Shelby Starner

Teen pop prodigy Shelby Starner was born and raised East Stroudsburg, PA, where she began writing her first songs at the age of 11; just two years later, in 1997, her demo tape was passed to Warner Bros., which immediately signed her to a recording contract. Starner's moody, sensitive debut LP From In the Shadows followed in 1999. Although the record was well received by critics, From the Shadows never broke commercially so Starner entered the studio with members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to create a more rock oriented follow-up, but the recordings were never released, Starner grew agitated with Warner and in 2000, attempted to end her contract and find another label. Sadly, about the same time as this transition, Starner's mother was diagnosed with breast cancer and Starner decided to retreat from music to refocus her life around her family. Not long after, she entered treatment for bulimia. Starner continued treatment over the next two years, but tragically Starner's body gave in to the detriments of her long bout with bulimia and she died on June 22, 2003 only two months before she was to begin her freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh. ~ Jason Ankeny & Gregory McIntosh, All Music Guide