Beginnings
Debby Boone was born September 22, 1956 in Hackensack, New Jersey, USA, the daughter of singer and 1950s icon Pat Boone and Shirley Lee Foley Boone (daughter of country music star Red Foley). When Boone was 14 years old, she began touring with her parents and three sisters - Cherry, Lindy and Laury. The sisters recorded as the Boones. Although they primarily recorded gospel music, they twice reached Billboard's AC charts with "When The Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes" (No. 25) and "Hasta Mañana" (No. 32) which featured Debby as lead vocalist.
[edit] You Light Up My Life
Boone released her first solo effort, "You Light Up My Life," in 1977. The song became the biggest hit of the 1970s on the Billboard Hot 100 spending 10 weeks at No. 1 — longer than any other song in Hot 100 history to that point. (In 2008, Billboard ranked the song No. 7 among all songs that charted in the 50 year history of the Hot 100.) The song earned her a Grammy award for Best New Artist and an American Music Award for Favorite Pop Single. She also received Grammy nominations for Best Pop Female and Record of the Year. "You Light Up My Life" also reached No. 1 Adult Contemporary (one week) and No. 4 Country. The single and the album (No. 6 Pop, No. 6 Country) of the same name were both certified platinum. Boone's overnight success led to a tour with her father and frequent television appearances.
The song, written and produced by Joe Brooks, was from the film of the same name. Brooks earned Song of the Year awards at both the 1978 Grammys and Oscars for writing the song. Boone's version, contrary to popular belief, was not used in the movie or featured on its soundtrack. The song was lip-synched in the film by its star, Didi Conn, performing to vocals recorded by Kasey Cisyk. Although written as a love song, Boone interpreted the song as inspirational and unashamedly declared that she recorded the song for God.
Boone was unable to maintain her success in Pop music after "You Light Up My Life." Her follow-up single, "California" (also written and produced by Joe Brooks), stumbled peaking at No. 50 Pop and No. 20 AC. "California" was included on Boone's second album, Midstream, which faltered at No. 147 Pop. Her next single, the double-sided "God Knows"/"Baby I'm Yours, " performed even worse peaking at No. 74 Pop becoming her last entry on the Hot 100. However, the single charted AC (No. 14) and returned Boone to the Country chart (No. 22). Boone then released another movie theme, "When You're Loved", from The Magic of Lassie. Like "You Light Up My Life," the song was nominated for an Academy Award for its composers, the Sherman Brothers. But it failed to replicate the chart success of her first single reaching only No. 48 AC. Boone's wholesome persona was in contrast to the more tart-oriented direction the Pop music industry had begun to take in the 80's.
[edit] Country music
With the crossover success of You Light Up My Life and God Knows/Baby, I'm Yours, Boone began to focus on country music. (Her father, Pat, and maternal grandfather, Red Foley, had also recorded in that genre.) Her first country single, 1978's In Memory Of Your Love, fizzled at No. 61. But, she then hit No. 11 in 1979 with a remake of Connie Francis' My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own. Boone released another Connie Francis remake, the No. 25 Breakin' In A Brand New Broken Heart, before releasing her 1979 eponymous album. Although the album included the two Francis remakes, her next two singles were not culled from this album - a remake of the Happenings' See You In September (No. 41 Country, No. 45 AC) and another Francis cover, Everybody's Somebody's Fool (No. 48). (To date, See You In September has never been featured on any of Boone's albums. Everybody's Somebody's Fool was included on her 1986 compilation, The Best Of Debby Boone.)
Her next album, 1980's Love Has No Reason (No. 17 Country), was produced by Larry Butler who helmed many of Kenny Rogers' records during the late 1970s. It resulted in the No. 1 Country and No. 31 AC hit, Are You On The Road To Lovin' Me Again. Two weeks before Road ascended to No. 1, Boone was part of a historic Top 5 on the Billboard Country chart. For the week ending April 19, 1980, the Top 5 positions were all held by women: Crystal Gayle (It's Like We Never Said Goodbye) Dottie West (A Lesson in Leaving) Debby Boone (Are You On The Road To Lovin' Me Again) Emmylou Harris (Beneath Still Waters) Tammy Wynette (Two Story House with George Jones)
The album generated two more Country singles, the No. 14 Free To Be Lonely Again and the No. 44 Take It Like A Woman. The latter single charted simultaneously with her father's Colorado Country Morning (No. 60). Butler also produced Boone's next album, 1981's Savin' It Up (No. 49 Country), which yielded two more country singles, the No. 23 Perfect Fool (also No. 37 AC) and the No. 46 It'll Be Him. Boone has not charted on either the Billboard AC or Country charts since the release of Savin' It Up.
