DEBBIE AUSTIN
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Debbie Austin was born Deborah Ann (Debbie) Austin on January 1, 1952 in Cleveland, Ohio; Debbie died unexpectedly in Cleveland, Ohio on May 13, 2002, from a heart attack. Debbie began singing at age four, when she was thirteen Debbie recorded her first song "I Believe" which she sang with the United Voices of Faith of Cleveland, Ohio. Debbie toured and recorded with Evangelist Shirley Caesar and the Caesar Singers for eight years, Debbie then joined Rev. James Cleveland and the Cleveland Singers. In 1980, Debbie formed her own gospel group Unity, which included Julia Price Williams, formerly of The Caravans and The Davis Sisters, Gwendolyn Lyons Morgan, formerly of The Caravans, James Cleveland’s Gospel Notes and the local St. James C.O.G.I.C. Radio Choir of Warren, Ohio and Shirley Johnson. Debbie and Unity recorded three albums on Savoy records, the first album "For The Prize" in 1980, "Never Defeated" in 1983 which was produced by Reverend Cleveland and "Debbie Austin & Unity" in 1991. Debbie was active in the theatre from the 1980's, Debbie acted in the Gospel musical 'P.O.P' (Power of Prayer), the Broadway Gospel Musical "Lord I'm Coming Home" in 1991, and in the 1996 gospel musical "Is There a Man in the House" in Flint, Michigan, for the Broadway Production "I'll Meet You Somewhere over the Rainbow" written to raise A.I.D.S awareness.
Debbie was a talented and dedicated woman of God, being a member of the St. James C.O.G.I.C in Warren, Ohio, where she acted as one of her church's directress's and youth counselors of her church's Youth and Young adult choirs, she also shared as a director for the church's radio choir, while for five years Debbie was on radio W.T.O.F. 98.1 FM in Akron, Ohio, with their weekday Gospel Connection broadcast. Debbie had been an active member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) for over 30 years, being on the Gospel Announcers Guild of the GMWA. Debbie sang with her group and sang frequently as a guest vocalist on many other albums, including on albums by the GMWA Mass Choir, GMWA Women of Worship, Melvin and Doug Williams, as well as recording with Jay Terrell and the Higher Praise Choir of Omaha, Nebraska.
Discography:
Savoy 14634- Debbie Austin And Unity- For The Prize, 1981
Savoy 14737- Debbie Austin- Never Defeated, 1983
Savoy 14805- Debbie Austin & Unity- Self Titled, 1991
OTHER ALBUMS where Debbie sang as a guest vocalist or with her group:
Savoy 14712-: The Gospel Stars Celebrate The 35TH Anniversary Of Radio WNJR- Recorded Live At Symphony Hall In Newark, N.J. (Debbie Austin And Unity on "For The Prize" and "Now And Forever More (He's Mine)"), 1982
Savoy 14732-: James Cleveland Sings With The World's Greatest Gospel Stars- Vol II (Soloist with James Cleveland on "Just Don't Know (What I Would Do)"), 1983
Savoy 7090- Rev James Cleveland and the Gospel Music Workshop Of America- Recorded Live In Atlanta, GA, 1985 soloist on "That's What My God Will Do For You"
Savoy 7094-: Gospel Music Workshop Of America Mass Choir- Live In Detroit (on song "God is Our Fortress"), 1987
Savoy 7100-: Gospel Music Workshop Of America- Live In New Orleans (soloist on "Every Day Is Thanksgiving" with Bernard Pinder), 1990
Savoy 7101-: The Dallas/Fort Worth Mass Choir- Another Chance (on "I Will Let Nothing Separate Me" and duet with Cassandra Cleveland on "Your Name Is The Same"), 1992
Savoy 7115-: The Dallas/Forth Worth Mass Choir- For His Glory (on "I Do, Don't You"), 1994
Blackberry 5434- Melvin Williams- In Living Color (vocalist on "Who Wouldn’t Serve A God", and also on "Startin’ All Over"), 1992
Blackberry 1607-: Jay Terrell & Higher Praise featuring Debbie Austin- Cloudless Day (singing on "Servant Well Done" and on "Tis So Sweet"), 1994
GMWA MASS CHOIR -"Grace of God", 1996
Aleho/Star Song 20152-: The GMWA Women of Worship- When I Get Home (on "A Brighter Day"), 1997
Blackberry 1631-: Doug & Melvin Williams- Duets (singing on "Who Wouldn’t Serve A God" featuring Debbie Austin and Melvin Williams), 2001
Debbie was a talented and dedicated woman of God, being a member of the St. James C.O.G.I.C in Warren, Ohio, where she acted as one of her church's directress's and youth counselors of her church's Youth and Young adult choirs, she also shared as a director for the church's radio choir, while for five years Debbie was on radio W.T.O.F. 98.1 FM in Akron, Ohio, with their weekday Gospel Connection broadcast. Debbie had been an active member of the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) for over 30 years, being on the Gospel Announcers Guild of the GMWA. Debbie sang with her group and sang frequently as a guest vocalist on many other albums, including on albums by the GMWA Mass Choir, GMWA Women of Worship, Melvin and Doug Williams, as well as recording with Jay Terrell and the Higher Praise Choir of Omaha, Nebraska.
Discography:
Savoy 14634- Debbie Austin And Unity- For The Prize, 1981
Savoy 14737- Debbie Austin- Never Defeated, 1983
Savoy 14805- Debbie Austin & Unity- Self Titled, 1991
OTHER ALBUMS where Debbie sang as a guest vocalist or with her group:
Savoy 14712-: The Gospel Stars Celebrate The 35TH Anniversary Of Radio WNJR- Recorded Live At Symphony Hall In Newark, N.J. (Debbie Austin And Unity on "For The Prize" and "Now And Forever More (He's Mine)"), 1982
Savoy 14732-: James Cleveland Sings With The World's Greatest Gospel Stars- Vol II (Soloist with James Cleveland on "Just Don't Know (What I Would Do)"), 1983
Savoy 7090- Rev James Cleveland and the Gospel Music Workshop Of America- Recorded Live In Atlanta, GA, 1985 soloist on "That's What My God Will Do For You"
Savoy 7094-: Gospel Music Workshop Of America Mass Choir- Live In Detroit (on song "God is Our Fortress"), 1987
Savoy 7100-: Gospel Music Workshop Of America- Live In New Orleans (soloist on "Every Day Is Thanksgiving" with Bernard Pinder), 1990
Savoy 7101-: The Dallas/Fort Worth Mass Choir- Another Chance (on "I Will Let Nothing Separate Me" and duet with Cassandra Cleveland on "Your Name Is The Same"), 1992
Savoy 7115-: The Dallas/Forth Worth Mass Choir- For His Glory (on "I Do, Don't You"), 1994
Blackberry 5434- Melvin Williams- In Living Color (vocalist on "Who Wouldn’t Serve A God", and also on "Startin’ All Over"), 1992
Blackberry 1607-: Jay Terrell & Higher Praise featuring Debbie Austin- Cloudless Day (singing on "Servant Well Done" and on "Tis So Sweet"), 1994
GMWA MASS CHOIR -"Grace of God", 1996
Aleho/Star Song 20152-: The GMWA Women of Worship- When I Get Home (on "A Brighter Day"), 1997
Blackberry 1631-: Doug & Melvin Williams- Duets (singing on "Who Wouldn’t Serve A God" featuring Debbie Austin and Melvin Williams), 2001
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