Glenn Starr was proud to give Griffith its own song. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
The popular host of the Triple M Riverina MIA breakfast program has announced he will be leaving the show at the end of March to further his career in music.
Glenn Starr, an accomplished singer/songwriter born and bred in Albury, first moved to Griffith 20 years ago, where he got a job working in sales for the local radio station.
He’s had an expansive career in both music and radio across Melbourne and the Riverina ever since – spending the past 18 months hosting Triple M’s flagship morning show while also doing corporate music gigs in Griffith and Melbourne and performing on cruise ships across the Asia-Pacific.
“I’m just too busy [to do radio full-time plus music gigs]. From August last year, I was going to Melbourne every weekend [for corporate gigs]. Sometimes twice a week. Driving, not flying, I was doing 10 to 11 hours. Then the cruise ships started coming back in November … I was getting home at 5 am in the morning and then literally walking into the studio.”
Mr Starr, known around town as ‘Starry’, said his proudest achievement in his time as radio presenter was giving the town of Griffith its own song for the first time in nearly 50 years.
“It was an idea I had with [musician] Rob Fattore. There’s been songs about Albury and Yarrawonga, and others like Road to Gundagai. We found out there was a song about Griffith called Wine Country in the 1970s, but nothing since. So we thought, let’s do it.
“We put the callout on air, asking people for lyrics suggestions and what the song should be about. We had help from a songwriter in Nashville. It was Rob Fattore, Pat Sergi and myself sitting in the studio Zooming into a guy in Nashville writing the song. We recorded it with local musos and we did the video in a day with [videographer] Vince Bucello.”
Something in the Water – The Song That Built Griffith was released in April 2022. It was both a community project and charity fundraiser, with proceeds from downloads and donations on the website going to cancer charity Can Assist.
“We wanted the money to stay locally. I have lost my mum to cancer, so it’s a very close cause for me. To be able to help anyone out with their journey and not have to go through things we went through, I’m happy to help out,” Mr Starr said.
“If I want to leave a legacy from my time in Griffith and on-air, it would be that song. Before I leave, I want to raise as much money for the cause.”
Mr Starr will continue to support his favouirite cause – this Friday 3 March. He’ll team up with former punk rocker and current deputy opposition leader Sussan Ley MP to perform a duet to raise money for a new cancer centre in Griffith.
He also said Griffith had given a lot to him.
“I’ve been more welcomed in Griffith than I have been in my own hometown. The amount of people that reached out when I first got to town – they all welcomed me into their groups. We’ve been involved in a lot of community events.”
Mr Starr will now be able to dedicate more time to his music, including performing on cruise ships, which he says is a dream job.
“They are the best contract. I’m committed to one night show, they fly me to anywhere I need to be in the world … I’ve been as far as Japan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and I’ve seen some places I just never thought I’d get to go to.”
He’ll also continue to do corporate and regional gigs, with various bands who perform music inspired by the 1950s and 1960s era.
“Music has been my passion since I was six years old. I’ve always wanted to continue performing … I would regret it if I didn’t try, the longer I wait the less opportunities are going to come.”
But we may not have heard the last of him on our airways.
“I’ll still be presenting on a casual basis … radio is one of the industries that once you’re in, it’s very hard to get out of. It keeps calling you back.”
A farewell concert for Mr Starr will be held on his last day at the station on 31 March. Proceeds raised that day will go to Can Assist.
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