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Deborah Gibson extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Deborah Gibson
Gibson at the Cinema City Film Festival, 2009
Background information
Birth name	Deborah Ann Gibson
Also known as	Debbie Gibson
Born	August 31, 1970 (1970-08-31) (age 39)
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres	Dance-pop House-pop Teen pop Freestyle
Occupations	Singer-songwriter Record producer Actress Broadway performer Teen idol
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Atlantic SBK Espiritu, Jellybean Golden Egg OarFin
Associated acts	Circle Jerks Jordan Knight
Website	Official Site

Deborah Ann "Debbie" Gibson (born August 31, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter who was a teen pop icon. She was popular in the late 1980s and the early 1990s. At the age of 17, Gibson was the youngest artist ever to write, produce, and perform a Billboard Hot 100 # 1 hit single (in the USA) with her song "Foolish Beat",¹² effectively taking the crown from her then teen idol George Michael (who had, coincidentally, been asked to produce "Foolish Beat," but passed on the opportunity).

She appeared repeatedly on the covers of teen magazines (in the USA), such as Tiger Beat. She has gone on to starring roles on Broadway and touring musicals, as well as independent film and television work. She continues to record, and reached the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart as high as # 24 during 2006 in a duet with Jordan Knight titled "Say Goodbye."

Contents 1 Early life 2 Music career 2.1 1987-90 2.2 1990-95 2.3 Independent releases 3 Theater career 4 Reality TV 5 2005–present 5.1 Recent activity 6 Personal life 7 Discography 7.1 Studio albums 7.2 Charted singles 8 Filmography 8.1 Film 8.2 Television 9 Active supporter of charities 10 References 11 External links

Early life

Gibson was born in Brooklyn, New York, the third daughter of Diane and Joseph Gibson.³⁴ She grew up in the Long Island suburb of Merrick. At the age of five, she began performing in community theater with her sisters Karen, Michele and Denise and wrote her first song, "Make Sure You Know Your Classroom." When she was eight, she sang in the children's chorus at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. She began playing the ukulele and taking piano lessons soon thereafter, including with noted American pianist Morton Estrin.⁵ Gibson has stated that her household was probably the only one where you would hear kids fighting over piano playing time.

Music career

1987-90

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (November 2008)

Gibson spent years knocking on doors and handing her demos to every director, agent, and producer with whom she came into contact. Eventually, at the age of 16, with the help of manager Doug Breitbart, she caught the attention of Atlantic Records, and thus began her successful pop music career.

In 1987, while performing around the United States at nightclub venues, Gibson was also recording what would become her debut album, "Out Of The Blue." The album was recorded in 4 weeks. Four singles from Out Of The Blue reached the Top 5 of the Billboard Top 100: "Only in My Dreams," "Shake Your Love," "Out Of The Blue," and the # 1 hit "Foolish Beat," followed by "Staying Together," which performed more modestly, reaching # 22. "Foolish Beat" set a record for Gibson, making her (at 16) the youngest artist ever to write, produce, and perform a Billboard # 1 single, a record she still holds, as entered in the 1988 Guiness Book of World Records. By the time Out Of The Blue was established as a hit album, and she'd had considerable success in the UK, as well as in Japan and southeast Asia, carrying her Out Of The Blue tour to stadiums around the world. By the end of 1988 Out of the Blue her debut album had gone triple platinum.¹ The Out Of The Blue music videos on VHS was certified platinum by the RIAA, as well as Live In Concert "The Out of The Blue tour VHS video also was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA.

In October 1988, Gibson sang the national anthem for Game One of the Major League Baseball World Series. Throughout 1988 and early 1989, Gibson was racking up studio time recording her second album release. Electric Youth was released in March 1989, and spent five weeks at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 Album Chart. The first single released, "Lost in Your Eyes," held the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. She also shared ASCAP Songwriter of the Year Award 1989 with Bruce Springsteen. Subsequent singles from this album missed the Top 10: Electric Youth (#11), No More Rhyme (#17) and We Could Be Together (#71). The "Electric Youth" album was certified 2x platinum by the RIAA. Another successful "The Electric Youth" world tour, and Live Around the World tour on vhs certified 2x platinum by the RIAA also followed.

In tandem with the album, she created a perfume called Electric Youth that was distributed by Revlon, and various other makeup essentials for young girls that were distributed nationwide through Natural Wonder Cosmetics, another of her sponsors at the time.

1990-95

Gibson eventually recorded two more albums for Atlantic Records: Anything Is Possible (1990), and Body Mind Soul (1992). Atlantic compiled Greatest Hits as a 1995 release oddly in conjunction with her release of SBK album Think With Your Heart.

