Deborah Cooper

Last updated

Deborah Cooper
GenresDance, House
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1977–present
Website MySpace account

Deborah Cooper is an American professional dancer, musician, singer, backup singer, award-winning composer [1] and entertainer, with several number one and top charting dance music and house music hits. [2]

Contents

Biography

Early career

Cooper started as a female vocalist for the Fatback Band. Her first song with them was Double Dutch and the last one was Wild Sugar, [3] [4] After she left she was replaced by Linda Blakely. Cooper then became a member of the disco/R&B band Change (1981–1985) with whom she had several hits with. In 1991 Cooper featured as guest vocalist on Clivillés and Cole's hit single A Deeper Love. [5]

Subsequently, in the 1990s, she was part of the C+C Music Factory as both a lead and back up vocalist resulting in several # 1 hits, including "Deeper Love", "Pride" and "Keep It Comin" (Dance Till You Can't Dance) both rap and No. 1 charting dance versions of the theme from the cult film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The film featured a version of "Keep It Comin" with Rapper Q-Unique, while the Dance club version was solely Deborah Cooper vocals. The music video had clips and actors from the film. [6] [7] [2] Cooper continues to lend her vocals to house music tracks by a number of record producers, while she has also continued to release her own solo tracks.

TV appearances

While appearing on TV's Saturday Night Live with C+C Music Factory, which was hosted by Susan Dey on February 8, 1992, [8] [9] Deborah Cooper was featured in a solo performance, singing "Deeper Love", known as "Pride" from the repeated lyric tag. This appearance boosted sales of the song. "Deeper love" was actually the "B" side, while the "A" side was a house version of U2's "Pride", known by the tag " In the Name of Love", which was another club hit for Cooper.

Backup, session, commercial work

As a backup and session singer she has worked with Jessica Simpson, Lisa Lisa (which was during her C&C Music Factory days), and Natalie Cole. [10] She vocalized Budget Gourmet's "Things That Make You Go MMMM" Campaign, which was a take off of the C + C Music Factory song on which Cooper provided vocals. For several years Deborah was a featured singer for Mariah Carey in both recording sessions, as well as during international live performances. [11] Cooper can also be seen in Mariah Carey's "behind the scene" documentary feature for "Butterfly".

In 2004, a commercial for American Express features comedian Ellen DeGeneres dancing around, while Deborah Cooper belts out the famous C + C Music Factory tag line "Everybody Dance Now" from the track "Gonna Make You Sweat". [12]

In 2008 Cooper started writing a book about her life in the music industry, while she also continued composing new dance music.

Writing and composition work

In 2003 Deborah collaborated with DJ Producer Tony Moran. She wrote "Real Love", which was released publicly by Emerge Records in 2003. In early 2007 Cooper began working on her memoirs, focusing on her history in music as an R & B diva, disco, and dance belter, while including stories about being on the road as a performer. An international tour was being planned for summer 2007 in support of her book.

Live performance

Cooper appears and performs live at clubs, casinos, circuit parties, as well as corporate and special events. Due to the popularity and longevity of the song "Deeper Love", known as "Pride", she frequently appears at LGBT events, Pride Events, and fundraisers. One of these events was Alegria Pride in NYC. [13] [14]

In the late 1990s Ms. Cooper's Personal Appearance Manager, Scott Sherman of the Atlantic Entertainment Group, specifically developed a new concept for Cooper for non-live music appearances, known as "track" shows, typically utilized in smaller venues and "one night" limited runs.

With a team consisting of her Personal Appearance Manager, choreographer Luis Villabon, Sound engineer Henry "Butch" Jackson, and AMS Services for lighting and effects, the track show evolved into a portable production show, fitting both smaller and larger venues. Her costumes included those from designer Gianni Versace and Marc Baur.

In collaboration with dancer and choreographer, Luis Villabon, Cooper and manager Scott Sherman, a retired professional dancer himself, purposely cast experienced, Broadway trained dancers, rather than the customary hip hop dancers. By combining classically trained Jazz, Ballet and "show" dancers, with "street" and hip hop movement, and adding professional staging and meticulous choreography, her new look and style was established. This started a trend among similar acts. [15]

Collaborations

Robert Clivilles of C+C Music Factory asked Deborah Cooper to vocalize the song "Reach" for his RobiRob's Clubworld CD. This was his first post C+C project since the passing of his business partner, David Cole. This project was unique as it included the late David Cole's final performance on keyboards.

In 2001 for Producer DJ Victor Calderone Deborah recorded " Are You Satisfied" which was a number 1 dance music hit. [16] Prior to this collaboration, they both had worked with Peter Rauhofer, who was the world's first dance music category Grammy Award Winner [17] to add her unique vocal stylings to "Do It Properly", a cover of the 1987 single by the group 2 Puerto Ricans, A Black Man And A Dominican. In 2002, she won an ASCAP award for her writing and composing the song "Are You Satisfied?" [18]

In 2004 Cooper introduced a popular remix of the "Real Love" collaboration by Rosabel, a house music duo consisting of Producer / DJs Ralphi Rosario from Chicago, Illinois and DJ Abel from Miami, Florida. The new version premiered live when she appeared at the sold-out 2004 Chicago annual Fireball event.

