Brenda K. Starr
You’re welcome, Mariah!: Brenda K. Starr
Who is Brenda K. Starr?
She wasn’t born with that name. She was born Brenda Kaplan in New York City in 1966. Her father, Harvey Kaplan, was a musician as well, an organist. Her mother was a Catholic from Puerto Rico. Today Brenda is not only known for her Freestyle music, but also in the genres of dance-pop and salsa.
How did she start her career?
She made a demo of “Love on a Two-Way Street” and hung out in places she thought people would hear her sing, including a roller skating rink where she was on the cleaning crew. It was there that she bumped into Harry Belafonte, who landed her in a singing and dancing role in 1984′s Beat Street.
Then what happened?
At the age of 18, she was signed to Mirage Records, which released her 1985 debut album “I Want Your Love”, including the Freestyle classic “Pickin’ Up Pieces”, as well as “Suspicion” (featuring a rap by Beastie Boy Adam Yauch), and the title track that was a remake of Chic’s disco hit. Then she signed with MCA records, and became an international star with her self-titled album. She toured with many performers, including New Kids on the Block. The self-titled album has the huge hits “What You See Is What You Get”, “Breakfast In Bed”, and “I Still Beleive”. It also had the Freestyle song “Over & Over,” remade in 1989 by Pajama Party,
When I watch movies, I often think I hear Brenda K. Starr singing.
Don’t worry – you’re not losing it. Not only did Miss Starr act in Beat Street, she also contributed many songs to other movies, such as “Sweet Surrender” for the 1988 teen film License to Drive; “You Should Be Loving Me,” on the soundtrack of She’s Out Of Control; Brenda also had a song called “Sata” in the film soundtrack of Lambada.
Is it true that she got Mariah Carey into the music industry?
Yup! In fact, if it wasn’t for Brenda K. Starr, the public would not know Mariah Carey. She was Brenda’s background singer and godmother to her first daughter. At a party, Brenda gave her demo to Tommy Mottola, Columbia Records executive, helping her to score a recording contract. Mariah showed her gratefulness by thanking her on the sleeve of her Number 1′s album, and through her remake of “I Still Believe.” In fact, Brenda appeared a few times on Miss Carey’s tour in support of that album.
What happened to Brenda K. Starr’s Freestyle career?
Ironically, by 1991, Miss Carey had become Sony/Columbia’s star attraction, causing Starr’s career to shrivel up. While she did duet with George Lamond for “No Matter What,” her label dropped her after her second album failed commercially. For several years Starr worked odd jobs to support herself and her family, including a stint at a New Jersey mall.
Was that the end of her career entirely?
Not at all! Like so many jobseekers today, she wisely decided to learn Spanish in order to rejuvenate her career. From that point on, Brenda K. Starr became a successful and award-winning Salsa and Latin Pop artist. She also worked as a DJ on MIX 102.7, WNEW FM, hosting a request program “Under the Stars.”
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