Brenda K. Starr
Encyclopedia
Brenda K. Starr is an American singer-songwriter
. She is well known originally in dance-pop
, but now mostly in salsa
-based music. She is also well known for her 1980s work with Freestyle music
.
) and a Puerto Rican
Roman Catholic mother.
albums chart was her self-titled second album (her major-label debut), which peaked at fifty-eight. She has had two top forty hits on the Billboard Hot 100
: "I Still Believe" (which peaked at #13) and "What You See is What You Get" (which peaked at #24 and at #6 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play).
Her song "Sweet Surrender" was included in the soundtrack for the 1988 teen film License to Drive
starring Corey Haim
. During the late 1980s, Mariah Carey
sang background vocals for Starr, and Starr helped Carey secure a recording contract by giving a demo tape of hers to Columbia Records
executive Tommy Mottola
at a party. By 1991, Mariah Carey
had become Sony/Columbia's star attraction, which caused Starr's career to shrink in terms of commercial success. After being dropped from Sony/Columbia Records for lackluster sales of her second album, By Heart
, Starr worked odd jobs to support herself and her family for several years, including one at a shopping mall
in New Jersey
.
Starr learned Spanish to help rejuvenate her career. From there, Starr became mostly a Salsa
/Tropical and Latin Pop
artist. After the release of her cover of Herida, which peaked at #16 on the Latin Pop Airplay
and at #1 on the Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay chart, her music career became successful again. From then, she released a string of popular, successful albums with many chart hits.
Brenda was also a disc jockey at MIX 102.7, WNEW-FM, where she presented a request program "Under the Stars", from 9 p.m. to midnight on Sunday nights before it changed formats. It appeared to have helped her music career since her concerts have begun to sell even stronger than before. The lead single from her seventh album, Atrevete a Olvidarme
, titled, "Tu Eres" earned her a nomination by the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2006.
, which had her portraying herself as a singer at an open-microphone audition.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. She is well known originally in dance-pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, but now mostly in salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
-based music. She is also well known for her 1980s work with Freestyle music
Freestyle music
Freestyle or Latin freestyle, sometimes referred to as Latin hip hop, is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in the early 1980s. Mostly popular during the mid 80s to the early 90s...
.
Early life
Starr was born as Brenda Kaplan to a Jewish American father, organist Harvey Kaplan (also known as Harvey Kaye of the 1960s band the Spiral StarecaseSpiral Starecase
The Spiral Starecase was an American band, best known as a one-hit wonder for their 1969 single "More Today Than Yesterday".The band, from Sacramento, California, was a popular 1960s group, recognizable for its horns and lead singer/guitarist Pat Upton's distinctive voice...
) and a Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
Roman Catholic mother.
Career
Her only album to make the U.S. Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums chart was her self-titled second album (her major-label debut), which peaked at fifty-eight. She has had two top forty hits on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
: "I Still Believe" (which peaked at #13) and "What You See is What You Get" (which peaked at #24 and at #6 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play).
Her song "Sweet Surrender" was included in the soundtrack for the 1988 teen film License to Drive
License to Drive
License to Drive is a 1988 teen adventure film starring Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Heather Graham, Carol Kane, Richard Masur, Michael Manasseri and Nina Siemaszko. The screenplay was written by Neil Tolkin and directed by Greg Beeman....
starring Corey Haim
Corey Haim
Corey Ian Haim was a Canadian actor, known for a 1980s Hollywood career as a teen idol. He starred in a number of films such as Lucas, Silver Bullet, Murphy's Romance, License to Drive and Dream a Little Dream...
. During the late 1980s, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
sang background vocals for Starr, and Starr helped Carey secure a recording contract by giving a demo tape of hers to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
executive Tommy Mottola
Tommy Mottola
Thomas Daniel "Tommy" Mottola is an American music executive, co-owner of Casablanca Records in a joint venture with the Universal Music Group. He is the ex-husband of Mariah Carey and is married to Mexican singer Thalía...
at a party. By 1991, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
had become Sony/Columbia's star attraction, which caused Starr's career to shrink in terms of commercial success. After being dropped from Sony/Columbia Records for lackluster sales of her second album, By Heart
By Heart (Brenda K. Starr album)
By Heart is Brenda K. Starr's official second album, , released in 1990 on Sony Records. It is considered her best English language album and one of her best moments overall. By Heart did not gain its fair commercial success because it did not get the same level of promotional push her debut album...
, Starr worked odd jobs to support herself and her family for several years, including one at a shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Starr learned Spanish to help rejuvenate her career. From there, Starr became mostly a Salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
/Tropical and Latin Pop
Latin pop
Latin pop generally refers to pop music that has what may be perceived a Latin American influence...
artist. After the release of her cover of Herida, which peaked at #16 on the Latin Pop Airplay
Latin Pop Airplay
Latin Pop Airplay is a record chart published on Billboard magazine. It features Latin music information from pop music usually in Spanish. It was established by the magazine on October 8, 1994 with Mañana by Cristian Castro being the first song to reach number-one...
and at #1 on the Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay chart, her music career became successful again. From then, she released a string of popular, successful albums with many chart hits.
