Jade Starling

Jade Starling
Starling in 2024
Background information
Born	January 19
Genres	Pop
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1980s–present
Labels	Virgin (former)
Website	www.prettypoisonmusic.com

Jade Starling (born January 19, c. 1964) ^{[1] [2]} is an American singer-songwriter, and the lead vocalist for 1980s band Pretty Poison. She lives in New Jersey. Starling is a gay-rights activist and a supporter of same-sex marriage. ^[3] She also sings songs in Spanish. ^[4]

Early life

Starling was born Jean Goldstein January 19, 1960 in Camden, New Jersey and raised in Merchantville, New Jersey. ^[5] She decided to become a performer at 5 years old after winning a singing contest. Her parents were both musicians, with her father being a jazz guitarist and her mother being a pianist. Her first name is her real name while the last name Starling is her stage name. ^{[1] [6]}

Philanthropy

Starling has worked as a gay-rights activist, performing on behalf of many gay-rights benefits including gay-rights parades and LGBT benefits. ^[7] In 1997, her song "Let Freedom Ring" was used to help further the concept of legalizing gay marriage. She has also been active in the "Ball Community" through her work with Jay Blahnik.^{[ citation needed ]}

Musical career

Pretty Poison

Starling has appeared on various Billboard Charts 9 times since 1984. Topping the Dance/Club chart 3 times with 2 of those club hits crossing over to both the Pop and R&B Chart. ^[8]

• 1984 – "Nightime" – No. 13 Dance Svengali Records ^[9]
• 1987 – "Catch Me (I'm Falling)" – No. 1 Dance, No. 8 Pop, No. 13 R&B – Svengali/Virgin
• 1988 – "Nightime" – No. 1 Dance, No. 36 Pop, No. 64 R&B
• 1997 – "Let Freedom Ring" – No. 17 Dance
• 1998 – "Catch Me 98" – No. 43 Dance
• 1998 – "My Heart Will Go On" – No. 37 Dance
• 1998 – "Honey Brown" – #41 Dance
• 2013 – "Insomniak" – No. 31 Dance
• 2014 – "Think About U" – No. 14 Dance
• 2015 – "Better & Better" – No. 3 Dance

She has released 4 LPS since 1988.

• 1988 – Catch Me (I'm Falling)
• 1995 – Sex in Violets - Deflowered
• 1997 – Pretty Poison's Greatest Hits Vol. 1
• 1998 – Euphoria – very rare as it was recalled shortly after its release.
• 2014 – Captive – Jade Starling solo LP

Starling has received numerous awards along with Pretty Poison founder and long time co-writer Whey Cooler. ^[10]

References

1. Nash, Suzi. "Jade Starling: Pretty Poison, pageants and Pride", Philadelphia Gay News, April 12, 2012. Accessed March 20, 2025.
2. https://www.retrojunk.com/a/8c3wo19Yas/a-talk-with-jade-starling
3. "Brooklyn Pride 2015".^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
4. "A Talk With Jade Starling". retrojunk.com.
5. "Pretty Poison's Jade Starling: Madonna Meets Lucille Ball", The Morning Call , April 19, 1986. Accessed March 20, 2025. "Jade, originally from Camden, N.J., grew up in Merchantville.... She sang in church choirs, acted in school plays and graduated from Camden County Vo-Tech, where she studied cosmetology."
6. https://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/I843424
7. Magazine, Get Out!. "The Original GLBT Expo 2012 Welcomes Back Jade Starling | Get Out! Magazine – NYC's Gay Magazine" . Retrieved July 13, 2019.
8. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. October 11, 1997.
9. "Jade Starling Philly Pride 2016 On Pulse Nightclub Shootings". World News. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
10. "Whatever happened with Pretty Poison, Philly's claim to '80s dance pop fame?". Billy Penn. Retrieved July 13, 2019.