, don't be a dunce
When you need it, beg or steal or borrow
I'm fond of you, you're fond of me
Tell me you love me and hug me and squeeze me
My kinda love, one way to paradise
The song "My Kinda Love" by Kay Starr explores a lover's commitment to a deceptive partner. The lyrics describe the singer's belief in their kind of love, which seems to be founded on deception and encourage the feeling of love when it arises. The singer appears to know that their partner may not be entirely genuine in their affections, although they still hold onto the hope that their love will lead them to paradise. The lyrics "Although you're deceiving, my kinda love, one way to paradise" illustrate that the singer is aware of their partner's deceitful behavior, but they still hold onto hope for a happy future.
The song's message is about the power of love and the need to take the risk of being hurt for the sake of experiencing the joys of love. The lyrics suggest that sometimes in love, things are not always as they seem, and one needs to have trust in their kind of love, which may not necessarily align with societal norms or expectations. The lines "Love comes but once, don't be a dunce, when you need it, steal it, beg or borrow" suggest that the singer is willing to go to any length to hold onto their love and that it should not be taken for granted.
Overall, "My Kinda Love" is a romantic and hopeful song that inspires listeners to have faith in the power of love, despite the risks it may entail.
Line by Line Meaning
My kinda love, your kinda love
The love that I seek from you is similar to the love you possess.
Keeps me believing, although you're deceiving
I still have faith in our love, even if you may be untruthful or misleading me.
My kinda love, one way to paradise
The love that we share is the only path to true happiness and bliss.
My kinda lips, your kinda lips
The kisses I desire from you are the same kisses you are willing to give.
When love comes stealing, encourage that feeling
When we fall deeper into our love, we should embrace those positive emotions.
Although you're happy today
Even if you are content and satisfied with our relationship at present,
You may be gone tomorrow
You may leave or end our love soon.
Love comes but once, don't be a dunce
Love is rare and should not be taken for granted.
When you need it, steal it, beg or borrow
Even if it means resorting to unconventional methods, you must fight for love.
I'm fond of you, you're fond of me
We both have positive feelings for each other.
Tell me you love me and hug me and squeeze me
Show affection and express your love for me through your words and actions.
My kinda love, one way to paradise
Our mutual love is the key to our happiness and fulfillment in life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADELE EMILY SANDE, DANIEL TANNENBAUM, EMILE HAYNIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind