Deborah Cooper

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Deborah Cooper is a female, part African American, professional dance music singer, award winning composer[1] and entertainer, with several number one and top charting dance music and house music hits.[2]

Contents

[edit] History

Cooper started as female vocalist for the Fatback Band, then as lead female vocalist and member of disco/R&B band Change (1981-1985) where she scored several hits. In the 1990s she was part of C+C Music Factory as both a lead and back up vocalist resulting with several # 1 hits including "Deeper Love", "Pride", and "Keep It Comin" (Dance Till You Cant Dance) 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. She continues to lend her vocals to house music tracks by other record producers, as well as release her own solo tracks.

[edit] TV appearances

While appearing on TV's Saturday Night Live for C+C Music Factory, Deborah Cooper was also featured in a solo performance where she sang "Deeper Love", known as "Pride" from the repeated lyric tag. This appearance boosted sales and while this was the "B" side, 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.

[edit] Backup, session, commercial work

As a backup and session singer she has worked with Jessica Simpson, Lisa Lisa, Natalie Cole She vocalized Budget Gourmets "Things That Make You Go MMMM" Campaign a take off of the C + C Music Factory song on which Cooper appeared.

For several years Deborah was a featured singer for Mariah Carey in both recording sessions as well as live appearances internationally. Cooper is also seen in Mariah Carey's "behind the scene" documentary feature for "Butterfly"

In 2006, a commercial for American Express features comedian Ellen DeGeneres dancing around, when Deborah Cooper belts out the famous C + C Music Factory tag line "Everbody Dance Now" from the track "Gonna Make You Sweat"

[edit] Writing & composition

In 2003 Deborah collaborated with DJ Producer Tony Moran and wrote "Real Love" released on Centaur Records.[3] Cooper won an ASCAP Award for composition on this project.[4][5] In early 2007 Cooper began working on her memoirs: her history in music from an R & B diva, disco, and dance belter and road stories. An international tour is being planned for summer 2007 in support of her book as well as new tracks she is composing.

[edit] Live Performance

Cooper appears and performs live at club, casino, circuit parties, corporate[6] and special events. Due to the popularity and longevity of "Deeper Love", known as "Pride", she frequently appears at GLBT events, Prides, and fundraisers.[7]

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

With her team of her Personal Appearance Manager, working with choreographer Luis Villabon, Sound engineer Henry "Butch" Jackson, AMS Services for lighting and effects; her costumes included designer regalia by Gianni Versace, Marc Baur the previous live appearance track show evolved into a portable production show fitting both smaller and larger venues.

A collaboration with dancer and choreographer, Luis Villabon, Cooper and manager Scott Sherman, a retired professional dancer himself, they purposely cast experienced, Broadway trained dancers; rather than customary hip hop shakers. In combining classically trained dancers: Jazz, Ballet, "show" dancing; with "street" and hip hop movement, including professional staging and meticulous choreography, her new look and style was established; thus starting a trend among similar acts.[8]

[edit] Collaboration

Robert Clivilles of C + C Music Factory sought Deborah Cooper to vocalize "Reach" for his RobiRob's Clubworld CD; 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; earlier they both worked with Peter Rauhofer, the world's first dance music category Grammy Award Winner[9]to add her unique vocal stylings to "Do It Properly"[10]. The live performance was premiered at the annual Winter Music Conference

Deborah Cooper wrote "Real Love" with DJ Producer Tony Moran, released on Centaur Records[11] in 2003. Cooper won an ASCAP Award for composition on this project.[12][13]

2004 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 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. This track was released as a CD single and on Morans "Tour De Beats" compilation.

In January 2007 she began her world tour with longtime friend and personal appearance manager Scott Sherman, which includes dates in the USA, Europe, Russia, South Africa and Australia. Cooper is also working on a book project slated for late 2008. A new tour for 2008 is under way, and an international tour for 2009 and 2010 is being scheduled

[edit] Charting hits

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

  • "Keep It Coming" - Rap Version
  • "Reach"
  • "Do It Properly"

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ A.S.C.A.P. 2004 "Real Love"
  2. ^ Billboard Magazine
  3. ^ Welcome to centaurmusic.com's web site. The ultimate resource for the club music scene
  4. ^ ASCAP.com
  5. ^ centuarmusic.com
  6. ^ Nike.org
  7. ^ interpride.org
  8. ^ Centaur Music
  9. ^ www.grammy.org
  10. ^ A cover of the 1987 single by the group 2 Puerto Ricans, A Black Man And A Dominican
  11. ^ Welcome to centaurmusic.com's web site. The ultimate resource for the club music scene
  12. ^ ASCAP.com
  13. ^ centuarmusic.com

[edit] See also

v • d • e
C+C Music Factory
Robert Clivillés · David Cole · Freedom Williams · Martha Wash · Zelma Davis · Deborah Cooper
Trilogy  · Paul Pesco · Q-Unique
Albums
Singles
"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" · "Here We Go (Let's Rock & Roll)" · "Things That Make You Go Hmmm" · "Just a Touch of Love" · "Keep it Comin' (Dance Till You Can't Dance No More)" · "Do You Wanna Get Funky" · "Take a Toke" · "I'll Always Be Around"
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