Deborah Holland is an American-Canadian singer-songwriter. She rose to national prominence in 1987 as the lead singer and songwriter of
Animal Logic featuring
Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke (born June 30, 1951) is an American bassist, film composer and founding member of Return to Forever, one of the first jazz fusion bands. Clarke gave the bass guitar a prominence it lacked in jazz-related music. He is the first jaz ...
and
Stewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland (born July 16, 1952) is a Scottish-American musician and composer. He is best known for his work as the drummer of the English rock band the Police from 1977 to 1986, and again from 2007 to 2008. Before playing with th ...
.
As of March 2020, Deborah Holland has released six solo albums: ''Freudian Slip'' (1994), ''The Panic Is On'' (1997), ''The Book of Survival'' (1999), ''Bad Girl Once…'' (2006), ''Vancouver'' (2013), and ''Fine, Thank You!'' (2019).
In 2007, Holland formed
The Refugees with
Cidny Bullens
Cidny Bullens (formerly Cindy Bullens; born March 21, 1950) is an American singer-songwriter, who is best known for serving as backup vocalist on tours and albums with Elton John and Rod Stewart, as well as providing vocals on the soundtrack of ...
and
Wendy Waldman
Wendy Waldman (born November 29, 1950) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Biography Early life
Waldman (born Wendy Steiner) grew up in the Los Angeles area. She was raised in a musical environment: her father Fred Steiner w ...
. As of January 2020, The Refugees have released two albums, ''Unbound'' (2009) and ''Three'' (2012); and the EP ''How Far It Goes'' in 2019.
Early life and education
Holland grew up in
Passaic
Passaic ( or ) is a city in Passaic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the city had a total population of 70,537, ranking as the 16th largest municipality in New Jersey and an increase of 656 from the 69,7 ...
and
Clifton
Clifton may refer to:
People
*Clifton (surname)
*Clifton (given name)
Places
Australia
* Clifton, Queensland, a town
**Shire of Clifton
*Clifton, New South Wales, a suburb of Wollongong
*Clifton, Western Australia
Canada
*Clifton, Nova Scotia ...
,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
. She began learning piano at age 5 from her father,
Irwin Heilner
Irwin Heilner (b. New York City, May 14, 1908; d. January 18, 1991) was an American composer of contemporary classical music. His works are published by American Composers Alliancebr>
Heilner lived in Brooklyn, New York. In 1932 he was a member o ...
, who was a composer and songwriter.
At age 14 she began playing the guitar, writing songs, and performing in New Jersey and New York City. She appeared twice on Izzy Young's Folk Show on
WBAI
WBAI (99.5 FM) is a non-commercial, listener-supported radio station licensed to New York, New York. Its programming is a mixture of political news, talk and opinion from a left-leaning, liberal or progressive viewpoint, and eclectic music. ...
and in 1969 her song, "When I Hear About War" was published in
Broadside
Broadside or broadsides may refer to:
Naval
* Broadside (naval), terminology for the side of a ship, the battery of cannon on one side of a warship, or their near simultaneous fire on naval warfare
Printing and literature
* Broadside (comic ...
magazine. She attended the
New Lincoln School
The New Lincoln School was a private experimental coeducational school in New York City enrolling students from kindergarten through grade 12.
History
New Lincoln's predecessor was founded as Lincoln School in 1917 by the Rockefeller-funded Gener ...
in New York City (Grades 11-12) where she studied music with
Philip Corner
Philip Lionel Corner (born April 10, 1933; name sometimes given as Phil Corner) is an American composer, trombonist, alphornist, vocalist, pianist, music theorist, music educator, and visual artist.
Biography
After The High School of Music & Ar ...
and Cathy MacDonald, and also took classes at the
Mannes School of Music
Mannes School of Music is a music conservatory in The New School, a private research university in New York City. In the fall of 2015, Mannes moved from its previous location on Manhattan's Upper West Side to join the rest of the New School cam ...
.
She briefly attended the
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...
and later received her B.A. in Jazz Studies at Livingston College (
Rutgers University
Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...
) where she studied with, and was mentored by, jazz pianist
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist, who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era.
Biography
Born in Philadel ...