Also during this time, Gibson was part of a supergroup that recorded the charity single Voices that Care which peaked at # 11 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

In 1995, she signed with EMI's SBK Records division and recorded what would be her only album for the label, Think With Your Heart. This album is an Adult Contemporary heavy album consisting of piano ballads and keyboard ballads. The album's producer, Niko Bolas (usually Neil Young's co-producer), was also producing the reunion album for veteran punk band Circle Jerks, and invited Gibson to a recording session for that band's album. She subsequently ended up singing background vocals on the song "I Wanna Destroy You," as well as appearing at and participating in the Circle Jerks' performance at legendary punk venue CBGB, wearing one of the band's t-shirts and sharing a microphone with frontman Keith Morris.

Independent releases

After parting company with EMI, Gibson formed her own record label, Espiritu, to release her original material. Her sixth album, Deborah, marked her full return to dance-pop. Deborah includes the lead single "Only Words." "Only Words" (Dance Edit) became a Top 40 Hot Dance Music/Club Play hit. The album's other single is the ballad, "Naturally." Deborah was well received by fans and remains one of her most respected works, though it only sold 20,000 units in the US.

In 2001, Gibson released her seventh album on her then-new record label, Golden Egg, titled M.Y.O.B. (AKA Mind Your Own Business). It features the three singles, the sensual pop song "What You Want," the Latin-infused Dance-pop song "Your Secret," and the bass heavy "M.Y.O.B." Highlights from the album include the sultry Latin favoured Smooth Jazz song "In Blue," her vintage style ballad "Wishing You Were Here," "Jaded," and a remix of "M.Y.O.B." Her single M.Y.O.B. also had the background vocals of her two nieces.

In 2005, Gibson co-wrote and recorded a song titled "Someone You Love" with the O'Neill Brothers. With the O'Neill Brothers, Gibson also released an updated, acoustic version of her former #1 hit "Lost in Your Eyes." There was a PBS special late 2005, and it was Emmy nominated in February 2006.⁶⁷

Theater career

Gibson debuted on Broadway in 1992, playing Eponine in Les Misérables. She then went to London, starring as Sandy (tried out for by 800 other girls before producers chose Gibson)⁸ in the West End production of Grease to sold out shows, breaking box office sales records.^{citation needed} The single version of "You're the One That I Want," a duet with Craig McLachlan, taken from the Original Cast Recording, reached #13 on the UK charts in 1993.

On returning to the States, she appeared in the Broadway touring production, this time playing Rizzo. She played Fanny Brice in a revamped Funny Girl tour. She has had many successful theater credits; she was among the many actresses who took on the starring role of Belle in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. She replaced Kerry Butler in July 1997 and was in the show until 1998 when she was then replaced by Kim Huber. She also starred the critically lauded production of Gypsy (in a production staged at The Papermill Playhouse). She starred as Louise opposite Broadway legend Betty Buckley. Additionally, she participated in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, where she played the part of The Narrator, and starred as Cinderella in the national tour of Rodgers & Hammerstein's famed musical with Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother. In October 2002, she starred as Velma Kelly in the Boston production of Chicago. In 2003, she played Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of Cabaret. From March to April 2004, she played the role of 'Marta' in the UCLA Reprise! production of Company.

Gibson recently starred as Anna Leonowens in the Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of the classic Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical The King and I which began October 17, 2008 in the Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and ran through October 26.⁹

Reality TV

In the summer of 2003, Gibson was a judge on the American Idol spin-off American Juniors which lasted one season.

In January 2006, she joined the cast of Skating with Celebrities on Fox Television, partnered with former Canadian World Champion figure skater Kurt Browning. She was voted out in the third episode.

2005–present

The March 2005 issue of Playboy featured a nude pictorial of Gibson, coinciding with the release of her single, "Naked." The single peaked #35 on the Billboard "Hot single sales" chart in March 2005.

Following her Skating with Celebrities appearance, she has had a resurgence of popularity in niche markets. Her single "Your Secret" came back from its dormant state and became popular on some radio stations including Super 91.7 WMPH in Wilmington, DE. "Your Secret" has been on their request show, Total Control Radio, for 12 months. "Your Secret" reached # 1 on its third week on that station's chart in May 2006. It charted along with a few of her other singles, "M.Y.O.B." and "Only Words" (Dance Edit) which is a Eurodance mix of the song. They all have become recurrent hits on the station since.¹⁰

Gibson continues to tour and has become a popular attraction at Gay Pride parades and various charity and music festivals around the US. Her 2006 single, "Say Goodbye," featuring dance-pop artist Jordan Knight, has made a good impression on the Soft AC and Hot AC radio formats, becoming the third-most added single on the format during summer 2006. It debuted at # 35 on the Billboard magazine Hot Contemporary chart, peaking at # 24 in early September through late November. The same year, Gibson appeared in the independent film Coffee Date with Wilson Cruz and Jonathan Silverman.

