Buddy Pepper

Buddy Pepper (born Jack R. Starkey) was born in La Grange, Kentucky. At the age of 5 years old, he became a self-taught pianist and, in addition to his abilities to sing and dance, he used his gift for playing songs by ear to entertain audiences both locally and abroad alongside his partner Florence Pepper. He soon made his way into the Hollywood scene, and after a brief career onscreen, Buddy began to thrive as a songwriter and accompanist. He served as the pianist of such notables as Judy Garland--for her European tour in 1951--Margaret Whiting, Lisa Kirk, Jack Smith, and Marlene Dietrich, among others. In 1953, Buddy co-wrote with his collaborators Inez James and Larry Russell the classic Les Paul and Mary Ford hit "Vaya Con Dios," which became the most popular song of 1953. It held a spot at #1 in the nation for several weeks before ending the year as Billboard's "Top Tune of 53." Several other versions of the song went on to receive similar acclaim as well, and in 1976, Freddy Fender's recording earned Buddy an award from the ASCAP. Paul and Ford's version is today a member of the Grammy Hall of Fame; it was inducted in 2005. Buddy died of heart failure in Sherman Oaks, California, at the age of 70.