BRENDA K. STARR

When you think of soulful pop voices of the late 80s, BRENDA K. STARR is one on top of radio stations and DJs’ lists. Brenda’s hits include the Grammy Award-nominated and #1 pop ballad, “I Still Believe,” and the club/dance smash, “What You See Is What You Get.” “I Still Believe” became one of the top ballads of the late 80s, placing Brenda on several Billboard charts.

Born and raised in New York City, of Puerto Rican extraction, Brenda knew from a very young age that her passion and dream was to be a singer. At the early age of 8, she was already singing, and by the time she reached 12, she had already auditioned for many TV commercials as well as theater opportunities.

As the break-dance fever emerged out of New York’s projects, Brenda joined the Dynamic Dolls. “My dream was to sing, and since I couldn’t do it in a studio, I used to do it on the stairs of the building where I lived, just to hear the acoustics”. Although she loved dancing, by that time her heart was set on singing.

At 14, Brenda met Harry Belafonte on an audition for the musical “Beat Street”. The actor was soon captivated by her voice, and Brenda landed a production deal and two songs on the film’s soundtrack, a truly impressive start. While negotiating her first deal, she was intercepted by producer Arthur Baker, who offered a recording deal on the Mirage record label, at the time distributed by Atlantic Records.

In the late 80s, Brenda was the undisputed queen of freestyle and house music. Her hits included the Grammy-nominated # 1 pop ballad “I Still Believe” and the club/dance smash “What You See Is What You Get”. The first was re-recorded and turned, once more, into a mega hit by one of Brenda’s backup singers at the time, the international Superstar Mariah Carey. As a matter of fact, at the same time that Carey was working as a vocalist for her, Brenda was developing quite a name for herself in both the Pop and Salsa musical worlds. Mariah Carey paid homage to her, acknowledging Brenda as one of her mentors on the mega-selling video, Mariah Carey: Around The World.

Soon after that, Brenda’s Spanish influence began to emerge. Her first Spanish album release, Te Sigo Esperando, was certified Gold and then Platinum by the RIAA. It was followed by three Spanish language albums, No Lo Voy A Olvidar, Petalos de Fuego, and the critically acclaimed Temptation, which in 2002 garnered two Latin Billboard Awards for Hot Latin Track of the Year-Vocal Duo and Tropical /Salsa Airplay track of the Year-Female.

The singer continued her career, moving into her native Salsa roots. Soon she was a star on the Sony label, with a major hit in which she sang with internationally acclaimed crooners like Victor Manuelle and Tito Nieves.

As Starr was looking to come out big into the Latin market, she surrounded herself with family and close friends. Amongst them came lifelong friend John Holohan. Their partnership gave birth to a new musical production, Atrévete A Olvidarme. Once again, Starr’s voice was heard in more ways than just one on this album. The Success of the album was responsible for Brenda getting nominated for multiple awards at both Billboard and Premio Nuestro. The continued release of hit after hit in the Latin market provided an amazing foundation for her successful tour throughout Latin America over the last few years. She is very proud of the work she has done there and is humbled by the love and support she has enjoyed while performing for all of her Latin fans.

Brenda has since released her first English dance track, “Always Remember,” in over two decades on her own label, Starr Records. This track is sure to get you up and dancing!