# Brenda K. Starr
**Brenda K. Starr** (born Brenda Joy Kaplan, 1966, in New York, NY) is an American singer who began as a freestyle and pop vocalist in the mid-1980s and later built a lengthy career as a salsa artist. She is best known for the 1988 ballad "I Still Believe," a number 13 pop hit, and for giving a demo tape of her then-background singer [Mariah Carey](https://www.edgepedia.org/mariah-carey) to Columbia executive [Tommy Mottola](https://www.edgepedia.org/tommy-mottola).[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1966, New York, NY; also known as Brenda Joy Kaplan[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) |
| Signature hit | "I Still Believe," number 13 on the pop chart in 1988, produced by Eumir Deodato[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) |
| Other 1988 hit | "What You See Is What You Get," number 24[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) |
| Mariah Carey connection | Carey sang background vocals for Starr; Starr handed Carey's demo to Columbia's Tommy Mottola[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) |
| Salsa breakthrough | "Herida" topped Billboard's Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay chart in 1997[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) |
| Latin success | *Te Sigo Esperando* certified Gold then Platinum by the RIAA; *Temptation* (2002) was Latin Grammy-nominated and won two Latin Billboard Awards[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) |
| Recent releases | "I Miss You" (2021), "Quedate" (2022, top 5 on Latin tropical charts), "Soy Otra Mujer" (2024)[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) |
## Early life and start in music
Starr was born and raised in New York and is the daughter of Harvey Kaye, a member of the band Spiral Starecase.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) Born Brenda Kaplan, she took the stage name Starr because, as she told a reporter in 1988, "that's what I've always wanted to be, star."[3](https://cdn.manchesterhistory.org/News/Manchester%20Evening%20Hearld_1988-09-24.pdf)
Her first break came through the 1984 hip-hop film *Beat Street*, in which she appeared as an auditioning singer.[3](https://cdn.manchesterhistory.org/News/Manchester%20Evening%20Hearld_1988-09-24.pdf) According to her own account, she met [Harry Belafonte](https://www.edgepedia.org/harry-belafonte) at age 14 while auditioning for the production, and while negotiating her first deal she was intercepted by producer [Arthur Baker](https://www.edgepedia.org/arthur-baker), who offered her a recording contract on the Mirage label.[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) Her debut album, *I Want Your Love*, appeared in 1985; though produced by Baker and played significantly in clubs, it produced no pop hits.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) An earlier single, "Pickin' Up Pieces," reached number 9 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart and stayed on that chart for 11 weeks.[4](https://rareandobscuremusic.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/brenda-k-starr/)
## Pop success, 1987–1991
After moving to MCA, Starr released her self-titled second album in 1987.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) An AllMusic review describes it as her breakthrough, a set of late-1980s synth-driven dance-pop spanning freestyle, mid-tempo R&B, club sounds, and radio-friendly pop, with "What You See Is What You Get" and "I Still Believe" both becoming [Top 40](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-40) hits.[5](https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000651210) "I Still Believe," a ballad produced by [Eumir Deodato](https://www.edgepedia.org/eumir-deodato), reached number 13; the uptempo "What You See Is What You Get" reached number 24.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) By September 1988, a wire profile called her a 21-year-old singer whose first hit single had climbed into the Top 40.[3](https://cdn.manchesterhistory.org/News/Manchester%20Evening%20Hearld_1988-09-24.pdf)
**Mariah Carey.** Among Starr's background vocalists in this period was a young Mariah Carey. Starr handed Carey's demo to Columbia's Tommy Mottola, and Carey's career followed.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) Carey later re-recorded "I Still Believe"; her version, released in 1998 as a tribute to Starr, peaked at number 4 on the Hot 100.[6](https://whatwasleftin.wordpress.com/2021/06/28/1988-brenda-k-starr-i-still-believe/)
A third pop album, *By Heart*, followed on Epic in 1991 but did not fare well, and Starr then spent several years away from the music industry.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174)
