18 Facts About Edwin Starr

Charles Edwin Hatcher, known by his stage name Edwin Starr, was an American singer and songwriter.

Edwin Starr is best remembered for his Norman Whitfield-produced Motown singles of the 1970s, most notably the number-one hit "War".

Edwin Starr was backed by the band that became known as "Black Merda".

Charles Edwin Starr Hatcher was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on January 21,1942.

Edwin Starr's backing singers during this time were Total Concept Unlimited, who later became Rose Royce.

Edwin Starr continued to record, most notably the song "Hell Up in Harlem" for the 1974 film Hell Up in Harlem, which was the sequel to Black Caesar, an earlier hit with a soundtrack by James Brown.

Edwin Starr appeared on the charity number one single "Let It Be" by Ferry Aid in 1987.

Later that year, Edwin Starr teamed up with the Stock, Aitken and Waterman production company for the club hit, "Whatever Makes Our Love Grow".

Edwin Starr expressed dissatisfaction with the process of making the record, complaining that the producers treated him as an amateur.

In 1989, Edwin Starr joined Ian Levine's Motorcity Records, releasing six singles and the album Where Is the Sound, as well as co-writing several songs for other artists on the label.

In 1995, Edwin Starr featured in Blue Juice, a 1995 British drama film as a soul singer named Ossie Sands.

Edwin Starr remained a hero on England's northern soul circuit and moved to England in 1983, continuing to live there for the remainder of his life.

Edwin Starr based himself in the Midlands, living for many years at Pooley Hall at Polesworth, Warwickshire, before moving to Bramcote in Nottinghamshire.

Edwin Starr died on April 2,2003, from a heart attack at his Nottinghamshire home.

Edwin Starr is buried at Wilford Hill Cemetery in Nottingham.

Edwin Starr was survived by his long term partner Jean, and by his son and daughter from earlier relationships.

Edwin Starr was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2017.

Edwin Starr is one of the subjects of a mural in Beeston, Nottingham, which is not far from where he lived later in life.