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.
What a Diff
Kay Starr Lyrics
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Twenty-four little hours
Brought the sun and the flowers
Where there used to be rain
My yesterday was blue, dear
Today I'm part of you, dear
My lonely nights are through, dear
What a difference a day makes
There's a rainbow before me
Skies above can't be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
It's heaven when you
Find romance on your menu
What a difference a day makes
And the difference is you
What a difference a day makes
There's a rainbow before me
Skies above can't be stormy
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
It's heaven when you
Find romance on your menu
What a difference a day makes
And the difference is you.
The song "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" by Kay Starr explores the transformative power of love. The lyrics highlight how just one day can make all the difference in a person's life. The first verse describes how in just 24 little hours, the sun and flowers have replaced the rain, signifying a change in the singer's surroundings. The second verse talks about the emotional transformation brought about by love. The singer's yesterday was blue and lonely, but today they are part of someone else's life, and their lonely nights are through. This change is attributed to the fact that the singer has someone to call theirs.
The chorus repeats the idea that what a difference a day makes, with the addition of a rainbow and a clear sky. The bridge emphasizes the thrill of falling in love, describing it as heaven on the menu. The final line of the song ties everything together, attributing the difference in the singer's life to the presence of their beloved.
Overall, the song celebrates the transformative power of love and highlights how one day can change everything.
Line by Line Meaning
What a difference a day makes
The incredible transformation that can happen in just one day is remarkable.
Twenty-four little hours
It only takes one day or 24 hours for everything to change.
Brought the sun and the flowers
In just one day, the darkness and sadness can disappear and be replaced with light and beauty.
Where there used to be rain
The tears and sorrow are replaced with happiness and joy in just one day.
My yesterday was blue, dear
My past was sad and lonely.
Today I'm part of you, dear
Now that you are in my life, I feel complete and happy.
My lonely nights are through, dear
I no longer have to suffer through the long and lonely nights without you by my side.
Since you said you were mine
Since you confessed your love for me, everything changed for the better.
There's a rainbow before me
Now there is beauty and hope in my life after the dark and dreary days behind me.
Skies above can't be stormy
The future looks bright with sunshine and happiness that can't be brought down by any storm.
Since that moment of bliss, that thrilling kiss
After that magical moment of falling in love, everything changed for the better.
It's heaven when you
Falling in love is like being in heaven.
Find romance on your menu
Having love and romance in your life is essential for happiness.
And the difference is you
All of this happiness and love in my life is because of you and your love for me.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Maria Grever, Stanley Adams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeangulliford8396
Wonderful voice and lyrics
@peterfarrar9015
Maria Grever's beautiful romantic ballad "What A Difference A Day Made". The fabulous Miss Kay Starr's version with her silky smooth delivery & perfect pronunciation, in my opinion, this version is unbeatable against all male & female oppositions. Charlie Barnet's superb orchestra gave complete cohesion to Miss Starr's unique style of performing. Kay Starr's greatest hit was Wheel Of Fortune & also a universal chart topper. However, mysteriously , comments were turned off??? To Mark Gallagher, I hope you like my comments. Peter Farrar.
@Samstraysongs
Nice..Kay was a terrific singer...a big Starr *****
@adabsiz2000
If they play this in a supermarket (instead of the screaming and ranting of today's so-called music) shoppers would be dancing in te aisles !!!
@randallriley
Bet that's Joe Venuti playing violin behind her on this recording. She toured with Venuti and Connee Boswell around this time. Connee was an influence on Kay and Kay later influenced generations of singers, including my friend, jazz singer Donna Hightower.
@billfreytag7410
From Standard Transcriptions...Joe Venuti on Violin and Les Paul on Guitar!
@dcgilleland
Would bet the farm that it's Joe Venuti pulling that rosin!
@markalson1938
I don't know who did the violyn solo, at this time Kay was with the Charlie Barnet band and as far as I know Grappelie never was part of Barnet's band.
@catman306
Who played the violyn solo? Sounds like Stephen Grappelie.