Debra Cowan is a singer based in

Shrewsbury, Massachusetts Shrewsbury (/ˈʃruzberi/ ''SHROOZ-bury'') is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Shrewsbury, unlike the surrounding towns of Grafton, Millbury, Westborough, Northborough, Boylston, and West Boylston did not become a ...

Biography

Debra Cowan had worked as middle school maths teacher, until, in 1997, she decided to quit and pursue her desire to sing. For 6 month she had lived in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

, Scotland where she learned the art of unaccompanied singing. After her return to the US, in 1998, she began traveling and performing all over New England, in folk clubs or festivals like the ''Old Songs Festival'' and ''Broadstairs Folk Week''. Specializing primarily in traditional songs, often maritime-themed, she tours regularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. Rich Warren of the Midnight Special gave her CD, ''Fond Desire Farewell'', an honorable mention in his list "Rich Warren's Past Favorites" for 2008.

Present career

She has released five full-length recordings, which were praised in the US as well as in the UK. Debra has collaborated with

Dave Mattacks David James Mattacks (born 13 March 1948) is an English rock and folk drummer. Best known for his work with Fairport Convention, Mattacks has also worked both as a session musician and as a performing artist. Apart from playing the drums, he i ...

Brooks Williams Brooks Williams (born November 10, 1958) is an American acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter. His style combines roots, jazz, blues, classical, and folk. He has released albums of contemporary folk music, blues music, and of instrumental g ...

Kathy Mattea Kathleen Alice Mattea (born June 21, 1959) is an American country music and bluegrass singer. Active since 1984 as a recording artist, she has charted more than 30 singles on the '' Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, including four that re ...

and

Reba McEntire Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), or simply Reba, is an American country music singer and actress. Dubbed " the Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Since the 1970s, McEntire has placed over 100 single ...

. Her third recording, ''“Fond Desire Farewell”'', was produced by former Fairport Convention drummer Dave Mattacks. She has performed on American live radio shows such as ''WFMT’s Folkstage'', hosted by Rich Warren, WESU's "Acoustic Blender," and Tom May's River City Folk. Debra is a member of American Federation of Musicians Local 1000.

Private life

She is currently living in Central Massachusetts with her husband, Kevin and their two cats, Hazel and Haku.

References

External links

Debra Cowan official websiteYouTube video of Debra Cowan performing ''Walloping Window Blind'' at the Chicago Maritime Festival.
American women singers Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) Living people 21st-century American women {{US-folk-singer-stub