DEBORAH DAVIS BIO

Deborah Davis is a gifted singer and consummate performer who has captivated audiences worldwide. A jazz vocalist infused with gospel, Texas blues, and a whole lot of soul, her natural, flowing charm and flawless stage presence instantly draw you into her show. As a native of Dallas, Texas, Deborah’s musical development eventually led her to move to New York City, where she has carved out a distinct international niche, entertaining audiences across more than 35 countries. 
Deborah's unique phrasing, extraordinary vocal range, and strict professionalism have earned her invitations to perform with legendary jazz greats like Ray Brown, Lionel Hampton, and Clark Terry. She also received the rare opportunity to substitute for Abbey Lincoln and work on a commercial alongside Ella Fitzgerald. In addition, Freddie Hubbard, Art Blakey, Lou Donaldson, and Harold Mabern have all shared their stages with her. 
As a bandleader, she has fronted groups featuring many of New York’s finest jazz veterans, including Benny Green, Cyrus Chestnut, Gerald Clayton, Christian McBride, Peter Washington, Neal Caine, Ron Affif, Russell Malone, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Greg Hutchinson, Brian Blade, Lewis Nash, and Willie Jones III. She has lit up the stages of well-established New York jazz clubs and concert halls, such as the Blue Note, B.B. King's, Birdland, Village Vanguard, Sweet Basil, Smalls, Mezzrow, Smoke, Jazz Standard, Zinc Bar, Tavern on the Green, Rainbow Room, and Café Carlyle.
She has sung for dignitaries at the United Nations and at various U.S. Embassy affairs, including a special performance for President Bill Clinton. Chosen through a competitive national audition by the U.S. State Department and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Deborah and her band served as official "Jazz Ambassadors," traveling to Latin America to foster goodwill and spread jazz awareness. In total, she has performed in over 30 countries, citing Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Jamaica, Monaco, Iceland, Russia, Kazakhstan, Dagestan, the Czech Republic, and Dubai as some of her favorite locations. 
Her versatile talent has allowed her to perform with The Shirelles, jam with Bon Jovi and Billy Joel, and open for iconic acts such as Angela Bofill, Diana Ross, Céline Dion, Santana, Chicago, Eric Clapton, ZZ Top, Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, Macy Gray, Alanis Morissette, and Jamie Cullum. 
On the business front, her company, Deborah Davis Music Design, books and contracts talent for many of New York’s elite social functions and corporate events, while also contracting singers for international jazz clubs, music festivals, and luxury hotels. She also founded her own independent label, Got My Own Records, under which she self-produced her first three albums: Only Part of Me, No Ways Tired, and Compilation.
Deborah's musical journey began early in Dallas, where she started singing as soon as she could speak—performing in church choirs, school talent shows, and local cover bands. Her transition to a jazz career was sparked at age 16, when her high school choir director, Robert Sanders, invited her to join his weekend jazz gigs. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Music Education degree in vocal studies from the University of North Texas, followed by an Associate of Arts degree in recording engineering from Cedar Valley College, and later earned an online TESOL certification.
Always striving to be a well-rounded individual, Deborah includes among her life accomplishments completing a 26.2-mile marathon in Dublin, Ireland, to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She continues to support this cause through annual benefit concerts at New York’s Blue Note Jazz Club. When she is not touring, Deborah enjoys substitute teaching in New York City public schools, jewelry making, sewing, creating abstract arts and crafts, writing poetry, vegetarian cooking, practicing Bikram Yoga and Tai Chi, and working out. Born in the Chinese zodiac year of the Monkey, she also enjoys collecting monkey-themed trinkets. 
Reviews
"She tells her stories with a disciplined personal passion, immediacy, and a mosaic of textures that are so compelling, you can still hear her after the music stops."
— Nat Hentoff
"Deborah Davis seduces her audiences."
— El Correo Gallego, Spain
"...from Texas, with style... this self-assured singer... shows solid chops in all ranges, has a sparkling, well-articulated attack, and a natural, flowing charm."
— New York Newsday
"Miss Davis has a strong voice that can be richly colored, particularly in the lower register."
— The New York Times
"...Debo could sing the phone book and make it sound good."
— Matt King (Jazz Pianist)
 
