Buddy Starcher

Oby Edgar "Buddy" Starcher (March 16, 1906 – November 2, 2001) was an American country singer whose first record releases were in 1946,^[1] although he had been performing since his teens, often billed as "The Boy from Down Home".^[2]

Born in Ripley, West Virginia, he starred on his own show on WCHS-TV from 1960 to 1966, and ran a record label named B.E.S. (for his initials) during this time.^[3] However, he is best known for his spoken word recording entitled "History Repeats Itself", written with Minnie Pearl. Originally released on his own label in 1965,^[4] it was re-released on the larger and better distributed Boone Records in 1966. The track recounts uncanny similarities between the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, accompanied by a musical background featuring "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "America the Beautiful".^[5]

The re-released single hit No. 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart^[6] and the album of the same name from which it was drawn peaked at No. 37 on the US Country Albums chart.^[7]

His wife, Mary Ann Starcher (née Estes), was also a musician and often appeared with him on his television show.^[8]