Date Signed: October 2024
Label: Quarto Valley Records
Band Member: David Starr
Type of Music: Blues
Publicity: U.S.: Kate Richardson - [email protected]
Web: davidstarrmusic.com
A&R: Nina Miller
After celebrating the success of many editorial playlist placements and rave reviews in the Blues world, David Starr knew that his next album Must Be Blue would be the perfect project to partner with a blues label-mate. Teaming up with Richlynn Group publicist Kate Richardson, who was able to get it into the hands of Quarto Valley Records' Nina Miller, the label officially welcomed David to their iconic GRAMMY®-winning roster in October, with a plan to release the full album in spring of 2025.
“I am excited and honored to have found a home at Quarto Valley Records to properly introduce this record to the world. Maybe it has to do with the timeless themes of love and loss, struggle and strife, the loud electrics, the way people can't help but tap their feet when they hear it. Whatever the reason, playing blues-influenced songs always centers me in a way that no other music does. This album is my version of a blues record, what you might call "Bluesicana"—the grooves and electrics are there, but so is the added twist of a mandolin,” Starr shares.
Born and raised in Fayetteville, AR, he began his musical journey at just 14, playing drums in local clubs and discovering the power of the 12-bar blues early on. Immersed in a community of talented guitarists, he built a solid foundation in rock and blues, performing with various bands and eventually opening his own guitar store, Starr’s Guitars, in Little Rock, which became an institution.
A transformative period in Aspen inspired him to move to Colorado, where the acoustic guitar became central to his songwriting. Since then, Starr has become a prominent figure in the Americana scene, collaborating with legends like John Oates, Steve Cropper, John McEuen, Jim Lauderdale, Wild Ponies, Irene Kelley, and Dana Cooper. While his finger-picking and lyrics often lean toward folk, his blues roots still shine through, with each album inevitably featuring at least one track that pays homage to his musical beginnings.
His unique mix of soulful vocals and honest lyrics create a blues/Americana sound all his own.
