Good morning friends.
Sammy & Family is thrilled to have the one and only Debbie Gibson featured on “The Good News Channel” — We have been major fans of Debbie since the beginning of her career in the mid 1980’s all the way through her professional life now in 2015. We are “DebHeads” and nothing is going to change that. The world is a better place with Debbie Gibson in it. She been making people happy from continent to continent for 30 years now. Wow.
Two sensations from the 80’s, Debbie Gibson and the Rubix Cube. The only difference is Debbie Gibson is also a sensation in the new millennium. The Rubix cube is still dated back in the 1980’s. And full disclosure, still impossible for many to solve. Photo Credit: Troy Smith Photography
As I’ve told many of our friends from around the world, I originally grew up in Long Island, New York. To me, Long Island only had 4 things going on. We had Billy Joel, the Piano man, Debbie Gibson, The Piano girl, the Miracle Mile for shopping and The Roosevelt Mall for more shopping. That is how I saw Long Island. And as we all remember Debbie was a major fan of Billy Joel, and he was a big part of what inspired her career from the very beginning. As a matter of fact, she was even brought on stage once by the Piano Man himself to duet and play keys on “Keeping The Faith” at the Nassau Coliseum.
Debbie Gibson from her appearance on the Celebrity Apprentice. This Celebrity Apprentice pic is copyright to NBC Universal
Let me take it a step further. Every guy on Long Island, whether you knew Debbie or not, had a crush on her. You see with me, my crush never left. I still have it even as a married man. A quick funny story, right before my wife and I got married on June 15th, 2013, I told my wife to be at that time, there is one stipulation to this marriage. I told her about my crush on Debbie and its non negotiable. The crush goes to the grave with me. My wife to be said to me, “that is a very strange thing to say to someone right before you’re going to marry them” — And I knew it was, but I’m a DebHead, and DebHeads hold their ground. So Vanessa, my wife to be said, “Scott it’s kind of funny you mentioned that because I too have a stipulation to this marriage. She said “I have a non negotiable crush on Leonardo Dicaprio and I insist we see every movie that he comes out with, as well as watch him on any movie playing on cable, on any given night.“
photo credit is RayGarciaPhotography.com
My first reaction was to play the tough guy, so I said “I’ve never heard of him” — That did Not seem to work because everyone on planet Earth knows who Leonardo Dicaprio is. So in the end, and in name of my DebHeadness, we shook on it and got married. Full disclosure I’ve seen the movie “Inception” and “Catch Me If you can” 50 times each by now.
Debbie Loved meeting Ralph Macchio, her neighbor at Steel City Con and fellow Long Islander! Keepin it electric!
When we think of Debbie, we can’t help to think of the 80’s Icon that she was. So let’s just hit a few notes on that and then talk about Debbie Gibson in today’s times. She was no ordinary 16 year old. We have to remember MTV (Music Television) started in 1981, and by the time Debbie was on the rise in 1986 and 1987 with her debut album, “Out of the Blue,” MTV was the main platform for artists launched from. MTV literally spring-boarded hundreds of artists careers at that time.
Debbie and her dog Daisy who passed away in 2009. Photo was taken by Barry King/WireImage
What was so amazing about Debbie at 16 years old and the explosion of MTV, she was riding the same waves as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Def Leppard and Van Halen. I mean think of that, those are some of the biggest names in the history of music and some of them still are. Those are some very big shoes to fill as a teenager. But she filled them and filled them well. Debbie’s debut album “Out of the Blue” had 4 songs in the top 5 Billboard Hot 100 List and one of those songs “Foolish Beat,” went to number one. She was the youngest female in history to have a number 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 List.
Debbie Gibson’s debut album, “Out of the Blue” had its 28th year anniversary on August 18th, 2015. Everyone in the world should own this album. This album gave rise to the legend we all know all know almost 3 decades later. Here’s link to buy “Out of Blue” right now; https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/out-of-the-blue/id321974111
Photo was taken by Barry King/WireImage
That landed her a spot in The Guinness Book of World Records in 1988. And guess what? In 2015, Debbie still holds that record. Just last year in 2014, Debbie Gibson was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. I guess the question isn’t what does Debbie Gibson do, the question is, what can’t Debbie Gibson do?
Debbie’s mother had been her manager through most of her career, and also worked with one of her sisters too. I bring that up as to why a teenager was able to keep their head on straight through all this media madness and popularity. Let’s face it, when you think of Debbie over the last 30 years to now, she has kept her head on straight and remained very grounded. We have to give her mother a lot of credit for that. Debbie and her mother broke into the music business old school style. Just walking into record label offices and asking to speak to someone, or sending cassette tapes all over the place. Playing at night clubs, straight clubs, gay clubs, piano bars and etc. There was no internet, no social media and the digital world did Not exist. They did it through sheer determination and tenacity. So let’s tip our hats to Debbie’s mom, Diane Gibson, an amazing mother and woman.
In the picture above is Jenny Hutt and Debbie Gibson. Jenny is a mom, wife, lawyer, radio host, internet, TV personality & host, author, and treadmill user where i believe she even takes calls while on the treadmill. Talk about multitasking. Sammy & Family would like to thank Jenny for assisting us in getting a featured story on Debbie Gibson. If you anyone wants to know more about Jenny Hutt, here’s her website is; www.JustJenny.com
Sammy & Family would also like to thank Debbie’s publicist, Elizabeth Neff. She was a pleasure to work with. She gave us a lot of flexibility with this feature and made sure we did our fact checking thoroughly. We were very impressed with Elizabeth’s Professionalism and can confidently recommend her should someone need representation and the like. You can Reach Elizabeth here; www.buzzentpr.com.