.
In 1977 Holland moved to Los Angeles to pursue her career. In 1996 she became the first student to earn a master's degree in Commercial Music from
California State University, Los Angeles and in 1997 joined the faculty; running the Master's in Commercial Music from 1998-2010.
Music career
Animal Logic (1987–1991)
In 1987, Holland won the audition to be the lead singer and songwriter of Animal Logic, after a two-song demo tape was forwarded to
Police
The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...
drummer Stewart Copeland by publisher Dan Howell. She was selected over hundreds of other singers who auditioned for the band. Holland is credited with writing nearly all the songs recorded by the group.
Animal Logic released their debut album ''
Animal Logic'' in 1989, peaking at No. 106 on the ''Billboard 200''. A second album, Animal Logic II was released in 1991.
Both albums featured guest appearances from well-known musicians, including:
Jackson Browne
Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and political activist who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States.
Emerging as a precocious teenage songwriter in mid-1960s Los Angeles, he h ...
,
David Lindley,
George Duke
George M. Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013) was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He worked with numerous artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as a pr ...
,
Steve Howe
Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, best known as the guitarist in the progressive rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to l ...
and
Freddie Hubbard
Frederick Dewayne Hubbard (April 7, 1938 – December 29, 2008) was an American jazz trumpeter. He played bebop, hard bop, and post-bop styles from the early 1960s onwards. His unmistakable and influential tone contributed to new perspectives fo ...
.
The band toured and appeared on ''The David Letterman Show'', ''The Tonight Show'', and had videos on
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
and
VH1
VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
.
In a March 2020 interview with sterwartcopeland.com, Deborah confirmed that Animal Logic has been working on material for a new EP: “We’re in the process of finishing up five songs though the bulk of the work is now on Stanley’s shoulders and he has a crazy schedule so it may take a while.”
Solo recordings (1988–2007)
In the years following the demise of Animal Logic, Holland released five solo albums, and has recorded and performed music for movies, television and commercials.
In 1988 Deborah recorded "Come To Me" from the movie ''
Fright Night Part 2''. She also contributed to the
I.R.S. Records
I.R.S. Records was an American record label founded by Miles Copeland III, Jay Boberg, and Carl Grasso in 1979. I.R.S. produced some of the most popular bands of the 1980s, and was particularly known for issuing records by college rock, new wave ...
compilation Just In Time For Christmas (1990), providing the song "It Only Comes Once a Year".
She has scored five films, including ''
Circuitry Man
''Circuitry Man'' is a 1990 American post apocalyptic science fiction film directed by Steven Lovy and starring Jim Metzler, Dana Wheeler-Nicholson and Vernon Wells. It was followed by a sequel, '' Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man II'', in 1994.
...
'', and has had two collaborations with Stewart Copeland used in films; "Heaven is a Place" in the 1991 movie ''
Highlander II: The Quickening'', and "For One Moment" in the 1992 television movie ''
Afterburn''.
More recently, Holland's songs have appeared in the television shows ''
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
''Keeping Up with the Kardashians'' (often abbreviated ''KUWTK'') is an American reality television series which focused on the personal and professional lives of the Kardashian family, Kardashian–Jenner Stepfamily, blended family, airing b ...
'', ''
My Name Is Earl
''My Name Is Earl'' is an American television sitcom created by Greg Garcia that aired on the NBC television network from September 20, 2005, to May 14, 2009, in the United States. It was produced by 20th Century Fox Television and starred Jaso ...
'', and ''
Longmire''.
The Refugees (2007–2012)
In 2007 Holland formed a folk
supergroup Supergroup or super group may refer to:
* Supergroup (music), a music group formed by artists who are already notable or respected in their fields
* Supergroup (physics), a generalization of groups, used in the study of supersymmetry
* Supergroup ...
called
The Refugees, with
Wendy Waldman
Wendy Waldman (born November 29, 1950) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Biography Early life
Waldman (born Wendy Steiner) grew up in the Los Angeles area. She was raised in a musical environment: her father Fred Steiner w ...
and
Cidny Bullens
Cidny Bullens (formerly Cindy Bullens; born March 21, 1950) is an American singer-songwriter, who is best known for serving as backup vocalist on tours and albums with Elton John and Rod Stewart, as well as providing vocals on the soundtrack of ...
