David Starr Releases First Full Length Blues Album “Must Be Blue”

David Starr Releases First Full Length Blues Album “Must Be Blue” With Quarto Valley Records
​

​Acclaimed singer-songwriter David Starr has released his first full-length blues album, Must Be Blue, available now via Quarto Valley Records in digital and CD formats. A blend of classic blues covers and compelling new originals, the record showcases Starr’s signature “Bluesicana” sound—fusing traditional blues elements with soulful vocals, gritty electric guitar work, and Americana instrumentation including mandolin and acoustic guitar.

The album features a stellar lineup of GRAMMY®, CMA, and ACM award-winning musicians, with background vocals by Rock & Roll Hall of Famer John Oates on select tracks. The result is a dynamic and contemporary take on blues music, primed to resonate with longtime fans of the genre and new listeners alike.

The spotlight track, “My Favorite Color,” is a haunting, slow-burning original that encapsulates the album’s emotional core. Opening with an evocative acoustic guitar and mandolin motif, the track builds into a rich arrangement as the full band joins in. The lyric that inspired the album’s title—"I think you know by now… my favorite color must be blue"—captures the essence of longing and emotional vulnerability. Guitarist Jeff King (Art Garfunkel, Reba McEntire, Johnny Cash, Dave Matthews) delivers a standout solo, trading licks with Starr and Erik Stucky on mandolin in a memorable outro.
​
Must Be Blue marks Starr’s first deep dive into the blues genre after the success of several blues-tinged singles on previous records. Reflecting on his connection to the blues, Starr shares:
“Blues music has always made me feel at home somehow. Maybe it’s the first music I fell in love with as a young musician in gritty little clubs in Northwest Arkansas. Or maybe it's the raw themes of love and loss, and the way it moves people. When I moved to Colorado, my musical palette expanded to include Americana and roots. This album is my version of a blues record—what I like to call ‘Bluesicana.’ The grooves and electric tones are there, but so is the mandolin. It feels like coming home.”
David Starr is currently on tour in the UK, with stops in Edinburgh, Southport, Rhossili, Treuddyn, Sandhills, Nairn, and more. Must Be Blue is actively making waves on Blues radio.
​

Website:
DavidStarrMusic.com