DEBI DOSS was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, but from an early age her musical taste was always English. As a twelve-year-old the first single she purchased was 'Well Respected Man' by The Kinks.
Little did she know that she would be hired as a backing singer for the group eight years and several thousand miles later! Debi heard that Ray Davies of The Kinks was planning to tour a musical theatre piece called 'Preservation' with six singers and a horn section, so she auditioned and got the job. For the next 3 1/2 years Debi performed as a backing vocalist with The Kinks, touring the US and Europe.
She also toured as a backing singer for the next 10 years with artists including The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver, Heat Wave, Hot Chocolate and Kajagoogoo, as well as working as a session singer. You can hear her vocal contribution on the 1979 No.1 hit ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ with The BuggIes. You can also see her in the video (the one on the right), which was the first ever to be shown on MTV in the US in 1981.
Debi has recorded with artists such as David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Ian Gillan (Deep Purple), Mike Oldfield, Colin Blunstone, Ultravox, Chris de Burgh, Twiggy, Cilla Black, Bill Wyman (The Rhythm Kings), The Pet Shop Boys, BuggIes colleague Geoff Downes and Gavin Sutherland. Her work as a session singer includes award winning television commercials and voice-overs.
In 2004, she performed with Trevor Hom in his 25th anniversary concert for the Prince’s Trust again with The Buggles, and also with Dollar, The Art of Noise, Propaganda, ABC, Yes, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, The Pet Shop Boys and Lisa Stansfield. The highlight of the evening was being presented to, and sharing a special moment with, HRH Prince Charles.
Debi released her first solo EP, entitled ‘Debi Does…’ in November 2014. As a tribute to the artists who have had an impact on her professional life, she recorded her very own stripped down version of ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’, and pays tribute to the songwriting skills of Ray Davies by singing his wonderful classic song ‘Waterloo Sunset’ and the ballad ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ from his concept musical ‘Preservation’. Included are two tracks written by Debi, ‘Je Chante’ and the short musical piece ‘Fly High (Part I), as a memorial tribute to her young, 20-year-old nephew, Scotty, who tragically drowned in Big River, outside St. Louis, in June 2014. The EP is available through Amazon and iTunes as well as her new track, released in October 2015, Debi’s cover of the Carpenters’ hit ‘Close to You’.
Debi continues to perform live and appeared with The BuggIes for a one-off fundraising concert in London in 2010. She has sung with The Kastoff Kinks in the UK and Europe for over 10 years where, on occasion, Ray Davies joins them on stage.
Debi will be performing with the Kastoffs for the Kinks official fan club gig in November 2015 and joining Dave Davies on stage on 18th December 2015 at the Islington Assembly Hall.
