Starday Country & Western Golden Hit Parade

In this week's episode, we're celebrating an iconic label: Don Pierce's Starday Records. Formed in the early 50s by Lefty Frizzell's manager Jack Starns and Houston record distributor Pappy Daily (Starns + Dailey = Starday), they signed some of the best purveyors of hardcore honky tonk and traditional country, western, bluegrass and gospel music around at the time. Aften Don Pierce became label president, Starday's product was perfected. Known for their vivid and colourful album covers, featuring easy-to-understand situations and many-a-rhinestone cowboy suit - acts "discovered" on the Starday roster included George Jones, Dottie West, Roger Miller and Justin Tubb. They also gave new leases of life to many veteran artists deemed "past it" by much of the Nashville establishment: Cowboy Copas, Johnny Bond, The Willis Brothers, Red Sovine and many others enjoyed some of the biggest hits of their careers under the Starday umbrella. Our feature album this week - 1963's double LP set "Starday: Country & Western Golden Hit Parade" - reminds us why we should be grateful that the team at Starday gave chances and second chances to some of country music's most revered names.