Debra Killings (born July 7, 1966) is an American singer and

bass guitar The bass guitar, electric bass or simply bass (), is the lowest-pitched member of the string family. It is a plucked string instrument similar in appearance and construction to an electric or an acoustic guitar, but with a longer neck and ...

ist, notable for extensive session and background vocal work for

LaFace Records LaFace Records was an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, that operated as a unit of Sony Music Entertainment from 2008 to 2011 and was historically a part of Bertelsmann Music Group from 1989 to 2004. It was most active and achie ...

and

Rowdy Records Rowdy Records is a record label distributed through Motown. It was founded by record producer Dallas Austin in 1992, and the precursor to his entertainment company, Freeworld Entertainment. History Formed in 1992 by producers Dallas Austin and ...

-based artists such as

TLC TLC may refer to: Arts and entertainment Television * ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2 * TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network ** TLC (Asia), an A ...

, Monica, and OutKast. Killings appears on the majority of the recordings in TLC's catalogue, singing background vocals. She also appears on Monica's first two albums (''

Miss Thang ''Miss Thang'' is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Monica. It was released by Rowdy Records and distributed through the Arista label on July 18, 1995, in the United States. Recorded throughout her early teenage years, the ...

'' and '' The Boy is Mine''), and has performed both background vocals and

on several OutKast albums, including ''

ATLiens ''ATLiens'' is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on August 27, 1996, by Arista Records and LaFace Records. From 1995 to 1996, Outkast recorded ''ATLiens'' in sessions at several Atlanta studios—Bosstown ...

'' and ''

Aquemini ''Aquemini'' is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on September 29, 1998, by LaFace Records. The title is a portmanteau of the two performers' Zodiac signs: Aquarius (Big Boi) and Gemini (André 3000), which ...

''. In 2002, Killings signed to

Verity Records Verity Records is an American gospel music-focused record label, founded in 1994. The Gospel group operated by Provident Label Group, which in turn is owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Artists * 21:03 * Crystal Aikin * Deitrick Haddon * DeW ...

, and she released her debut solo album, a gospel LP entitled ''Surrender'', in 2003. Killings was the singing voice of

Paula Patton Paula Maxine Patton (born December 5, 1975) is an American actress and producer. Patton made her feature film debut in the 2005 comedy '' Hitch'', and has had starring roles in the films ''Déjà Vu'' (2006), '' Precious'' (2009), '' Jumping th ...

's character, Angel Davenport, in the film '' Idlewild''. Killings' recognizable voice is spotlighted in "Moving Cool", the song that the character of Angel first performs in the movie.

Television

Killings is a member of Big Jim's Penthouse Playas, the house band on ''

The Mo'Nique Show ''The Mo'Nique Show'' is an American talk show hosted by comedian and actress Mo'Nique. Aired on BET, the series began October 5, 2009. The show's second and final season premiered on Monday, October 4, 2010. Overview The show ran all-new episo ...

''. Killings also occasionally plays bass in the house band for

Showtime at the Apollo ''Showtime at the Apollo'' (formerly ''It's Showtime at the Apollo'' and ''Apollo Live'') is an American variety show that first aired in syndication from September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008. In 2018, the series returned on Fox with Steve Harvey h ...

. Killings also played bass for BET's "

Black Girls Rock BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is a company founded by executive producer, businesswoman, celebrity DJ, and former model Beverly Bond. The company hosts an annual award show of the same name that honors and promotes Black women's achievements. BLACK GIRLS ROCK ...

" all-star band.

Personal life

Killings was born on July 7, 1966, and grew up in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

. She is married and has two sons.

Discography

;Album With Princess & Starbreeze: * ''Princess & Starbreeze'' ( MCA, 1987) With Modest Fok: * ''Love or the Single Life'' ( EastWest, 1992) Solo albums * ''Surrender'' (

Verity Verity (''alias'' Veretie, Verety, Verita, Veritie, etc.) is a female first name and a surname. As a first name it derives from the Latin feminine noun ''veritas'', meaning "truth". It is thus an equivalent of Alethea, a female first name first us ...

, 2003) * ''Open Heaven'' (Hands Up, 2008) ;Singles * "Message in the Music" * "It's Gonna Be Lonely" * "Love or the Single Life" ;Other Appearances * "Fled" Motion Picture Soundtrack (Rowdy, 1996) * "13th Floor / Growing Old", Outkast on ''

'' (LaFace/Arista/BMG, 1996) * Various songs, Outkast on ''

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below ''Speakerboxxx/The Love Below'' is the fifth studio album by American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on September 23, 2003, by Arista Records. Issued as a double album, its length of over two hours is spread across solo albums from both ...

'' (Arista/BMG, 2003) * "Moving Cool", Outkast on '' Idlewild'' (LaFace/Jive, 2006)

References

External links

Debra Killings
Official website * * Princess & Starbreeze All Music. com [] * Modest Fok All Music.com [, FOK~C] Year of birth missing (living people) 1960s births Living people African-American guitarists American contemporary R&B singers American gospel singers Women bass guitarists Performers of Christian contemporary R&B music 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century women musicians Dungeon Family members {{US-bass-guitarist-stub