Debelah Morgan

Debelah Morgan

Debelah Morgan (born September 29, 1973, Detroit, Michigan)^[1] is an American Singer and Songwriter. Morgan is best known for her hit single "Dance with Me," off of her third album, which reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2] Morgan has been compared to artists such as Minnie Riperton and Mariah Carey because of her extensive use of the whistle register.

Biography

Debelah Morgan started singing when she was eight years old as a result of listening to some classic gospel music. Andrae Crouch, The O’Neil Twins, Shirley Caesar, Jessie Dixon and gospel sensations The Mighty Clouds of Joy were among the names Morgan listed. Gospel singer Claire Lucket Moore (sister of the gospel group "Jackson Southernaires") attended her church and began working with her; developing a very creative gospel style. When she turned eleven her parents placed her with a classical voice teacher (Earlene Boyd) who taught her the foundations of great vocal technique and exposed her to Opera. At the age of fifteen Debelah received a scholarship to study with World renowned Opera singer Faye Robinson at the University of Arizona.

Morgan graduated at sixteen with honors in performing arts from Tucson High Magnet School. Morgan is a National ACT-SO NAACP SIlver medalist in Classical Voice. Morgan attended Fullerton College and studied voice with Sarah McFerrin (mother of world renowned jazz recording artist Bobby McFerrin). Debelah tops off her list of famous teachers with vocal coach of the stars Seth Riggs (creator of the speech level singing method).

In 1993 Debelah Morgan was discovered by Dedra Tate. Morgan was managed by Sandy Tate during her debut album Debelah released in (1994) by Atlantic Records. Two singles (“Take it Easy” and “Free”) successfully reached the R&B charts. In 1997 Motown released her second album, It’s Not Over on VAZ/Motown Records Morgan was managed by Raoul Roach (son of Jazz Legend the late Max Roach). Her sophomore release includes duets with R&B Super StarBrian McKnight and R&B Singer Herschel Boone. The R&B success of her single landed Morgan on the R&B charts. In 1998 the International Music community responded to Debelah's unique musical flavor. Morgan toured Southeast Asia and several European countries. In 1998 she was featured on three soundtrack albums: Fame L.A., Our Friend, Martin and Stuart Little. In 1999 Debelah signed a music management deal with DAS Communications founder David Sonenberg. Debelah also worked with DAS manager Scot McCracken. Morgan also signed a publishing deal at EMI Music Publishing under Senior Vice President Evan Lamburg. In 2000, she signed with DAS/Atlantic Records and her record company released the single and album "Dance with Me". This song charted around the world making Morgan an international sensation. Debelah Morgan made history as the first Atlantic recording artist to debut in the Top Ten in the U.K. on both the Pop and R&B charts. This gave Morgan the exclusive opportunity to perform live on Britain’s TV show Top of The Pops, a show reserved only for those who debut in the Top Ten. Her success moved down under to New Zealand and Australia where "Dance with me" went platinum in two weeks.

Debelah was the featured guest vocalist for the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia. In the fall of 2001 Debelah sang with Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey on an ABC special honoring the victims of 9/11.

After the record company's promotion and touring for her third album ended, Morgan recorded two songs for the soundtrack of the movie Road Kings titled "Fly Free" and "I'll Take You There." Debelah is also featured on the Urban Renewal: Phil Collins tribute album singing “Do You Remember.”

At the request of her record label Morgan expanded her creative direction with a soul album titled Caged Bird, but this has never been released. In 2004 Debelah Morgan became a born again Christian. Debelah contributes much of her success to the many talent and scholarship pageants she won in her early years. Debelah is a former Ms. Juneteenth, Ms Black Teen Arizona, Ms. Black Teenage World, and Ms. Arizona in Hal Jackson’s talented teen international scholarship pageant. Pageant founder Hal Jackson is the first African American sports announcer. Debelah was a debutante twice in the Gospel Music Workshop of America Cotillion Pageant Ball. In 2005 she married Pastor Gerald Gallimore. She has recently completed her first "Live" Gospel album Let the Worship In, which features Worship Leader (Integrity Recording Artist) Freddy Rodriguez. Included on this album also are worship leaders: Jonfulton Wilkerson, BJ Putnam, Dawnchere Wilkerson and Music Producer Giloh Morgan.

Discography

Albums

Album information
Debelah Released: June 14, 1994 Label: Atlantic Chart Peak: N/A RIAA Certification: None Singles: "Take It Easy," "Free"
It's Not Over Released: September 15, 1998 Label: VAZ / Motown Chart Peak: N/A RIAA Certification: None Singles: "Yesterday," "I Love You"
Dance with Me Released: August 15, 2000 Label: The DAS Label / Atlantic Chart Peak: US Heatseekers #35 RIAA Certification: None Singles: "Dance with Me," "I Remember"
Light at the End of the Tunnel Released: 2005 Label: N/A Chart Peak: None RIAA Certification: None Singles: "Just As I Am"

Singles

Year	Title	U.S. Pop	U.S. R&B	U.S. Dance	UK Singles Chart[3]	Album
1994	"Take It Easy"	-	56	-	-	Debelah
	"Free"	-	96	-	-
1998	"Yesterday"	56	28	45	-	It's Not Over
	"I Love You"	-	-	-	-
2000	"Dance with Me"	8	27	4	10	Dance with Me
2001	"I Remember"	-	-	-	-
2005	"Just As I Am"	-	-	-	-	Light at the End of the Tunnel

References

1. ^ Netglimpse.com
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 378. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• Artist profile at MSN Music/voice reference
• hiponline.com
• hiponline.com
• music.msn.com
• amazon.co.uk

Persondata
Name	Morgan, Debelah
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 29, 1977
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death