Full name: Deborah Ann Gibson
Religious background: Catholic
Birthdate: August 31, 1970
Place of birth: Brooklyn, New York
Education: Sanford H. Calhoun High School, June 1988
Marital Status: Single
Deborah Gibson started performing at a young age. She got experience in theater with roles in plays like "A Christmas Carol", "Annie", "The Sound of Music", and "Mickey Mouse and Friends". She started writing songs at a very young age as well, writing her first song "Make Sure You Know Your Classroom" at the age of 5. At age 12, she started songwriting seriously, and worked from a makeshift "studio" in her families basement.
She was part of the Metropolitan Opera for several years, doing opera's like "Hansel und Gretel", "La Boheme" and "Le Rossignol", some of which meant singing in a foreign language.
Deborah got her first recording contract at age 16, for a 12" "Only In My Dreams" aimed at the dance market. Late 1986, "Only in my Dreams" was released, a song she had written three years prior, and four years of demo-ing to record exec's. After it became a hit, 6 months of hard work, performing at clubs (gay, straight and all of the above noted by her mother) later, she recorded her first very successful album, (certified multi platinum) titled "Out of the Blue" with several charting singles, the title track, "Shake Your Love", "Staying Together" and with her buttery smooth ballad "Foolish Beat" she set a record: she became the youngest artist in chart history to have written, produced, and performed a Number 1 song (a record to this day still standing). Debbie was the focal point of every teenybop magazine on the rack for about 5 or 6 years straight around this time. The Out Of The Blue Tour went on the road to sell out crowds around the country. Two very successful video's followed "Out of the Blue", and "The Out of the Blue Tour".
As if her previous success was not enough her second (certified multi platinum) album titled "Electric Youth", was released in January 1989. Releases from that album included the title track, another heartfelt ballad "Lost In Your Eyes", "We Could Be Together", and "No More Rhyme". She also holds a record for having the single "Lost In Your Eyes" (Youngest female ASCAP Songwriter of the Year for that song), and album "Electric Youth" charting simultaneously at #1. At the same time of this albums release she released her own very popular perfume through Revlon, which every girl had to have also named "Electric Youth". The successful Live Around the World tour, and (certified platinum) "LATW tour" videos followed. She also did the vocals for a commercial for Caboodles a "tackle box" for girls makeup etc.
Promotion for all of her albums from about this point to date all but dissappeared, resulting in lackluster sales, and popularity. Deb has also said that she suffered from and was treated for anxiety attacks, and deppression. Which would also lead one to think that she felt she had to step back out of the light a little being so young and famous so suddenly etc. Despite all that, and no chance for her or her fans at VH1 and MTV or payola radio it is estimated that Deborah has sold approximately 16 million albums to date, and has more than a thousand songs in her catalogue.
Deborah's third album titled "Anything is Possible", was released around 1990 and certified gold. The One Step Ahead Tour followed, all the way to Japan. She made her Broadway debut as Eponine in the musical "Les Miserables" shortly after.
Later, around 1992 she released her fourth album "Body Mind Soul" which had 1 song to chart just below Top 40 titled "Losin Myself". She continued performing in theater starring as Sandy in the musical "Grease" on London's West End for a period of nine months (broke box office records) (she was Oliver Englands equivalent to US Tony award nominated). Her fifth album called "Think With Your Heart", which showcased her abilities as a songwriter, musician, singer, producer and purveyor of power ballads, is probably her most critically acclaimed to date. She worked with London Symphony orchestra on most of this album, and this was also her final album as Debbie Gibson. Unfortunately SBK went under just before "TWYH" release and there was no promotion of the album at all.
All of her albums are uniquely Deborah herself, but if you like GREAT ballads, "TWYH" is a must have.
Deborah played Betty Rizzo in the National Touring Company of Grease. She was part of the cast from October 29, 1995 through March 3, 1996, touring through the USA and performing in 19 different cities in usually sold out theatres.