Debbie is notorious for her sweet Mistletoe Gram Kisses. she sings birthday songs for people, Valentines Day Kiss Cards, Happy 4th of July cards from Debbie Gibson and many other occasions. People just eat up all the messages… Its no wonder why, plain and simple, for 30 years Debbie Gibson makes people happy and smile. And that has nothing to do with her artistic talent. Debbie’s soul shines light and bright for all to enjoy. If you would like to hear from Debbie personally for special occasions, here’s the link to do so; http://debbiegibsonofficial.com/shop/personalized-video-greetings-2/
Here is Debbie with Mom Diane in the middle and her 3 sisters.This is picture is from Getty Images.
Her father also had a tremendous influence on her life and career as well. Debbie describes him as a happy go lucky man and was her partner in Crime. Here is a sweet video of them singing together;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk4f_yk9j-U
Debbie came out with many records and songs through the 90’s and in the new Millennium and has sold over 16 Million records in her career. That is astonishing considering she managed to be in the Broadway and theater world for next 15 years, playing starring roles in many of the headlining shows from one country and city to the next. She has been in over a dozen shows playing the lead roles.
Gibson made her debut in the world of orchestration for Dr. Rutledge’s documentary, now available on demand, “3 Billion and Counting,” about Malaria prevention in third world countries. She collaborated on the score and the powerful closing credits song, “Rise,” which was shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination. Gibson then released a new album, “Ms. Vocalist,” from Sony Japan that was top 10 on the Billboard charts. The first single, “I Love You,” hit No. 1 and she headlined a sold out tour.
Gibson made her mark in the Broadway production of “Les Miserables” as Eponine. She broke box office records in the London West End production of “Grease” as Sandy. She then took the stage in the U.S. Broadway tours of “Grease” as Rizzo and “Funny Girl” as Fanny Brice. Gibson also wowed critics as Belle in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” Gypsy Rose Lee in “Gypsy,” The Narrator in the national tour of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Cinderella in the national production of “Cinderella” with Eartha Kitt, Velma Kelly in “Chicago,” and, Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of “Cabaret” with Neil Patrick Harris.
Photo by Troy Smith Photography
She has starred in over a dozen Broadway and Theater shows around the world. Debbie mentions two of her favorite roles that she has played were Eponine from “Les Miserables,” and Sandy in show “Grease.“ Debbie Gibson’s talent is ageless and timeless. She was talented as a kid, a teenager and is still rocking in 2015.
So Sammy & Family wants to put this on the record for the record, Debbie Gibson was an 80’s Icon and she is also an Icon in the new millennium. Now that is impressive. The odds of breaking into the entertainment business back then were slim and none. Even more impressive, if you did break into the business which Debbie did, the odds of lasting 30 years in the business and still being at the top of your game is slim and none, and slim left the building. But against all odds, this legend is still entertaining people all over the world with concerts in Chile in 2014, or playing lead roles on Broadway, and making guest appearances in movies like “Rock Of Ages. Just last year she performed “Lost in your eyes in Santiago, Chile. Debbie has not lost a beat, here’s link to that video; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-DTfZ5hRAc
Debbie made a cameo experience in the movie “Rock of Ages” — Here s he is with cast from the musical show in Vegas
I’ve never met Debbie, but coming from Long Island as she did and being around the same age, I have always kept abreast of her career from singing, producing, directing and performing in over a dozen theater shows from Broadway to London and so on and so on. So I can tell you folks, this 80’s icon we all remember, is just as iconic in 2015.
As a spokesperson for Children International, she spent time in impoverished villages in Manila. For more than 20 years, she has been a child sponsor and advocate.
The thing Sammy & Family loves most about Debbie Gibson is that she chooses her life over her career. Her career has to fit into her life; her life does Not have to fit into her career. And that my friends is where that glow in her smile comes from. It comes from true happiness. Fame and money are nice, but not when you let them take away the quality of your life and your happiness.
This was during Steel City Con on August 7th, 2015 in Pennsylvania. Its a Comic Con for fans of all things comics, toys, TV and Film Celebrities. Over 750 vendor tables, celebrity Q & A’s, celebrity photo ops.
As I Said Sammy & Family has never met Debbie, but following her career closely for all these years its easy to see that she lights people up soulfully all over the world. I’m not just talking music either, I am talking about a sweet spirit that makes people feel better just being around her and her positive energy. To me she has always been like a bottle of Vitamin-C. Anytime I see her in interviews, or hear her music or the humanitarian efforts she makes, I instantaneously feel better. Like I said, Debbie Gibson is very similar to Vitamin -C, you’re just going to feel better around her.
Debbie performs at Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks versus the Houston Rockets. Picture from the Daily News.
I will end with this, just like Frank Sinatra Sang in 1969, ♫♫♫ I did it My way ♫♫♫ — Debbie Gibson lives and does it her way. Rock on Ms. Gibson, we are with you all the way, no matter where you are, or what you’re doing
Scott Smith for Sammy & Family
