Jimmy & Starla Queen
Queen's Website Listen to the Queen's Christmas Music
Some people work hard to learn a trade but for Starla Queen – it’s a god given talent. Actually, her father, Virgil Watts, known for his musical endeavors from the Bowling Green area, gave her the ability. He is the best non-pedal steel player in the state of Missouri. Starla made a choice years ago to be a wife and mother. If she had decided to get into music seriously, she would be on top of the charts today! Starla plays several instruments (rhythm guitar, bass guitar, steel guitar, keyboard, sax, trumpet, and percussion instruments) but you ought to hear her sing! We think that Starla’s country music background has been a plus for her today as she sings jazz, blues, country, and pop. She decided to follow in her father's footsteps when in 1996 she decided to sing and began performing at the Mark Twain Country Music Show in Hannibal, Mo. Then she appeared as a special guest at various shows in the Mark Twain Lake area until 1998 when she started her own show “The Pike County Jamboree”. She also put together an all female band, "Country Angels", the first of it's kind in the area. Starla ranked in the top at the local “Jimmy Dean Country Showdown” and was a regional finalist where she performed her original tunes. In 2000, Starla relocated to the lake and her life has made a turnaround. She and Jimmy hosted weekly radio show on KRMS radio and a western swing show on steelradio.com. She has had the honor of sharing the stage with Johnny Bush, Curtis Potter, Leon Raush, Leona Williams, Ron Williams, Jack Greene, Ferlin Huskey, the Kendells, Narvel Felts, and others. Starla appears annually on the International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame Fundraising Show in St Louis. Most recently, she was nominated for the Academy of Western Artist "2007 Female Western Swing Female Vocalist" and nominated for the AWA "2007 Western Swing Cd of the Year". Starla was the recipient of the prestigious AWA 2007 "Song of the Year" for her original song "Show Me".
Jimmy Queen is a versatile musician, playing several instruments including sax, trumpet, guitar, steel guitar, harmonica, bass. banjo, and keyboard. If you haven’t seen Jimmy play two trumpets at once – You’ve got to check it out! Jimmy is a world renowned drummer, playing drums annually for the international steel guitar convention. He also hosts the annual International Steel Guitar Hall of Fame Show in St Louis and has backed the steel guitar greats! Jimmy has also played drums for other various steel shows including the Choo Choo ReUnion Show in Chatanooga, TN, the Cajun Steel Show in New Orleans, and the Legends of Western Swing festival in Snyder, TX. He has performed with legends such as Ray Pennington, Ray Price, Johnny Bush, Curtis Potter, Sammi Smith, Johnny Paycheck, Ronnie Milsap, Waylon Jennings, and many others. He was the music director for TNN’s “Pappy’s Place”. Not only is he an awesome musician, Jimmy is an outstanding vocalist. He sings from the soul and will touch your heart. Jimmy’s experience as a comedian and radio personality adds flair to his vocal and entertainment ability. Jimmy was destined to be a great entertainer following in his father’s footsteps, the legandary “Grandaddy of Country Music” Roy Queen of St Louis. At the tender age of 13, he played his first gig as drummer for his father's band. His professional attitude and ability is why he received the St. Louis Entertainer of the Year. He also was a recipient of the St Louis Drummer of the Year and Band Leader of the Year.