Recent activity

On November 14, 2006, Gibson released the song "Famous" on her official website. The song was written by Gibson and Tiziano Lugli, and the recording was produced by T. Lugli. On May 2007 the world premiere of Electric Youth: The Musical was unveiled at The Starlight Theatre in Orlando, FL. The musical featured 14 of Gibsons's songs and was directed by Dean Parker.¹¹ On August 24, 2007, Gibson and Frankie Avalon hosted Time Life Presents Dick Clark's American Bandstand 50th Anniversary Collection.¹²

On September 2007, Gibson started to consider the idea of creating a camp on the West Coast. She is the founder and creator of Camp Electric Youth,¹³ a children's summer day camp which ran from July 7-18, 2008. It claims to be the first camp of its kind in the LA area. The camp was reportedly attended by "over 120 talented singers, actors and dancers" from around the world. There are currently plans for a five-day "winter camp" to run from December 26-30, 2008.

Gibson was also a judge for the online talent competition, Total Pop Star,¹⁴ along with Andrew Van Slee (producer and judge), and Joey Lawrence (from Blossom). The first season ran from Nov 12, 2007-May 30, 2008, though it was later extended to June.

In January 2008, Gibson announced that she would revive and perform her 80s hits—along with her Broadway role songs—during a three-run week in May 2008 at Harrah's in Atlantic City.¹⁵ Later that month, on January 6, Gibson appeared on Deal or No Deal along with Corey Feldman as part of an '80s special.

She later appeared on the April 2008 cover of Lavender Magazine (a GLBT magazine in Minnesota)¹⁶ and was interviewed about her career and upcoming projects. Then on the 24th, Gibson hosted and performed on Spotlightlive 80's Karaoke Experience in New York¹⁷ singing songs such as "Only in My Dreams", "Out of the Blue", "Love Shack" (an original hit for the B-52's) and "9 to 5" (made famous by Dolly Parton).

She performed with Samantha Fox, Tiffany, & Rick Astley at the Colisee Pepsi in Quebec City, Canada on April 10, 2009.

Gibson co-starred with actor Lorenzo Lamas in the low-budget action/adventure film Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus, produced by The Asylum and released on May 19, 2009.¹⁸ The film's trailer has become a viral hit, scoring over one million hits on MTV.com and YouTube.¹⁹ The film premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Ironically, Gibson's former music rival Tiffany had her film Necrosis (a.k.a. Blood Snow) premiere at the Cannes as well.²⁰

Gibson has confirmed in interviews that she is currently working on a new album. Previews of possible singles were played on her YouTube channel in June 2009 through a video she uploaded herself.²¹

Personal life

Gibson has been romantically linked to American actor Lorenzo Lamas,^{22dead link} former Beverly Hills 90210 actor Joey Gian,²³ and actor/singer Chris Bruno.²⁴

Over the years, Gibson has been the subject of stalkers. Robert Bardo, who was convicted for murdering actress Rebecca Schaeffer in 1989, had a wall in his house adorned with pictures of Gibson and Tiffany.²⁵ In May 1998, Michael Falkner, a disgruntled fan from Eau Claire, WI, was arrested outside Manhattan's Palace Theater, where Gibson was performing in the live musical adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. This was after Gibson received threatening letters, emails and faxes from Falkner.²⁶ On April 15, 2008, Gibson filed a restraining order against Bassas Jorge Puigdollers, a fan club member from Spain who had been allegedly stalking her since 2002.²⁷

Discography

Studio albums

• Out of the Blue (1987)
• Electric Youth (1989)
• Anything Is Possible (1990)
• Body Mind Soul (1992)
• Think With Your Heart (1995)
• Deborah (1997)
• M.Y.O.B. (2001)
• Colored Lights: The Broadway Album (2003)

Charted singles

The following singles charted in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Switzerland and/or the Netherlands.

Year	Single	Album	Peak positions
			U.S.	Hot Dance Music/Club Play	U.S. AC	UK28	CAN	AUS	JPN	SWI	NET
1987	"Only in My Dreams"	Out of the Blue	429	12	31	11	6	—	—	—	46
	"Shake Your Love"		4	6	—	7	10	27	—	19	24
1988	"Out of the Blue"		3	44	16	19	21	71	—	—	88
	"Foolish Beat"		1	—	8	9	1	49	—	10	8
	"Staying Together"		22	—	—	53	29	—	—	—	—
1989	"Lost in Your Eyes"	Electric Youth	1	—	3	34	5	8	—	—	45
	"Electric Youth"		11	3	—	14	15	17	—	—	35
	"No More Rhyme"		17	—	13	—	—	59	—	—	—
	"We Could Be Together"		71	—	—	22	—	53	—	—	—
1990	"Without You"2	Single only (Japan)	—	—	—	—	—	—	26	—	—
	"Anything Is Possible"	Anything Is Possible	26	—	48	51	17	63	—	—	—
1991	"One Step Ahead"		—	18	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"In His Mind"		—	—	—	—	—	—	90	—	—
	"Losin' Myself"	Body, Mind, Soul	86	49	—	—	73	—	—	—	—
1993	"Shock Your Mama"		—	—	—	74	—	—	—	—	—
1993	"You're the One That I Want" Duet with Craig McLachlan	Grease - The Original London Cast Recording	—	—	—	13	—	—	—	—	—
2006	"Say Goodbye" Duet with Jordan Knight	Jordan Knight - Love Songs	—	—	24	—	—	—	—	—	—

