Erroll Starr
Erroll Starr | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jamaica |
| Genres | Rhythm and Blues, Reggae, and Country |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Labels | A&M Records (1986–87), Asoma Records (1994) |
Erroll Starr Francis is a Canadian rhythm and blues singer.[1] He is most noted for winning the Juno Award for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year in 1989 for his single "Angel".[2]
Early Life
[edit]Originally from Jamaica,[1] Starr's family emigrated to the United Kingdom when he was two years old, after which they moved to Canada and settled in the Kitchener-Waterloo area[3]. Starr began his musical journey when his father bought him his first guitar. He then began playing as a guitarist in his father's band. As a teenager, he obtained special permission from the LCBO to play as a minor in bars and clubs[4]. His father was a reggae musician with the band People's Choice.[5]
Musical career
[edit]Starr built his early music career in Toronto, where concurrently with performing as an R&B singer he was also the front man of the rock band Harbinger.[1]
He released the singles "Holding Out for You", "The Key" and "For the Love of Money" in 1986 and 1987, before releasing his debut album Temple of Love on A&M Records in 1987.[6] In 1987, he also participated in the recording of a Christmas charity single, "A Christmas Wish", with a lineup of Toronto-area performers that also included Billy Newton-Davis, Kim Richardson, Frozen Ghost, Prairie Oyster, Messenjah, The Pursuit of Happiness, Salome Bey, Zappacosta, Arlene Duncan and Lorraine Scott.[7]
He received his first Juno Award nomination in 1986 for "The Key",[8] and his second in 1987 for "For the Love of Money",[9] and won the award for Best Male Artist at the Black Music Association of Canada awards in 1987.[10] However, he was one of a number of Black Canadian musicians who faced heavy resistance from Canadian radio programmers in this era,[5] and A&M did not renew his contract for another album.
In the early 1990s he moved to Hamilton, working as a record producer and recording music for film, television and commercials.[1] During this era he formed a country music duo, North Starr, with colleague Mike Northcott, and released his second album, From the Inside Out, on the independent label Asoma Records in 1994.[1]
He has continued to perform occasional live appearances at public events.[11]
In 2024, Starr told his story in the Digital Sabbath Film Company short film, Temple of Love: The Errol Starr Story
Personal life
[edit]In the early 2000s, he and his family moved to Killaloe, where they built an environmentally sustainable off-the-grid home in the Earthship style.[12]
His niece, Tasha Schumann, is a rapper who performs under the stage name Tasha the Amazon.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Starr shines with something for all". Hamilton Spectator, July 21, 1994.
- ^ "Blue Rodeo ropes two Junos And k.d. lang makes it four big ones for the country folks". Toronto Star, March 13, 1989.
- ^ "LOCAL DOCUMENTARY SHARES ERROLL STARR'S STORY – The Community Edition". 2024-04-10. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ Digital Sabbath Film Company (2024-12-17). Temple of Love: The Erroll Starr Story. Retrieved 2025-02-25 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "Juno nominee has spiritual base for his songs". Ottawa Citizen, September 18, 1987.
- ^ "Erroll's rising star glows at classy coming-out party". Toronto Star, August 4, 1987.
- ^ "Musicians rally to record Christmas song". Toronto Star, November 10, 1987.
- ^ "Juno nominations list contains many faces that are familiar". The Globe and Mail, September 9, 1986.
- ^ "Juno Awards: the complete list of nominees". Vancouver Sun, September 15, 1987.
- ^ "Black singers win awards", Vancouver Sun, May 16, 1987.
- ^ "Celebrating our cultural differences: World Day for Cultural Diversity marked at city hall". Hamilton Spectator, May 22, 2014.
- ^ "Earthship grounded". Ottawa Citizen, June 20, 2010.
- ^ "Tasha the Amazon standing tall". Waterloo Region Record, April 6, 2017.
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