Biography
Debelah Morgan was born in Detroit, Michigan; her father is African American and her mother is from India. Debelah started singing when she was eight years old as a result of listening to some classic gospel music. Andrae Crouch, The O’Neil Twins, Shirley Caesar, Jessie Dixon and gospel sensations The Mighty Clouds of Joy were among the names Morgan listed. Gospel singer Claire Lucket Moore (sister of the gospel group "Jackson Southernaires") attended her church and began working with her; developing a very creative gospel style. When she turned eleven her parents placed her with a classical voice teacher (Earlene Boyd) who taught her the foundations of great vocal technique and exposed her to Opera. At the age of fifteen Debelah received a scholarship to study with World renowned Opera singer Faye Robinson at the University of Arizona.
Morgan graduated at sixteen with honors in performing arts from Tucson High Magnet School. Morgan is a National ACT-SO NAACP SIlver medalist in Classical Voice. Morgan attended Fullerton College and studied voice with Sarah McFerrin (mother of world renowned jazz recording artist Bobby McFerrin). Debelah tops off her list of famous teachers with vocal coach of the stars Seth Riggs (creator of the speech level singing method).
In 1993 Debelah Morgan was discovered by Dedra Tate. Morgan was managed by Sandy Tate during her debut album Debelah released in (1994) by Atlantic Records. Two singles (“Take it Easy” and “Free”) successfully reached the R&B charts. In 1997 Motown released her second album, It’s Not Over on VAZ/Motown Records Morgan was managed by Raoul Roach (son of Jazz Legend the late Max Roach). Her sophomore release includes duets with R&B Super StarBrian McKnight and R&B Singer Herschel Boone. The R&B success of her single landed Morgan on the R&B charts. In 1998 the International Music community responded to Debelah's unique musical flavor. Morgan toured Southeast Asia and several European countries. In 1998 she was featured on three soundtrack albums: Fame L.A., Our Friend, Martin and Stuart Little. In 1999 Debelah signed a music management deal with DAS Communications founder David Sonenberg. Debelah also worked with DAS manager Scot McCracken. Morgan also signed a publishing deal at EMI Music Publishing under Senior Vice President Evan Lamburg. In 2000, she signed with DAS/Atlantic Records and her record company released the single and album "Dance with Me". This song charted around the world making Morgan an international sensation. Debelah Morgan made history as the first Atlantic recording artist to debut in the Top Ten in the U.K. on both the Pop and R&B charts at the same time. This gave Morgan the exclusive opportunity to perform live on Britain’s TV show Top of The Pops, a show reserved only for those who debut in the Top Ten. Her success moved down under to New Zealand and Australia where "Dance With Me" went platinum in two weeks.
Debelah was the featured guest vocalist for the 2001 Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia. In the fall of 2001 Debelah sang with Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey on an ABC special honoring the victims of 9/11.
After the record company's promotion and touring for her third album ended, Morgan recorded two songs for the soundtrack of the movie Road Kings titled "Fly Free" and "I'll Take You There." Debelah is also featured on the Urban Renewal: Phil Collins tribute album singing “Do You Remember.”
Debelah contributes much of her success to the many talent and scholarship pageants she won in her early years. Debelah is a former Ms. Juneteenth, Ms Black Teen Arizona, Ms. Black Teenage World, and Ms. Arizona in Hal Jackson’s talented teen international scholarship pageant. Pageant founder Hal Jackson is the first African American sports announcer. Debelah was a debutante twice in the Gospel Music Workshop of America Cotillion Pageant Ball. Debelah's "Live" Gospel album, Let the Worship In; is one of the three gospel albums Morgan has recorded. Debelah Morgan's unique voice is complimented with the ability to sing in the rare whistle register vocal range.
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