In 2005 with DJ Producer Tony Moran she recorded "Live You All Over" which quickly rose up the charts to number 2. [19] This track was released as a CD single and on Moran's "Tour De Beats" compilation. [20]

In January 2007, she began a world tour with longtime friend and personal appearance manager Scott Sherman, which included domestic and international dates. Cooper was also working on a book project.

In 2009, Deborah's deep and rich vocals appear on "Erick Morillo feat Deborah Cooper – I Get Lifted".

In 2013, Deborah Cooper reunited with Tony Moran to do vocals for the song "Heartbeat" and it peaked at number 3 on the Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. [21]

Discography

Many of these releases are further remixed, modified and re-released by professional DJs and Producers at later dates.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exposé (group)</span> American freestyle vocal group

Exposé is an American freestyle vocal group formed in 1984 in Miami, Florida. Primarily consisting of lead vocalists Jeanette Jurado, Ann Curless, and Gioia Bruno, the group achieved much of their success between 1984 and 1993. They became the first group to attain four top-10 entries on the Billboard Hot 100 since their debut album, including 1988 number-one single "Seasons Change." In March 2015, Billboard magazine named the group the eighth most-successful girl group of all-time.

The Cover Girls are an all-female, New York City-based freestyle music group that achieved most of its chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Among the group's best-known songs are "Show Me", "Because of You", "Don't Stop Now", "Funk Boutique", "Wishing on a Star", and "Thank You".

Tina Charles is an English singer who achieved success as a disco artist in the mid to late 1970s. Her most successful single was the UK no. 1 hit "I Love to Love " in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deborah Cox</span> Canadian musician and actress (born 1974)

Deborah Cox is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Toronto, she began performing on television commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows in her teenage years before becoming a professional backing vocalist for Celine Dion. In 1994, Cox relocated to the United States and was signed to Arista Records by Clive Davis, releasing her self-titled debut album the following year. Her second studio album, One Wish (1998), was certified platinum in the United States. It was marked by the commercial success of the pop crossover single "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", which would become her most successful entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number two and remaining there for eight consecutive weeks. Cox signed with J Records for her third studio album The Morning After (2002), which saw moderate commercial success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ultra Naté</span> American singer-songwriter

Ultra Naté Wyche is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, DJ and promoter who has achieved success on the pop charts with songs such as "Free", "If You Could Read My Mind", and "Automatic".

C+C Music Factory was an American musical group formed in 1989 by David Cole and Robert Clivillés. The group is best known for their five hit singles: "Gonna Make You Sweat ", "Here We Go ", "Things That Make You Go Hmmm...", "Just a Touch of Love", and "Keep It Comin'". The band stopped recording in 1996, following Cole's death. In 2010, C+C Music Factory reformed with Eric Kupper replacing Cole. Original member Freedom Williams acquired trademark rights to the name in 2003 and still tours under that moniker.

<i>Gonna Make You Sweat</i> 1990 studio album by CC Music Factory

Gonna Make You Sweat is the debut studio album by American musical production group C+C Music Factory, released in the US on December 18, 1990. Following on the success of contemporaries Black Box and Technotronic, Gonna Make You Sweat was a worldwide smash, reaching number two on the US Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Keep Me Hangin' On</span> 1966 single by the Supremes

"You Keep Me Hangin' On" is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was first recorded in 1966 by American Motown group the Supremes, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. American rock band Vanilla Fudge released a cover version in June the following year, which reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. English singer Kim Wilde covered "You Keep Me Hangin' On" in 1986, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1987. In the first 32 years of the Billboard Hot 100 rock era, "You Keep Me Hangin' On" became one of the six songs to reach number one by two different musical acts. In 1996, American country singer Reba McEntire's version reached number two on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The BBC ranked the Supremes' original song at number 78 on The Top 100 Digital Motown Chart, which ranks Motown releases by their all-time UK downloads and streams.

Robert Manuel Clivillés is an American record producer, songwriter, arranger, and music video director most noted for his work with C+C Music Factory, a group he founded with musical partner David Cole. He is of Puerto Rican ancestry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siedah Garrett</span> American singer and songwriter

Deborah Christine "Siedah" Garrett is an American singer and songwriter who has written songs and performed backing vocals for many recording artists in the music industry, such as Michael Jackson, the Pointer Sisters, Brand New Heavies, Quincy Jones, Tevin Campbell, Donna Summer, Madonna, Jennifer Hudson among others. Garrett has been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Song, and won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards for co-writing "Love You I Do" for the 2006 musical film, Dreamgirls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martha Wash</span> American singer-songwriter, actress, and producer

Martha Elaine Wash is an American singer-songwriter, actress, and producer. Known for her distinctive and powerful voice, Wash first achieved fame as half of the Two Tons O' Fun, who sang backing vocals for the disco singer Sylvester including on his signature hit "You Make Me Feel ". After gaining their own record deal, they released three consecutive commercially successful songs which all peaked at number two in the dance charts. The duo was renamed The Weather Girls in 1982 after they released the top-selling single "It's Raining Men", which brought them to mainstream pop attention. The Weather Girls released five albums and were heavily featured on Sylvester's albums.

