Starstream Records was the

record label A record label, or record company, is a brand or trademark of music recordings and music videos, or the company that owns it. Sometimes, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the prod ...

for Starstream Communications Group, Inc., a Houston, Texas based radio promotions company (1980–1990). It was formed as the record label supporting a national talent search, The Big Music America Contest, developed by Kenneth Kramer with support from Harold Stream, a Louisiana businessman and Dr. Donald Altfeld, a songwriter and music producer best known for co-writing " The Little Old Lady (from Pasadena)" by

Jan and Dean Jan and Dean was an American rock duo consisting of William Jan Berry (April 3, 1941 – March 26, 2004) and Dean Ormsby Torrence (born March 10, 1940). In the early 1960s, they were pioneers of the California Sound and vocal surf music styles ...

and co-producing "It Never Rains In Southern California" by Albert Hammond. Originally the label was known as Nova Records and the first release was Nova Records MS7801 - The Best of Mississippi. Later, when the contest changed from the Big Music America Contest to the Miller High Life Rock To Riches Talent Search, the operating company was changed from Big Music America to Starstream Communications Group. Approximately 250 albums and singles were released by Starstream as part of local rock,

soul In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being". Etymology The Modern English noun '':wikt:soul, soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The ea ...

and

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

music talent searches conducted by Starstream and local radio stations in top US markets. Radio stations releasing LPs on the Starstream label include WCOZ, Boston; WAPP, New York, WPDH Poughkeepsie, KLOL, Houston, KLOS, Los Angeles and KSJO, San Jose. Alumni of Starstream albums include

Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald. Original bassist Alec John such quit th ...

(WAPP),

Twisted Sister Twisted Sister was an American heavy metal band originally from Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, and later based on Long Island, New York. Their best-known songs include " We're Not Gonna Take It" and " I Wanna Rock", both of which were associated wit ...

(WAPP),

Jon Butcher Jon Butcher (born May 5, 1955) is an American Rock music, rock, blues songwriter, guitarist and freelance multimedia producer. Early life Jon A. Toombs, is the elder son of Joan Butts and John A Toombs Sr. In 1967, Jon's stepfather William ...

(WCOZ) and The Replacements & Peter Himmelman (KQDS) and WARHEAD (WZLD - Columbia SC) (@warhead) (www.heavenandhellrecords.com) The Soul/R&B titles released by Starstream were part of the Budweiser Showdown Talent Search Contest. Participating Radio Stations included WRKS, NY, WBMX Chicago, KJLH and KDAY in Los Angeles and KMJQ and KYOK in Houston. Recording of all individual tracks was handled by the bands and occasionally the radio station. The individual tapes to be included on the album were then sent to Starstream where they were mixed and mastered onto tape and sent off to be mastered onto disc. Cook Sound, owned by local Houston radio personality Dwight Cook was used for most of the mastering. The early master discs were cut by Bernie Grundman at Capitol Records and then later M.C, Rather at Columbia Records in Nashville and Carl Rowatti at Truetone in New York. Pressing was originally done at Columbia Records Custom Pressing in Indiana and New Jersey. Later, (early mid 80's), pressing moved to Peter Pan Industries in New Jersey where it stayed until the end. A few of the early Budweiser Showdown discs were also pressed at Houston Record Plant.

See also