He discovered bluegrass and country through live radio programs taking up the electric guitar during his teenage years.

Soon, the five musicians formed The Seldom Scene and were part of the weekly line up at The Red Fox Inn in Bethesda, Maryland, and then The Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, Virginia.

Survivors include his wife, of Fredericksburg, and son John "Jay" Starling, a dobro player residing in the Charlottesville, Virginia, area.

He briefly rejoined The Seldom Scene in the mid-1990s to fill in following the departure of singer/guitarist Lou Reid, while continuing his medical practice.

After his retirement from medicine in 2006, he reunited with Auldridge and Gray, along with Jimmie Gaudreau and Ricky Simpkins, as "John Starling and Carolina Star" for a final collaboration, “Slidin’ Home” (2007).

The last song performed that night (Paul Craft's "Keep Me From Blowing Away") was recorded from the soundboard and is available for free listening on Soundcloud.