Debra Byrd

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Debra Byrd (born 1951 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American singer, musical theater actress, and author who is most notable as the head vocal coach on American Idol and Canadian Idol and also sings backup for the Idol contestants. She has starred in musical films and several Broadway musicals.

[edit] Early Life & Career

Byrd was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie, Commonly known as "the last resort."

Byrd's was inspired by her grandfather to study piano and voice. Studying opera at the age of 12, Byrd’s musical talents blossomed. During her eight years of study, she was the director and co-founder of the Community Voices of Faith, the female lead singer in a local R&B band, a featured soloist in her high school choir and All-City Chorus, a pianist for the All-City Orchestra, choir director for her church, and a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. Additionally, she toured the country with gospel groups and narrated children’s concerts for the Cleveland Orchestra before attending Kent State University and Temple University.

Byrd received her acting, improv and stage management training and was a musical director at the world renowned Karamu Theater. She was also a music director and a performer at the E. Cleveland Theatre and Dobama Theaters as well.

Byrd had what it took to be a Broadway star, but such opportunities would mean relocating to New York. With only $50 dollars in her pocket, a care package from her roommate’s mother and three months rent paid in full, Byrd’s job hunting began. After auditioning for producers, directors and bands, she answered an ad in Backstage which read "Manilow Needs Girls." It wasn't long before Byrd was working and touring with Barry Manilow himself. She became part of Lady Flash, the featured back-up group for Manilow’s records and opening the second act of his tours. Manilow produced Lady Flash’s album, "Beauties in the Night" on the RSO/Polydor record label.

After four years, the group disbanded and Byrd found her way back to the stage, appearing in Ain't Misbehavin' on Broadway as well as touring with the national company. From there she continued on the Broadway stage with roles in The Human Comedy, A New York Shakespeare Festival production; Barry Manilow on Broadway; and Haarlem Nocturne, directed by Andre De Shields and Marc Shaiman as music director. Her other theatre credits include the Los Angeles production of Is It Just Me or Is It Hot In Here and the off-Broadway production of The River.

Byrd appeared on numerous records, music videos, tours, television shows and feature films. She has worked with a variety of musical artists including The Eurythmics, Bob Dylan, Anita Baker, UB40, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Regina Belle, Feargal Sharkey, Little Steven, Stephanie Mills, Bob Geldof, Billy Preston and Jose Feliciano.

Byrd was the vocal arranger and vocal coach on many Manilow records and tours, ABC's All My Children, Broadway's Haarlem Nocturne, the off-Broadway production of The River, David Brenner's late night talk show Nightlife, and Universal Pictures' For Love Or Money starring Michael J. Fox. She also appeared in the CBS movie "Threesome," The Grammy’s, The MTV Awards, The Tonight Show, The Arsenio Hall Show and the Legendary Ladies of Rock.

Byrd has worked with people from the United States, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, England and Scotland, doing choral arrangements. Her voice can be heard on numerous commercials and voiceover work as well as movie soundtracks including Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit, The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album, The First Wives Club, Ghosts of Mississippi, Unzipped and Thumbelina (featuring a duet with Barry Manilow).

Byrd is part of the development team for Rhythm Radio, the new global music network for radio, television and the internet.

She is best known as the vocal coach of all five seasons of American Idol, the short-lived American Juniors, and seasons two, three, and four of Canadian Idol. In season three of Canadian Idol, she won praise over the hearts of the judges and finalists when she got up on stage and sang. In late 2006 she was also a judge for Military Idol, a singing competition based on the premises of American Idol except all contestants are members of the United States Army with the performers' goal to become a singing ambassador for Army Entertainment, a division of the U.S. Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command in Alexandria, Va.