Linda Starr

I joined the Musicians Union in 1965 when I was a Music Major (piano; musicology) at the University of Hawaii and started playing hotels/clubs/military bases during the Vietnam War, many with Int'l Hawaiian star Varoa Tiki. I also worked for my Dad’s friend Buck Ram (one of BMI's top 5 songwriters) who managed acts including “The Platters” and I booked some of them into Betty Reilly’s “Copacabana” in Waikiki.

Moving to Los Angeles, I continued playing after joining the Union again as well as Sterling’s famous “Musicians Contact Service” when it was still just a little “hut” on Sunset Blvd. I also started writing songs and making demos for myself, my groups and others which led to me doing sessions at The Record Plant (3rd Street), Motown (got a standing ovation in the control booth), Fidelity, Studio 55 and many others.

After training at Bill Hughes’ top music copying office in Hollywood (Bob Ross had the other one), I became a copyist for myself and many others including Arthur Lee (Love), Neil Merryweather (Space Rangers), Billy Joel (“Oyster Bay”).

For a couple of years I traveled with The Mike Curb Congregation and we played for President Ford, were featured on the Bob Hope Bicentennial TV special filmed in Oklahoma City starring John Davidson, did a Johnny Mathis TV show starring Karen Valentine, the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas, and many other live performances and recordings.

I had two musicals (music and lyrics) performed in Los Angeles theaters with great reviews in the trades and wonderful Broadway and Hollywood directors, writers, dancers and choreographers.

I worked at MCA RECORDS for 13 1/2 years while still at Universal Studios. In my last year there, Natalie Cole’s second husband/producer (including “Unforgettable”) chose one of my songs for her to record…but that year was, sadly, the last year of their marriage.

During my career I have worked as Linda Parobek, Linda Davis, and Linda Starr.