Kay Starr, born Catherine Laverne Starks on July 21, 1922, in Dougherty, Oklahoma, was a prominent American singer known for her versatile vocal style, which spanned traditional pop, jazz, country, and western swing. Of Iroquois and Irish descent, Starr began her singing career at a young age, performing on Dallas's WRR radio station after winning a local talent contest. She later moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where she hosted her own radio show, "Starr Time," on WREC.

Starr's career took off in the late 1940s and 1950s, with her 1952 hit "Wheel of Fortune" earning her a Gold Record and later induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Other notable hits included "Allez-Vous-En" and "If You Love Me (Really Love Me)." She performed with renowned artists such as Bob Wills, Bob Crosby, Glenn Miller, and Frank Sinatra, and was a regular on "The Danny Thomas Show." Starr also toured with the stage production of "Annie Get Your Gun" and continued to perform into the 1990s, releasing the album "Live at Freddy's" in 1997.

Starr passed away on November 3, 2016, in Los Angeles, California, leaving behind a legacy as a dynamic and emotional vocalist who seamlessly transitioned between musical genres.