Will Starr's Varied Career in Entertainment

His Stage Career

During his early professional performances, he played under the stage name of Ivan Starovisky, but as his fame as the greatest Scottish accordionist spread throughout the entertainment world, he decided to revert to the name of 'Will Starr' - a shortened version of his family name, William Starrs.

During his lifetime as a solo professional performer he played in many countries including Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, France, Italy, Japan, Malaya and Singapore.

As his performing style improved, Will developed an impressive stage presence which endeared him to many enthusiastic audiences all over the world. He made many stage appearances in Scottish touring shows including:
  • 'The White Heather Group'

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  • 'The White Heather Club'

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  • 'The Royal Clansmen'

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  • 'The Scottish Crazy Gang'

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  • his first professional stage appearance, at the age of 16, was in 1938 in Hamilton when he played a 6/8 pipe march, 'The Atholl Highlanders'.

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  • later, when he did his first audition at the Metropole Theatre in Glasgow, many representatives, friends and supporters from his home town of Croy travelled to see this performance.

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  • his last stage appearance, at the age of 53, was in 1975 at The Adam Smith Centre, Kirkcaldy, Fife.

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  • photograph of Will at The Adam Smith Centre.

His Recording Career

Will Starr made recordings for established record labels such as:
  • Parlophone - he made his first recording for this label in the 1940's.
    (It is thought that he played a Stradella Cooperativa melodeon for this recording).
    He went on to make a further 24 x 78rpm records for this label.

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  • Pye, EMI, Dominion & Thistle - he made many LP's & EP's for these labels during the 1950's and 60's.

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  • Later, much of the music from these early recordings was re-released in CD format

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  • see a list of his recordings or a preliminary list of his records

Will Starr playing a Hohner Morino 3-row button accordion
Will Starr playing his first Hohner Morino, 3-row button accordion.


His Radio Career

Before Will was ten years of age, he was invited to play for the BBC, 'Down At The Mains' radio programme, which was broadcast by BBC Scotland from the late 1930's to the 1950's. It was the story of farm folk whose dialogue was supported by music played by Will.

The programme was a popular fortnightly feature in the Scottish Children's Hour radio series as part of the Scotland Home Service, which was presented by Kathleen Garscadden on BBC Radio Scotland. Will continued to play in this programme during the 1940's and 50's and while he was still young, was accompanied by his father, Joseph, to the broadcasting sessions.

Will Starr, 1950's, in the BBC Scotland Radio programme 'Down at the Mains'
Will Starr on his Italian Franchetti accordion
in the 1950's BBC Scotland Radio programme, 'Down at the Mains'.


'Down At The Mains' was a popular fortnightly feature in the Scottish Children's Hour. Actors shown are (back, from left to right) David Mowat, W.H.D Joss, Bill Jess, Elsie Payne, Thomas Rennie, Will Starr. In the foreground are C.R.M. Brookes and Grace McChlery.

His Television Career

Some of his many live Television appearances were:
  • B.B.C 'Scottish Half Hour' - in which he made his first appearance in 1943

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  • Scottish Television Calum's Ceilidh with the singer, Calum Kennedy

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  • Scottish Television The One o'Clock Gang with Larry Marshall

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  • Will played the signature tune for the very popular B.B.C Television programme, Para Handy - Master Mariner which was broadcast in 1959 and was adapted from stories created by Neil Munro (1863 - 1930).


    • This was the story of the Vital Spark, a small cargo boat ('puffer') which operated around the coastal waters of Scotland.

    The crew members of the boat were:-
    • skipper - 'Peter (Para) Handy', played by (Duncan Macrae)
    • first mate - 'Dougie' (Roddy McMillan)
    • stoker - 'Dan McPhail' (John Grieve)
    • cabin boy - 'Sunny Jim' (Angus Lennie)

     
  • Grampian Television 'Hogmanay Show' - in which he made his last appearance in 1975.
    Click to see and hear Will's performance in that Grampian TV Hogmanay Show

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