 

WORK EXPERIENCE

2023 - 2024  Entertainment Booking Agent / Resident Vocalist  - Rosewood Hotel Munich , Bar Montez 

2023- 2024 Park Hyatt Tokyo, New York Bar 

2023 -  Jazz Road Tour TEXAS: Sponsored by South Arts.org , NEA, The Doris Duke Foundation, The Mellon Foundation 

2004 – U.S. Jazz Ambassador: International tour, Surinam, Paraguay, Venezuela, Argentina,  Brazil,  Mexico, Guyana

1992- Present: CEO : Deborah Davis Music Design, LLC  / International Booking & Contracting Jazz Bands & Event Bands. 

1988 - PRESENT / PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL  TOURS: 

New York: Blue Note, Jazz Standard, Birdland, Smoke, Zinc Bar, Smalls, Mezzrow, Sweet Basil, 

Rainbow Room, Windows Of The World ( world trade center ) ,  various clubs, concert halls,  restaurants, etc. 

Japan: Various Jazz Clubs & Hotels in Tokyo, Yokohama,  Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe,  Okinawa etc 

Beijing:  Blue Note Jazz Club

Singapore: concert w/ m Shirrells Girl Group, Cool Cats Jazz @ JWMarriott 

Shanghai China : CJW jazz club, Portman Hotel 

Bangkok Thailand: Sheraton Grand Sukhumvit, The Living Room 

Hong Kong: Orange Peel / Four Seasons Hotel, Blue Bar / Rosewood Hotel , Darkside Bar 

Malaysia: No Black Tie

Iceland :  Iceland jazz festival , clubs, and concert halls 

Dubai : Private Event, Jazz at Pizza Express 1st Anniversary Celebration 

Turkey: Ankara Jazz Festival, Q Jazz Clubs Istanbul, Istanbul Jazz Center,  private events & concert halls . 

Lebanon: Beirut : The Blue Note Jazz Club, Mojo, Razz Jazz Club

Greece:  Jazz Club Diva, Half Note , jazz benefit for hurricane Katrina victims Megaron Concert Hall 

Italy: tour jazz clubs & concert halls, Tuscany , Milano, 

Spain: Jambouree Jazz Club  Barcelona & various jazz clubs & concert halls in Spain

France: La Villa jazz club 

Germany: tours jazz clubs , festivals, and concert halls Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, etc. 

Russia: tour jazz clubs, concert halls, private parties, Moscow, St Petersburg, Ufa, Irkutsk, Bratsk, Lepitsk, Perm, Yekaterinburg, Novosibersk, Rostov on Don, Tagenrog, Kazan, Kursk, Derbent, Mahachkala, 

Czech Republic : Prague, concert for former President 

Belarus: Minsk :  jazz concerts & Corporate Events 

Kazakhstan:  Almaty Big Band , Pavlodor 

1974 – Present: Self Employed Professional Vocalist / Duties: Band Leader, M C, Musical Director , International Jazz Concerts, Festivals, Tours, Clubs, Hotels, Commercial Jingles, Workshops,  Weddings, Parties, Corporate Events, etc. 

 

REFERENCES: Available upon request! 

Downloads

Deborah Davis Photo - Window Shot 1 28.9 KB
Deborah Davis Photo - Window Shot 2 27.2 KB
Deborah Davis Photo - Rose 1 67.7 KB
Deborah Davis Photo -Gatsby Night - '20's Theme 4.62 MB
Deborah Davis Photo - In The Dark 55.1 KB
Deborah Davis Photo - Black N White 66.8 KB
Deborah Davis - The Very Thought Of You (VIDEO) - By: Ray Noble 15.3 MB
Deborah Davis Bio Bio 56.6 KB

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