Barbara Tucker, is an American house and soul singer, songwriter and choreographer born in Brooklyn, New York, US. Tucker had six No. 1 hits on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart in the 1990s and into the 2000s, and several hits in the UK.

Judith "Judy" Torres is an American freestyle music artist and dance-pop singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)</span> 1990 single by C+C Music Factory

"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" is a song by American dance music group C+C Music Factory, released by Columbia in late 1990 as the debut and lead single from their first album, Gonna Make You Sweat (1990). The song is sung by singer Martha Wash and rapper Freedom Williams. It charted internationally and achieved great success in the United States, Austria, Germany, and Sweden, where it reached number one on the charts. The music video for the song was directed by Marcus Nispel. Billboard magazine ranked "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" among the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time" in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will You Love Me Tomorrow</span> 1960 single by the Shirelles

"Will You Love Me Tomorrow", sometimes known as "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", is a song with words by Gerry Goffin and music composed by Carole King. It was recorded in 1960 by the Shirelles at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song was the first by an African-American all-girl group to reach number one in the United States. It has since been recorded by many other artists including a 1971 version by co-writer Carole King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">To Love You More</span> 1995 single by Celine Dion

"To Love You More" is a song by Canadian singer Celine Dion, written by David Foster and Edgar Bronfman Jr., writing under the pen-name Junior Miles. It was released as a single in Japan on 21 October 1995 and became a hit, reaching number one on the Oricon Singles Chart and selling 1.5 million copies. The lyrics are about a woman who makes an impassioned plea to her lover so that he does not leave her for another woman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Moran</span> American singer-songwriter

Anthony "Tony" Moran is a DJ, record producer, remixer, singer and songwriter known for remixing popular songs. In 2007, he hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart twice with "Walk Away" featuring Kristine W and "Keep Your Body Working" featuring Martha Wash. Moran also has a total of seven number one hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs music charts in the United States and he has recently had four number one Billboard chart hits in the years 2016 and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep It Comin' (Dance Till You Can't Dance No More)</span> 1992 single by C+C Music Factory

"Keep It Comin' (Dance Till You Can't Dance No More)" is a song by American musical group C+C Music Factory featuring vocals by Q-Unique and Deborah Cooper. In the US, the single went to number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. It is featured in the film, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and its accompanying soundtrack.

Robert Clivillés and David Cole (1962–1995), known collectively as Clivillés and Cole, were American record producers, songwriters, and remixers active from the late 1980s who achieved success in the 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Deeper Love</span> 1991 single by Clivillés & Cole

"A Deeper Love" is a song written by American producers Robert Clivillés and David Cole, and performed by them as Clivillés & Cole featuring vocals by Deborah Cooper. Released by Columbia in 1991, the song was the duo's fifth number-one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. On other US charts, "A Deeper Love" peaked at number 83 on the soul singles chart and number 44 on the pop chart. Overseas, especially in Europe the single charted higher, going to number 15 in the UK and number eight on the Dutch Top 40.

References

  1. A.S.C.A.P. 2004 "Real Love"
  2. 1 2 "Dance Songs: Top Dance Music Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  3. Fatback Band - Double Dutch (1977) remastered audio
  4. Wild Sugar
  5. Deborah Cooper-Switchcraft Music
  6. CC Music Factory Keep It Comin
  7. "Top 40 Radio Monitor- Billboard". Billboard. Vol. 103. October 12, 1991. p. 86. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  8. "Susan Dey Monologue". NBC . February 8, 1992. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  9. "NBC Saturday Night Live promo w Susan Dey and C&C Music Factory 1992". via YouTube.com. February 27, 2014. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  10. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 33. ISBN   9780857125958.
  11. Nickson, Chris (1995). Mariah Carey: Her Story. Macmillan. p. 119. ISBN   0312131216.
  12. "American Express - Ellen's Dance". splendAd.com. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  13. Pride 2009 #8 NYC Deborah Cooper Live Part Two 06.28 .MOV
  14. Deborah Cooper at Xl club NYC
  15. Centaur Music Archived November 4, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  16. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 48.
  17. "Club 69 - Grammys".
  18. "2002 ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Awards winners". Billboard . June 19, 2002. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  19. "Live You All Over Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  20. "Tour de Beats - Tony Moran". Allmusic . Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  21. "Tony Moran- Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2020.