Brenda was also a disc jockey at MIX 102.7, WNEW-FM, where she presented a request program "Under the Stars", from 9 p.m. to midnight on Sunday nights before it changed formats. It appeared to have helped her music career since her concerts have begun to sell even stronger than before. The lead single from her seventh album, Atrevete a Olvidarme
Atrevete a Olvidarme
Atrevete a Olvidarme is Brenda K. Starr's seventh studio album, released in 2005. The album consists of Salsa songs with a few Pop ballads in the mix. All the songs give plenty of room for Starr's unique, charismatic vocals to shine. Includes the hit singles, "Tu Eres" and the title track. "Damelo"...
, titled, "Tu Eres" earned her a nomination by the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2006.
Acting appearances
Starr has starred in several films, most notably in the 1980s urban film Beat StreetBeat Street
Beat Street is a 1984 drama film, following Wild Style in featuring New York City hip hop culture of the early 1980s; breakdancing, DJing, and graffiti.-Plot:...
, which had her portraying herself as a singer at an open-microphone audition.
Awards and recognitions
- 2002: Latin Grammy Awards: Nominated: "Best Salsa Album: for TemptationTemptation (Brenda K. Starr album)Temptation is the sixth album by Brenda K. Starr released in the year 2002. Features the hit singles, "Por Ese Hombre" and "Rabia." Also features two English language songs, "Love On A Two Way Street" and the title track. The album won two Grammy Awards.-Track listing:-Personnel:*N...
- 2002: Latin Grammy Awards: Nominated: "Best Salsa Single" for "Por Ese Hombre"
- 2006: Billboard Latin Music Awards: Nominated: "Best Salsa Single" for "Tu Eres"
Albums
| Year | Album | U.S. Pop Albums Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
U.S. Dance Albums Top Electronic Albums Dance/Electronic Albums is a music chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the top-selling electronic music albums in the United States. The chart debuted on the issue dated June 30, 2001. It originally began as a fifteen-position chart and has since expanded to twenty-five... |
U.S. Latin Pop Albums Latin Pop Albums Latin Pop Albums is a record chart published on Billboard magazine. It features Latin music information of the Pop music genre. Established in June 1985, this chart features only full length albums and like all album charts on Billboard, is based on sales. The information is compiled by Nielsen... |
U.S. Tropical Albums Tropical Albums Tropical Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine. Established in June 1985, the chart compiles information about the top-selling albums in genres like salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and vallenato, which are frequently considered tropical music... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 1985 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV... |
I Want Your Love I Want Your Love (album) I Want Your Love is Brenda K. Starr's unofficial debut album. This was a small label release on Mirage Records in 1985. It features her Freestyle music hit, "Pickin' Up Pieces" which peaked at #9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1986, as well as the popular ballad, "Love Me Like the First... |
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| 1987 1987 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... |
Brenda K. Starr Brenda K. Starr (album) Brenda K. Starr is the eponymous second album and major label debut by Brenda K. Starr.-Release:Released in 1987. It produced the singles "Breakfast In Bed", "I Still Believe", and "What You See Is What You Get"... |
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| 1990 1990 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze... |
By Heart By Heart (Brenda K. Starr album) By Heart is Brenda K. Starr's official second album, , released in 1990 on Sony Records. It is considered her best English language album and one of her best moments overall. By Heart did not gain its fair commercial success because it did not get the same level of promotional push her debut album... |
- | - | - | - |
| 1997 1997 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy... |
Te Sigo Esperando Te Sigo Esperando Te Sigo Esperando is the fourth album by Brenda K. Starr. It was released in early 1997, and produced by Humberto Ramirez. It features the major hit single, "Herida", a cover of Myriam Hernandez's song which reached number-one on the Latin Tropical Airplay.-Track listing:... |
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| 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
No Lo Voy a Olvidar No Lo Voy a Olvidar No Lo Voy a Olvidar is Brenda K. Starr's fourth album released in 1998. Includes the hit singles "Senor Amarte", "Si Mi Preguntan por Ti" and a remake of "I Still Believe/Creo en Ti."-Track listing:... |
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| 2000 2000 in music See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List.... |
Petalos de Fuego Petalos de Fuego Petalos de Fuego is Brenda K. Starr's sixth studio album. It was released in the year 2000 on Platano records. Features the Top 20 hit title track.-Track listing:... |
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| 2002 2002 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI... |
All Time Greatest Hits | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 2002 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI... |
Temptation Temptation (Brenda K. Starr album) Temptation is the sixth album by Brenda K. Starr released in the year 2002. Features the hit singles, "Por Ese Hombre" and "Rabia." Also features two English language songs, "Love On A Two Way Street" and the title track. The album won two Grammy Awards.-Track listing:-Personnel:*N... |
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| 2004 2004 in music See also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol.... |
So Good: 12" Club Collection | - | - | - | - |
