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From ‘War’ to Warwickshire: How Edwin Starr revitalised his post-Motown career by moving to the Midlands
After “War” made Edwin Starr a Motown star in 1970, he struggled to repeat its success and left the label in 1975. He moved to England, where his popularity with northern soul audiences gave his career a new home and helped keep him in the public eye.
Starr had joined Motown when the label bought Ric-Tic Records, whose roster included him. Though Motown had made little use of him before “War”, his earlier songs, including “Agent Double-O Soul”, “Back Street” and “Stop Her On Sight”, were favourites in Britain’s northern soul clubs. He performed regularly in the north of England, including at Wigan Casino, and settled in the Midlands, living in Warwickshire before moving to Bramcote; he died there in 2003, aged 61.
In short
- “War” brought Starr a major hit, but lasting success came in Britain.
- Northern soul fans embraced his earlier Ric-Tic recordings.
- He settled in the Midlands and remained a scene regular.
Explained simply
Edwin Starr was an American soul singer who recorded for Ric-Tic Records before Motown bought the label in 1968. Motown later released “War”, which became a major hit in 1970, but Starr found it difficult to match that success and left the label in 1975.
In Britain, northern soul clubs kept many of Starr’s earlier recordings popular. Their audiences and venues, including Wigan Casino, gave him regular work and a lasting connection with the UK. He moved to England and settled in the Midlands, where he lived until his death in 2003.