About Debbie
Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Debbie Wilson's love of music began at the age of 4 after watching the musical 'The Sound of Music'' at the local cinema.
Many musicals later, Debbie had begun to 'pick up', with relative ease, the strong melodies written by the giants of 'the modern' musicals and had also started to take a great interest in artists singing from 'The Great American Songbook'.
Being too young to identify any particular genre of music (she liked what she liked, regardless of popularity), Debbie didn't think anything odd when, attracted by the huge smiling face of Oscar Peterson, she urged her school friends to watch Oscar and Friends on BBC TV that Friday night. The following Monday morning Debbie realised that she wasn't like the other children at school!
So, for the next 20 years or so, Debbie was a closet 'jazzer' and only came out when she was in the safe company of like minded people.
Feeling the 'urge' to perform but not being able to find a suitable or accommodating outlet for her preferred music, Debbie joined a local theatre and quickly established herself on the local 'am - dram' circuit. Debbie always credits her ability to 'perform' a song (not just sing it) from the time she spent in rep theatre. As Debbie says, "I learnt an awful lot about stage craft and 'performing' from my years in theatre, it was, and still is when I get the opportunity, a great time for me"
A very lucky break came for Debbie in 1993 when, having been asked to provide a little 'dinner music' in a local restaurant, the legendary multi instrumentalist Roy Castle, heard Debbie and after a little jam session, recommended her to a local hotelier who gave Debbie her first contract.
Debbie then went on to perform many engagements throughout the North West and was lucky enough to meet and perform to some of her best loved singers including the late great giant of American musicals, Howard Keel and the very lovely Marion Montgomery. Debbie remembers, " I almost forgot how to sing when I saw Marion walk through the doors of the restaurant with her husband, the wonderful Laurie Holloway. She was someone whom I had adored since childhood, after first seeing her on 'Parky'. I thought she was so sophisticated and so beautiful. She was just as beautiful in real life as she was on the telly and when she asked me to join her and Laurie for a drink on my break I had to pinch myself!"
As Debbie matured as a singer, she began to develop her repertoire more and more around the 'standards'. She had reached an age when not only did she feel confident in her singing, but confident that she could tackle some of the great works penned by the likes of Cole Porter and Irving Berlin.
It was whilst executing some of these tunes at a charity event in Wigan that again, purely by chance, she was introduced to Ian Darrington M.B.E. and to Debbie's surprised he booked her to perform at one of the 'fringe' events at the next Wigan Jazz Festival.
The following years were somewhat transitional for Debbie. Whilst the function gigs continued, she was intent on building a career in jazz.
Debbie describes another pinnacle moment in her career: " I was asked to perform at a concert to be held at The Guild Hall, Preston. Instead of asking what was required musically, I asked if I could decide the personnel and the repertoire myself. I am pleased to say that I was given the go ahead to perform exactly what I wanted - and I did! The feedback from this event was such that I made the conscious decision there and then to 'stick to what I knew best'... the standards!"
After almost 4 years since the gig at the Guild Hall, and after many a struggle, Debbie feels like the perseverance is beginning to pay off. Her performance at the famous Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in London last year was an absolute success, and she has just released her debut album 'By Myself'. The 'stellar' line up on the album consists of John Critchinson (surely he should be 'Sir' John by now?!), Dave Green and Pete Cater. Of this rhythm section Debbie says, "I feel absolutely thrilled and honoured to be able to have these outstanding musicians not only to record with but also to gig with. We are a very, very happy band!".
Debbie, along with her band, can be booked for jazz clubs and festivals alike. Debbie also makes appearances throughout the U.K. with local rhythm sections and can provide music for corporate and private functions using formats from piano led duo's to the most popular requested, Quartet or Quintet (with the addition of sax) line up.