John Starling

John Starling, Co-Founder of the Seldom Scene, Dies at 79

Obituary for the Grammy-winning Singer-Songwriter

May 2, 2019

John Starling, one of the most beloved voices in bluegrass music and a founding member of the Seldom Scene, died Thursday night in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He was 79.

Starling was born in Durham, North Carolina, on March 26, 1940. He began playing guitar and singing at an early age, and by the time he was in his early 20s, he was performing regularly on the bluegrass circuit.

In 1971, Starling co-founded the Seldom Scene, a bluegrass band that quickly became one of the most popular and influential groups in the genre. The band's original lineup included Starling on guitar and vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom Gray on bass, John Duffey on mandolin, and Mike Auldridge on dobro.

The Seldom Scene released their debut album in 1972, and they went on to record more than 20 albums over the next four decades. The band won a Grammy Award in 1991 for their album "Long Time Gone," and they were inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2001.

Starling left the Seldom Scene in 1989 to pursue a solo career. He released several solo albums, including "John Starling" (1989), "Sings Bluegrass Classics" (1992), and "The Best of John Starling" (2000).

In addition to his music career, Starling was also a successful surgeon. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in 1964, and he practiced medicine for many years before retiring in 1992.

Starling is survived by his wife, Becky, and his three children, John Jr., Robert, and Anne.