. The group released their first album ''Unbound'' in 2009, which won the International Acoustic Music Award for Best Album. The Refugees' second album, ''
Three
3 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
3, three, or III may also refer to:
* AD 3, the third year of the AD era
* 3 BC, the third year before the AD era
* March, the third month
Books
* '' Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 ...
,'' was released in 2012 and made the Folk DJs' Top 20 charts as well as charting on Roots Music Report's TOP 50 Folk charts. The trio toured extensively throughout the U.S. and in Canada appearing at venues, arts centers, folk clubs, and festivals, including the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Wheatland Music Festival,
Canmore Folk Festival, the Iowa Women's Music Festival and more.
Vancouver (2013)
Holland's most recent album, ''Vancouver'', was released June 2013. The album is her first
CanCon
Canadian content (abbreviated CanCon, cancon or can-con; ) refers to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requirements, derived from the Broadcasting Act of Canada, that radio and television Broadcasting, broadc ...
recording and received international radio play. The record charted for over nine months on Roots Music Report's Top 50 Americana/Roots chart and
Galaxie
Stingray Music is a Canada-based international multi-platform audio service that broadcasts continuous streaming music and other forms of audio on multiple channel feeds. The service is owned by Stingray Digital.
While a song is playing on the ...
Music's Canadian Folk charts. The song “Home” made the finals of the International Acoustic Music Awards.
Fine, Thank You! (2020)
On March 23, 2019 Deborah made the announcement on her official Facebook page that she was working on 2 new EPs - a solo release for 2020, and one with Animal Logic with no set release date.
On Feb 25, 2020 it was announced that Deborah would release her sixth solo album, ''Fine, Thank You'' on March 27. The six song offering was produced by
Winston Hauschild
Winston Hauschild (September 29, 1973) is the professional name of Canadian record producer Ryan Hauschild, and features performances by Stewart Copeland (on four tracks),
JUNO
Juno commonly refers to:
*Juno (mythology), the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods
*Juno (film), ''Juno'' (film), 2007
Juno may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional characters
*Juno, in the film ''Jenny, Juno''
*Ju ...
-winning backup vocalist
Shari Ulrich
Sharon "Shari" Ulrich (born 17 October 1951) is a Canadian/American musician and songwriter. She has also worked as a television host, actress, film composer, and educator. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays Violin, Mandolin, guitar, piano, and D ...
, and Patterson Barrett on pedal steel.
Personal life
After receiving a master's degree from
California State University, Los Angeles, Holland joined the faculty, running the Master's in Commercial Music program from 1998 to 2010.
In 2010, Holland relocated from Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC. In 2011, Holland began teaching songwriting at
Langara College
, mottoeng = Knowledge is Freedom
, established = April 1, 1994
, type = Public
, endowment = C$5.8 million
, administrative_staff =
, faculty =
, president = Paula Burns
, students = 22,000
, city = Vancouver, British Columbia
, coun ...
in Vancouver.
Discography
Solo albums
* 1994 – ''Freudian Slip''
* 1997 – ''The Panic is On''
* 1999 – ''The Book of Survival''
* 2006 – ''Bad Girl Once''
* 2013 – ''Vancouver''
* 2020 – ''Fine, Thank You!''
With Animal Logic
* 1989 – ''
Animal Logic''
* 1991 – ''Animal Logic II''
With The Refugees
* 2009 – ''Unbound''
* 2012 – ''
Three (2011 album)''
Compilation albums
* 1990 - “Just In Time For Christmas” – IRS Records Compilation
References
External links
Official websiteOfficial site for The Refugees
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holland, Deborah
1954 births
American women singer-songwriters
American folk guitarists
American folk singers
California State University, Los Angeles alumni
California State University, Los Angeles faculty
Guitarists from Los Angeles
Living people
Musicians from Philadelphia
Rutgers University alumni
Singers from Los Angeles
Singer-songwriters from Pennsylvania
20th-century American guitarists
Langara College people
20th-century American women guitarists
Singer-songwriters from California
21st-century American women