It sold more than three million copies and earned a Grammy Award nomination for best Male Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance. "War" became a political anthem in 1970 and soared to number one during the long, hot summer. All the words are applicable to neighbors who fight with each other, you know, 'War, what is it good for?' That's what the song was about, at least for me." Actually, we were talking about a war of people - the war people wage against each other on a day-to-day basis. It just so happened that, at the time, the war was going on, and the words just lent themselves to the occasion. It never once mentioned the war in Vietnam. "Nobody really understood what we were talking about on that song," he continued. It could become a smash record, and that was fine, but if it went the other way, it could kill the career of whoever the artist was."Īpparently, the Temptations were afraid of the song, and so it was given to Edwin Starr. It was a message record, an opinion record, and stepped beyond being sheer entertainment. Well, that was a touchy time, and that song had some implications. But then a lot of mail came in, mostly from students, asking why they didn't release it on a 45. "'War' was originally recorded by the Temptations," recalled Edwin. It was Norman and composer Barrett Strong who came up with perhaps the label's most controversial hit single ever. In 1970, Edwin began work with one of Motown's finest writers and producers, Norman Whitfield, who had been responsible for the continuing success of the Temptations. Edwin was rising fast, and he knew that the coming decade would bring him his greatest popularity ever. In 1969, he entered the national Top 10 for the first time with "Twenty-five Miles," a soul stomper he wrote back in his Cleveland days. Edwin became a part of the Motown family and was assigned to the Gordy Label. ![]() His debut disc became a good seller and led to his early nickname: "Agent Double-O-Soul." The next year, he found a vocal quartet, the Shades of Blue, and wrote and produced their biggest hit, "Oh How Happy."Īfter a while, Ric Tic was bought out by Motown Records. In 1965, he left the Doggett band and signed as a solo artist with Ric Tic Records. Over the next few years, Edwin learned the ropes of the recording industry and wrote the song that was to become his first hit single. In 1962, Edwin hit the road as a featured singer with the band of Bill Doggett. In 1957, while attending high school, he formed his own group, the Future Tones, which played on local bills alongside Lloyd Price, Chuck Jackson, and Billie Holiday. Dwin Starr was born Charles Hatcher in Nashville, Tennessee, and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.
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