| 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
Atrevete a Olvidarme Atrevete a Olvidarme Atrevete a Olvidarme is Brenda K. Starr's seventh studio album, released in 2005. The album consists of Salsa songs with a few Pop ballads in the mix. All the songs give plenty of room for Starr's unique, charismatic vocals to shine. Includes the hit singles, "Tu Eres" and the title track. "Damelo"... |
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Singles
| Year | Song | U.S. Pop Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. R&B | U.S. Club/Dance Hot Dance Club Play The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs... |
U.S Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales Hot Dance Singles Sales is a chart released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States, established in 1985. It measures the sale of commercially released singles that deal with dance music and remixes... |
U.S. Latin Pop | U.S. Latin Airplay Latin Pop Airplay Latin Pop Airplay is a record chart published on Billboard magazine. It features Latin music information from pop music usually in Spanish. It was established by the magazine on October 8, 1994 with Mañana by Cristian Castro being the first song to reach number-one... |
U.S. Tropical Airplay Latin Tropical Airplay The Tropical Songs is a record chart published on Billboard magazine established in 1994 with the first number-one song to be published was "En Las Nubes" by Edgar Joel. It features Latin music information from tropical music such as salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia, and vallenato... |
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| 1985 1985 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV... |
"Pickin' Up Pieces" | - | 83 | 9 | - | - | - | - |
| 1987 1987 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1987.See also:Record labels established in 1987-January-February:*January 3 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame... |
"Breakfast In Bed"/"Desayuno De Amor" | - | - | 18 | - | 6 | - | - |
| 1988 1988 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert.... |
"I Still Believe" | 13 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1988 1988 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert.... |
"What You See Is What You Get" | 24 | - | 6 | - | - | - | - |
| 1988 1988 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert.... |
"Straight From The Heart" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 1991 in music See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year... |
"No Matter What No Matter What (George Lamond song) -Charts:-Dark Latin Groove version:In 1996, New York salsa band Dark Latin Groove covered "No Morirá" as their debut single from the eponymous album. The single peak at #12 on the Hot Latin Tracks chart and #1 on the Latin Tropical Airplay. The single spent three weeks at #1 on the chart.-Charts:... " (with George Lamond George Lamond George Lamond, born George Garcia, is an American Freestyle music singer, who is of Puerto Rican descent.-Career:George Lamond began singing backup for various artists before landing a solo deal with Columbia Records... ) |
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| 1991 1991 in music See also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year... |
"If You Could Read My Mind" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1993 1993 in music This is a summary of significant events in music in 1993.-January–February:*January 8 – The U.S. Postal Service issues an Elvis Presley stamp. The design was voted on in February 1992.... |
"So In Love" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1997 1997 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy... |
"Herida" | - | - | - | - | 28 | 14 | 1 |
| 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
"Si Mi Preguntan Por Ti" | - | - | - | - | - | - | 10 |
| 1999 1999 in music -Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia.... |
"I Still Believe/Creo en Ti" | - | - | - | - | - | - | 20 |
| 1999 1999 in music -Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia.... |
"Señor Amante" | - | - | - | - | - | - | 20 |
| 2000 2000 in music See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List.... |
"Pétalos de Fuego" | - | - | - | - | - | - | 20 |
| 2000 2000 in music See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List.... |
"Only Love" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2001 2001 in music See also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band.... |
"Hold Me" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2002 2002 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI... |
"Por Ese Hombre" (with Tito Nieves Tito Nieves Humberto "Tito" Nieves became one of the leading Salsa singers of the 1980s and the early 1990s.... and Víctor Manuelle Victor Manuelle Víctor Manuelle, born Víctor Manuel Ruiz on November 4, 1968 in Bronx, New York, is a successful Latin Grammy nominated Puerto Rican American salsa singer, songwriter, and improvisational sonero, known to his fans as El Sonero de la Juventud... ) |
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| 2002 2002 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI... |
"Rabia" (Bolero Son) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 11 |
| 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
"Tú Eres" | - | - | - | - | - | - | 19 |
| 2005 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:... |
"Atrévete a Olvidarme" | - | - | - | - | - | - | 21 |
| 2006 2006 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band.... |
"Dámelo" | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Jewish immigration to Puerto RicoJewish immigration to Puerto RicoThe Jewish immigration to Puerto Rico began in the 15th century with the arrival of the anusim who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage...
External links
- Brenda K. Starr on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Brenda – features hit song "I Still Believe"