In Memory of Debra Byrd (1951-2024)

Honoring the life of this church-grown talent whose national career began with Barry Manilow, which grew her into a session singer & vocal coach to the stars.

The last week has been non-stop—and I wasn’t able to get a newsletter or a podcast episode together. And then on Tuesday, I learned, along with the rest of the world, that Debra Byrd had died.

When I was a child, my first lessons in harmony came from the southern gospel trio The Rambos and Barry Manilow’s backing group, Lady Flash, a trio comprised of Reparata Mazzola, Monica Burrus (now Pegé) and Debra Byrd.

I remember really taking in their massive sound when I was five years old on a road trip to North Carolina with my mother. She played Barry Manilow’s Live album (via 8-track) on the entire drive and I was captivated by just how close and in sync their harmonies were. Whether it was the gospel-ish “Why Don’t We Live Together” and “Riders to the Stars, the jazz-centric “Jump Shout Boogie” medley or the majestic “Could It Be Magic,” their ability to color in and outside of the lines, improvise and fall right back in sync with each other with that buttery blend served as a masterclass for me.

I didn’t find the group’s singular album together, 1975’s Beauties in the Night, until I was in high school, but I have never stopped playing it. These ladies sang it all—pop, soul, jazz, gospel, Broadway and folk—in such an incredible way and I’ve never understood how the album didn’t reach more ears or establish the group as stars in their own right. (The evidence is below: their interpolation of The Tokens’ “Green Plant” and the Institutional Radio Choir’s “Right Now If You Believe”)

When Lady Flash dissolved, Debra Byrd remained a part of Manilow’s musical family, but also became an in-demand session singer (working with everyone from Bob Dylan to UB40) and actress, starring in five Broadway productions. She gained international attention when she became the vocal coach for American Idol (and Canadian Idol) and nurtured the talents of Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Fantasia Barrino, Ruben Studdard, Jennifer Hudson, Carrie Underwood among others.

Her death this past week brought testimonials from the many artists whose lives she touched. I’m sharing here this statement (posted on Facebook) from Monica Pegé of Lady Flash:

A magical ability Debra had....she could pull music out of you that you didn't even know you had....our social life was our work life blended...we used to sit and listen to people together, everybody, from Minnie Riperton to Natalie Cole, and of course, Barry...she was always able to convey where a singer's "musical/vocal guts" were, as she put it. We cried together, laughed together, she got me out of more scrapes than I'd like to have acknowledged...she'd say, "Gurl, you better go 'head!" and somehow get me out of trouble. She [had a] unique kind of musicianship inside that made her a natural voice teacher, but even though she had technical skill, a tremendous amount of what she did for others was intuitive. I'll always believe it was God's given mission to her. She had that.

No forgetting Debra...me, Debra, Reparata, bonded like true Sisters...so, working for Barry, it was not just work because before, during and after work, we'd be together, laughing, playing, eating, throwing back some drinks...you'd think we'd get sick of each other and want to have a break from one another...but here's a remarkable thing....remember, we came together around 1973...in all the years we were together, we NEVER once got into an argument or a fight, we were too busy protecting one another...and we had spiritual awakenings around the same time, something that created an even higher, stronger bond...and, we shared Moms! Debra's Mom, Rep's Mom, my Mom...they all knew we were safe with one another...sometimes we'd come to rehearsal with Barry and he'd look at us like, "ok, what've you 3 been up to NOW?!😍😆...so much fun, so much love...Rest In Peace Debra, all of us LOVE YOU so very much. Another Angel has entered the Heavenly Choir 💔💝🙏🏾

In 2007, I had the distinct privilege of interviewing Debra for my radio show Out the Box with Tim Dillinger. We discussed her beginnings in Cleveland, Ohio, her work with Barry Manilow and life in Lady Flash, and her evolution into vocal coaching. I’ve re-edited the interview as this week’s podcast episode. You can listen on Spotify in the embedded link below. You can listen via other outlets here.

Below, you’ll find some wonderful interview with Debra from the various eras of her career that give a great insight into the breadth of talent that she possessed. Rest in peace, Ms. Byrd.

Cleveland’s Call & Post, 1967

Tampa Tribune, 1975

Cleveland’s Call & Post, 1999

Philadelphia Tribune, 2004