Charles Hatcher was born in 1942 in Nashville, Tennessee and later raised in Cleveland, Ohio.

While travelling around the country with the Bill Doggett band, he was tempted to record in Detroit under the pseudonym Edwin Starr.

My first experiences of Edwin came, however, from Motown who had bought out Ric Tic and Golden World a couple of years later. His recording 'I am the man for you baby' was played extensively on Radio Luxembourg' and I was hooked.

The Twisted Wheel took me onto a new level however, when I had to dash to deejay Les Cokell's turntable to see an Edwin Starr record which he announced as 'Back Street'.

It was on a red label with black writing. I was later to find out the record was out of Detroit on a label by the name of Ric Tic.

An awesome record both musically and lyrically this would be my introduction to rare soul.

Edwin's sixties recordings are unquestionably top drawer. 

I would go as far to say that he is the most popular act in the history of the scene.

Take a bow Charles!

Notes thanks to David Meikle.