Filmography

Film

• Ghostbusters (1984) (uncredited)³⁰
• My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (1999)
• Wedding Band (2001)
• Soulkeeper (2001)
• Celeste in the City (2004)
• Coffee Date (2006)
• Body/Antibody (2007)
• Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009)

Television

• Beverly Hills 90210 (1991)
• Street Justice (1991)
• That '80s Show (2002)
• Skating with Celebrities (2006)

Active supporter of charities

• Pediatric AIDS Foundation
• The Make-A-Wish Foundation
• St. Mary's Children & Families Foundation²³
• Red Cross Clothes Drive

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Debbie Gibson

• Official website: Deborah-Gibson.com
• Official website: DeborahGibsonsElectricYouth.com
• Official Deborah Gibson profile at MySpace
• Official Debbie Gibson channel at YouTube
• Official Deborah Gibson profile at ReverbNation.com
• Deborah Gibson at the Internet Broadway Database
• Deborah Gibson at TV.com
• Music Videos
• Debbie Gibson at the Internet Movie Database

v • d • e Deborah Gibson Studio Albums Out of the Blue (1987) · Electric Youth (1989) · Anything Is Possible (1990) · Body Mind Soul (1992) · Think With Your Heart (1993) · Deborah (1997) · M.Y.O.B. (2001) · Colored Lights: The Broadway Album (2003)  · TBA (2009/2010) Compilation Albums Greatest Hits (1995) · Lost in Your Eyes and Other Hits (1999) · Memory Lane, Volume 1 (2005) · Memory Lane, Volume 2 (2005) · Rhino Hi-Five: Debbie Gibson (2006) Singles "Only in My Dreams" (1986) · "Shake Your Love" (1987) · "Out of the Blue" (1987) · "Foolish Beat" (1988) · "Staying Together" (1988) · "Red Hot" (1988) · "Lost in Your Eyes" (1989) · "Electric Youth" (1989) · "No More Rhyme" (1989) · "We Could Be Together" (1989) · "Without You" (1990) · "Anything Is Possible" (1990) · "(This So-Called) Miracle" (1991) · "One Hand, One Heart" (1991) · "One Step Ahead" (1991) · "Sure" (1991) · "In His Mind" (1992) · "Losin' Myself" (1993) · "Eyes of the Child" (1993) · "Shock Your Mama" (1993) · "How Can This Be?" (1993) · "Free Me" (1993) · "For Better or Worse" (1995) · "Didn't Have the Heart" (1995) · "Only Words" (1997) · "Moonchild" (1997) · "Only in My Dreams 1998" (1998) · "Naturally" (1998) · "What You Want" (2000) · "Your Secret" (2001) · "Naked" (2005) Collaborations "Voices That Care" (Various artists, 1991) · "Hip Hop" (Chris Cuevas, 1991) · "Someday" (Chris Cuevas, 1992) · "You're The One That I Want" (Craig McLachlan, 1993) · "I Wanna Destroy You" (Circle Jerks, 1995) · "Light the World" (Peabo Bryson, 1999) · "Someone You Love" (O'Neill Brothers, 2006) · "Lost in Your Eyes" (Acoustic Version) (O'Neill Brothers, 2006) · "Say Goodbye" (Jordan Knight, 2006) Videos Out of the Blue (1988) · Live in Concert - The Out of the Blue Tour (1988) · Live Around the World (1990) Films Ghostbusters (1984) · My Girlfriend's Boyfriend (1999) · Wedding Band (2001) · Soulkeeper (2001) · Celeste in the City (2004) · Coffee Date (2005) · Body/Antibody (2007) · Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus (2009) Related articles Electric Youth (fragrance) · Albums · Songs

Persondata
NAME	Gibson, Deborah Ann
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Gibson, Debbie
SHORT DESCRIPTION	American singer, songwriter, actress
DATE OF BIRTH	August 31, 1970
PLACE OF BIRTH	Brooklyn, New York
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH