While other legends of
Soul swooned and crooned their way to immortality, Edwin Starr shouted. After spending most of the 60s on
Motown competitor Ric Tic- with whom he hit US charts with 1965's 'Agent Double-O Soul' and 1966's 'Stop Her On Sight (also a UK hit)- Starr hit the big-time when Motown bought the label. Rubbing shoulders with the finest of
Berry Gordy inspired him and he penned 1969's classic hits 'Twenty-Five Miles' and 'I'm Still A Strugglin' Man'.
However, it was a pairing with producer Norman Whitfield that lodged Starr in legend, with 1970's storming 'War' (a rejected Temptations cut) and 'Stop The War Now'. But after 1971's 'Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On', he holidayed from the charts until 1979 when 'H.A.P.P.Y. Radio' and 'Contact' reached the UK Top 10. His legendary status on Britain's Northern Soul scene prompted his migration there in the 80s. Still, the anthemic 'War' lived on courtesy of covers by Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Bruce Springsteen.
He died on Wednesday, 2nd April, 2003, of a heart attack. His last show was two weeks previously in the South German city of Stuttgart.