Oby Edgar "Buddy" Starcher (March 16, 1906 – November 2, 2001) was an American country singer whose first record releases were in 1946, although he had been performing since his teens, often billed as "The Boy from Down Home".The Encyclopedia of Country Music, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, 2012,
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. 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, 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".
The re-released single hit No. 39 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chartJoel Whitburn, The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 7th edn, 2000, and the album of the same name from which it was drawn peaked at No. 37 on the US Country Albums chart.[ Buddy Starcher] at AllMusic
His wife, Mary Ann Starcher (née Estes), was also a musician and often appeared with him on his television show.Ivan Tribe, Mountaineer Jamboree: Country Music in West Virginia, 1996,
Discography Albums Year Album US Country Label 1962 Buddy Starcher and His Mountain Guitar — Starday 1966 History Repeats Itself 37 Decca 1967 Just Buddy and His Guitar No. 1 — Bluebonnet Country Soul and Inspiration — Heartwarming1986 Me and My Guitar (Bootleg Re-issue of 1967 album for Bluebonnet) — Old Homestead
Singles Year Single Chart Positions Album US Country US 1949 "I'll Still Write Your Name in the Sand" 8 — single only 1966 "History Repeats Itself" 2 39 History Repeats Itself "Day of Decision" — 131
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