Biography
Who is Brenda K. Starr?
Early life
Brenda K. Starr was born in Manhattan on October 15, 1966. Her given name at birth is Brenda Joy Kaplan. Her father is Harvey Kaplan, who worked as an organist and played with the 1960s band the Spiral Starecase. Her mother is of Puerto Rican descent and practiced the Catholic faith. She grew up to attend Talent Unlimited High School in New York.
Musical career
During the early 1980s, a chance meeting with Harry Belafonte led to a role in his hip hop film Beat Street. Her appearance in the movie resulted in a recording contract with Mirage Records. She released her debut album, I Want Your Love, featuring the lead single Pickin Up Pieces. The track became a local club sensation and a national hit, reaching the Billboard charts.
In 1987, she released her second album, which included her signature song, I Still Believe. The power ballad became her first and only top 20 single on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Mariah Carey later covered the track as a tribute. During the late 1980s, Mariah Carey sang background vocals for Brenda, and Brenda helped Carey secure a recording contract by sharing a demo tape with a Columbia Records executive.
After facing challenges with subsequent album sales, she learned Spanish and reinvented herself as a salsa and tropical music artist. Her cover of Herida reached the top of the Latin Tropical Salsa Airplay chart. She also worked as a disc jockey at WNEW-FM, presenting a request program titled Under the Stars. Her seventh album earned her a nomination from the Billboard Latin Music Awards in 2006.
Personal life
Brenda K. Starr is married to Chris Petrone. She has four children in total, consisting of three daughters and a son. Her eldest daughters are from a previous relationship, while her current husband fathered her other children, including Gianna Isabella, who reached the top 10 on American Idol.
Birthday and age
Brenda K. Starr was born on October 15, 1966, which makes Brenda 60 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Brenda shares the date with 70 other famous people.
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