## Salsa career
Starr resurfaced in the late 1990s on the Latin market. A version of "Herida" topped Billboard's Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay chart in 1997 and set up a run of salsa-oriented albums through the 2000s.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) Her first Spanish-language album, *Te Sigo Esperando* (1997), was certified Gold and then Platinum by the RIAA, followed by *No Lo Voy A Olvidar* (1998), *Petalos de Fuego* (2000), and *Temptation* (2002).[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) In 2002 *Temptation* reached number 4 on Billboard's Tropical/Salsa Albums chart, between albums by [Marc Anthony](https://www.edgepedia.org/marc-anthony) and [Celia Cruz](https://www.edgepedia.org/celia-cruz).[7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2002/BB-2002-05-25.pdf) The album, recorded largely in Puerto Rico, Miami, and New York, earned two Latin Billboard Awards in 2002, for Hot Latin Track of the Year, Vocal Duo, and Tropical/Salsa Airplay Track of the Year, Female.[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) On the Sony label she recorded with singers including Victor Manuelle and Tito Nieves.[2](https://brendakstarr.com/)
After leaving Sony, Starr took a break to raise her children and hosted a Sunday-night radio show, "Under the Stars with Brenda K Starr," on Mix 102.7. She returned with *Atrévete A Olvidarme* (2005), made with longtime friend John Holohan, which brought nominations at both Billboard and Premio Nuestro.[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) In 2000 she also wrote a song for 3LW's debut album and released the dance maxi-single "Hold Me," which received international club play.[8](https://www.bandsintown.com/a/23205-brenda-k.-starr)
## Recent work
Starr has continued recording in both languages. The English single "I Miss You" was released in 2021 through her label Starr Records with 418 and Universal Music; "Quedate" (2022) reached the top 5 on the Latin tropical charts with its video at number 3 on the Latin video charts; and "Soy Otra Mujer" followed in late 2024.[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) In 2016 she had paused work to support her daughter Gianna Isabella, who finished in the top 10 of the final season of *American Idol*.[2](https://brendakstarr.com/)
She remains active as a live performer, appearing regularly at freestyle and Latin music festivals; her 2025 set lists have mixed salsa numbers such as "Gata bajo la luvia" and "Por ese hombre" with her 1980s pop hits.[9](https://www.ticketmaster.com/brenda-k-starr-tickets/artist/868580?tt_scene=anchor_view) Concert Archives lists her as a pop/salsa singer from New York City and notes two Grammy nominations for her salsa recordings.[10](https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/brenda-k-starr)
## Discography
| Year | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | *I Want Your Love* | Debut, Mirage label, produced by Arthur Baker[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) |
| 1987 | *Brenda K. Starr* | MCA; contains "I Still Believe" and "What You See Is What You Get"[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) |
| 1991 | *By Heart* | Epic[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174) |
| 1997 | *Te Sigo Esperando* | First Spanish-language album; RIAA Gold, then Platinum[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) |
| 1998 | *No Lo Voy A Olvidar* | Spanish-language[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) |
| 2000 | *Petalos de Fuego* | Spanish-language[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) |
| 2002 | *Temptation* | Latin Grammy-nominated; two Latin Billboard Awards[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) |
| 2005 | *Atrévete A Olvidarme* | Made with John Holohan[2](https://brendakstarr.com/) |
## References
1. [Brenda K. Starr biography by Andy Kellman, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/brenda-k-starr-mn0000934174)
2. [About Brenda K. Starr, official website](https://brendakstarr.com/)
3. ["Brenda Starr's career is on the rise," Manchester Herald, September 24, 1988](https://cdn.manchesterhistory.org/News/Manchester%20Evening%20Hearld_1988-09-24.pdf)
4. [Brenda K. Starr, Rare and Obscure Music](https://rareandobscuremusic.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/brenda-k-starr/)
5. [Brenda K. Starr (1987 album) review by Justin Kantor, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000651210)
6. [1988 Brenda K. Starr – I Still Believe, What Was Left In](https://whatwasleftin.wordpress.com/2021/06/28/1988-brenda-k-starr-i-still-believe/)
7. [Billboard Top Latin Albums, May 25, 2002, WorldRadioHistory](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2002/BB-2002-05-25.pdf)
8. [Brenda K. Starr biography, Bandsintown](https://www.bandsintown.com/a/23205-brenda-k.-starr)
9. [Brenda K. Starr tickets and setlists, Ticketmaster](https://www.ticketmaster.com/brenda-k-starr-tickets/artist/868580?tt_scene=anchor_view)
10. [Brenda K. Starr concert history, Concert Archives](https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/brenda-k-starr)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Dance and disco singers, 1970s to 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license