[edit] Broadway bound
Boone wrote her autobiography, Debby Boone So Far, in 1981 and spent a year touring the United States with the stage adaptation of the film Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. The play was a commercial and critical success nationwide before opening on Broadway in July 1982. The Broadway reviews were lackluster, but a scathing review by the New York Times led the show to close after just five performances. The day after the show's closing, several of the show's stars and theater-goers protested the closing outside the New York Times building hoping for a retraction of its review and the re-opening of the show. But, despite the enthusiastic reception of the show from Broadway theater-goers, the producers believed that the show could not overcome its reviews and the show remained closed.
Boone continued her theater work appearing periodically in stage productions nationwide including lead roles in Camelot, Meet Me In St. Louis, Mississippi Love, South Pacific, The Human Comedy and The King And I. Boone returned twice to the New York stage. Her 1990 performance as Maria in The Sound Of Music at Lincoln Center garnered her a Drama Desk nomination. In 1996, Boone played against her image as Rizzo in the 1990s revival of Grease.
Boone occasionally acted on television as well. Her first foray into television was a 1978 musical adaptation of O'Henry's The Gift Of The Magi co-starring John Rubinstein. Boone headlined two of her own NBC television music specials - The Same Old Brand New Me (1980) and One Step Closer (1982). She stunned many in 1984 by portraying Clarissa Hope, a former call girl turned Christian singer, in the television movie, Sins Of The Past. The film, co-starring Anthony Geary, Barbara Carrera and Kim Cattrall, was a Top 10 Nielsen hit. Boone also made guest appearances on several television shows including Step By Step and Baywatch Nights and was featured in the television films Come On Get Happy: The Partridge Family Story and Treehouse Hostage.
[edit] Faith and family
After Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Boone followed her heart and turned her musical career to Christian music winning two GMA Dove Awards and two more Grammys. Boone first recorded in this genre in 1980 with the Grammy winning With My Song ... I Will Praise Him. Subsequent Christian albums included Surrender (1983), Choose Life (1985), Friends For Life (1987) and Be Thou My Vision (1989). In 1989, Boone released her Christmas album, Home For Christmas, which boasted a duet with her mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney, on Clooney's signature White Christmas.
Boone's career was always secondary as she devoted herself first to raising her four children: son Jordan (b. 1980), twin daughters Gabrielle and Dustin (b. 1983), and daughter Tessa (b. 1986). Boone married her husband, Gabriel Ferrer on September 1, 1979. Like Boone, Ferrer is a member of another well-known Hollywood family - he is the son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney, the brother of actors Miguel Ferrer and Rafael Ferrer and the cousin of actor George Clooney. The couple collaborated on several children's books. Boone wrote Bedtime Hugs For Little Ones (1988), Tomorrow Is A Brand New Day (1989), Snow Angel (1991), Welcome To This World (1996), Nightlights (1997) and Counting Blessings (1998) which were all illustrated by her husband. Boone and her children appeared frequently on the cover of Good Housekeeping magazine as they grew. Boone also released two children's videos, Debby Boone's Hug-a-Long Songs: Volumes 1 and 2.
Once her children were grown, Boone revived her recording career in 2005 with the release of Reflections Of Rosemary. The CD was a fond tribute to her mother-in-law, Rosemary Clooney, featuring songs performed by Clooney as well as other songs not associated with Clooney which Boone felt showed Clooney as the person she and her family knew and loved. Boone toured extensively for the album including several nights at New York's famed cabaret, Feinstein's, where Clooney often performed.
[edit] Discography Main article: Debby Boone discography
[edit] Awards
[edit] Academy Of Country Music
Win: 1977 - Top New Female Vocalist
Nominations: 1977 - Single Record of the Year (You Light Up My Life) 1977 - Song of the Year (You Light Up My Life)
[edit] Dove Awards
Wins: 1981 - Best Album By A Secular Artist (With My Song ... I Will Praise Him) 1984 - Best Album By A Secular Artist (Surrender)
[edit] Grammys
Wins: 1977 - Best New Artist 1980 - Best Inspirational Performance (With My Song ... I Will Praise Him) 1983 - Best Gospel Performance - Duo/Group (Keep The Flame Burning with Phil Driscoll)
Nominations: 1977 - Record Of The Year (You Light Up My Life) 1977 - Best Pop Vocal Performance - Female (You Light Up My Life) 1984 - Best Gospel Performance - Female (Surrender) 1985 - Best Gospel Performance - Female (Choose Life) 1987 - Best Gospel Performance - Female (The Name Above All Names) 1989 - Best Gospel Performance - Female (Be Thou My Vision)
[edit] Music City News
Win: 1978 - Best New Female Artist
[edit] Record World 1977 - Pop New Female Vocalist - Albums 1977 - Pop New Female Vocalist - Singles 1977 - Pop Single (Solo Artist) - "You Light Up My Life" 1977 - Special Achievement 1978 - Pop New Female Vocalist - Albums 1978 - Pop New Female Vocalist - Singles 1978 - Pop Single (Solo Artist) - "You Light Up My Life"