Aquiring her own record label "Espiritu Records", establishing her name as Deborah which she always used in credits from her very first album onward, and was always reffered to by family and friends. She recorded her sixth album, "Deborah", in the summer of 1996, reviving the song from which she started with, "Only In My Dreams" dance remixed, and returning to the top of the #1 charts (dance) with kickin' beats ala super dj Jr. Vasquez with "Only Words".
About this time she starred as Fanny Brice in a brief revival of the musical "Funny Girl". She starred as Belle in the Broadway musical "Beauty and the Beast" for a very successful nine months, followed by starring as Gypsy Rose Lee with theater Diva Betty Buckley in the Papermill Playhouse critically acclaimed production of Gypsy.
Around fall 2000 she pre-released "What You Want" a very upbeat and sassy type of song, as the first single, in record stores everywhere and several of the online stores and quite a hit at radio stations that gave it a chance.
Later she released "Your Secret" to clubs across the US and available on maxi single. She starred in the leading role of Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, holding her own alongside Diva/Legend herself Eartha Kitt as the fairy godmother. Both were nominated for best actress for the first annual Broadway Awards 2001. Her new album titled "M.Y.O.B./Mind Your Own Business" chocked full of radio, video, chart, and grammy worthy material was released March,6th 2001.
Deb herself has classified it under "sofistipop". She performed before a mass of her fans on the Today show on NBC televised across the country. Deborah toured as a special guest on the NSYNC Pop Oddessey tour summer 2001.
She recently starred as Velma Kelly in the musical "Chicago" in Boston, MA. 2003. She returned yet again to Broadway with a starring role in "Cabaret" as Sally Bowles (once again Broadway Awards nominated). She was a judge on FOX TV's American Juniors Tuesday and Wednesday nights, summer 2003.
Besides her own career, she has collaborated with several other artists including Peabo Bryson (Light The World), Tony Orlando (Knock Three Times remake), Jennifer Love Hewitt's song (Bedtime Stories), Chris Cuevas, Ana, the Party, Jobeth Taylor, most recently on her own new album co-writing with Chynna Philips(Wilson Philips), and regularly participates on 'various artists' albums benefiting charities. She surprised many, including her own fans, by singing backup vocals for a song titled "I Wanna Destroy You" available on one of the group Circle Jerks albums. She co-starred in an independent movie "My Girlfriends Boyfriend." This is a very funny, fast paced, gay themed comedy!!! The title song (by her) and cartoon at the beginning is really cool. She stars as herself in "Soulkeeper". A very interesting movie for VH1 titled Teen Queens is apparently shelved at the moment.
In her career she has always had the support of her family. Her mother, Diane, also her manager has allowed her freedom of directing her own career. Her sisters have also helped from the start by doing things like designing her stage-outfits (one outfit higher and right in the middle of the Teen Idol display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH), sound engineering and running the fan club. Deborah has an upbeat, caring, open-minded, ambitious and family-oriented but "city girl" personality if you are ever blessed enough to meet her as I have been. You will see she is a TRUE STAR, and gladly signs for her fans, maybe even posing for a picture if there is time. It has been noted that her fans are among the most diehard, devoted, and loyal.
She supports several charities dealing with Alzheimers, AIDS and children, like the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and St. Mary's Children & Families Foundation.
2004 Deborah releases an album close to her heart "Colored Lights" the Broadway Album, a collection of tunes from musicals she has starred in or would like to on Broadway. 2005 she finally appears in Playboy, and releases a new single "Naked" you can buy the single on itunes.
There is a Music Under The Stars cruise featuring Deborah scheduled for March 2006, you can find out all about it @ Cruise. Her official site can be visited @ official site
More than 15 years later Deborah is still spreading her positive NRG, showcasing, and delivering PURE talent. She is a DIVA in the wings just waiting for a Clive Davis to come along and detonate the BIG BOOM we all know she's capable of. We will just have to wait and see...
Thanks for checking out the fansite.
I would like to dedicate it to the memory of Karen Carpenter, Selena, and Aaliyah. They were angels in waiting, taken long before we would all have liked, but the mark of their voices are left behind to ride the wind for all time and bring light to us all forever.