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.
Please Be Kind
Kay Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Handle my heart with care, oh, please be kind
This is all so grand, my dreams are on parade
If you'll just understand, they'll never, never fade
Tell me your love's sincere, oh, please be kind
Tell me I needn't fear, oh, please be kind
'Cause if you leave me dear, I know my heart will lose its mind
The song "Please Be Kind" by Kay Starr is an evergreen classic that talks about a young person's first love affair. The lyrics are about being unbothered by worldly worries and dreaming of a full life ahead with their significant other. The first line of the song, "This is my first affair, so please be kind" indicates that the singer is inexperienced in love and is looking for someone who'd be patient with their emotions. The second line, "Handle my heart with care, oh, please be kind," is a request for their partner to be gentle with their feelings and not to hurt them.
The lyrics go on to describe how the singer's world has changed after finding love, and everything seems grand, with their dreams coming to life. They request their partner to understand their emotions and if they do, their love will never fade. The lyrics ask for reassurance, with the lines "Tell me your love's sincere, oh, please be kind, Tell me I needn't fear, oh, please be kind," highlighting the importance of trust and honesty in a relationship. Finally, the song ends with a plea to not leave them as it might break their heart completely.
Overall, the song is a beautiful portrayal of young love, insecurities, and the need for kindness from the other person. It showcases how emotions can be fragile, and a caring approach can help build a lasting relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
This is my first affair, so please be kind
I am new to love and relationships, therefore I request you to be gentle and considerate with me.
Handle my heart with care, oh, please be kind
My heart is fragile and sensitive, so I implore you to be tender and cautious in handling it.
This is all so grand, my dreams are on parade
This feeling of love is overwhelming and I am ecstatic with joy.
If you'll just understand, they'll never, never fade
If you can comprehend my emotions, they will always remain strong and not diminish.
Tell me your love's sincere, oh, please be kind
I want to know that your love for me is genuine and authentic, and I beg that you convey it kindly.
Tell me I needn't fear, oh, please be kind
I am worried and anxious about this relationship, so I implore you to reassure me with kindness.
'Cause if you leave me dear, I know my heart will lose its mind
If you were to abandon me, it would have a catastrophic impact on my emotional wellbeing.
If you love me, please be kind
If you truly love me, then treat me with tenderness and compassion.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SAMMY CAHN, SAUL CHAPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind