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Deborah Flores is originally from San Francisco, California.
She says she grew up surrounded by music - the sounds of
Jazz, Soul, R&B, Gospel and Pop music. Her "father
sang and her mother was possessed of natural rhythm". “We listened to fabulous
albums at home; the music of Ella Fitzgerald, B.B King and other great
artists always filled the air.” Her parents musical
talents were also passed on to her brothers who were
seasoned performers with the Mason and Kahn Studios in San
Francisco when she was growing up. She was told that Mr. Kahn, director of the Ice Follies at that time, loved
the natural born talent her brothers brought to the stage.
At a young age Deborah was groomed to be a performer. Looking back, she says "I had a wonderful music teacher
in high school who gave me the freedom to explore my musical
interests. Our high school vocal group played many events
around the San Francisco Bay Area.” She won a music contest
sponsored by the Talented Teen Foundation and sang her way
through six European countries, she was also invited and
accepted an opportunity to be a solo vocalist in Acapulco,
Mexico.
She began taking dance and vocal lessons and modeling. As a young teen, she toured with the "Duane Dancers". She
both sang and danced in various stage shows for our military
troops and several variety shows. During this time, she
became "very popular", performing pop, R&B and show tunes
all over Northern California. This experience propelled her
into singing with country music greats Red Merrill, Buck
Owens and many more.
Deborah’s electrifying energy on stage
brought her many appearances all over the San Francisco Bay Area. She was
the featured vocalist in the Miss California Twin Pageant, and at several
San Francisco hotels. Her vocal popularity landed her a contract with the
Hilton Corporation. At age 17, she traveled to New York to audition
with Warner Brothers. The audition was a hit and she was offered a vocal
recording contract with Warner Brothers but chose not to accept it.
When she returned to California, the Hilton Corporation in San Francisco
sent her to Las Vegas to work with the “Fiascos”. From there she was hired
by Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers as a background singer. She said
that being
around high-profile performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Glen Campbell,
and the king himself, Elvis, to name a few; further developed her vocal and
dance finesse.
She lived in Las Vegas for 10 years. She said her
gigs took her to Lake Tahoe and Reno where she performed in many Casinos. As a
solo vocalist, She traveled to New York, Atlanta, and Alabama.
When she returned to Northern California she fronted her own bands “Sweetwater” and
“Fahrenheit.”
Deborah says that "spiritually", Gospel is the root of her music.
She has been in the contemporary music group for The Rock Church and Horizon
Christian Fellowship church in San Diego and has also been a soloist in
their gospel choir. She currently sings in a contemporary Christian group
at a local church in San Diego. “Everything I do in life leads me back to my music. God
put it into my soul. If we all spent time doing what we love we would
all be happier people, with the ability to give that love out to others.
Good music has nothing to do with the style; good music is the kind of music
that hits you in the heart, mind and soul!”
“Singing is more than a talent, it’s more like a reason for being, a
spiritual force and guiding passion of your life”, this demonstrates the
way Deborah Flores delivers a song. From a beautiful emotional ballad
to a passionate high energy R&B Funk melody she gives her all to the
audience.
She says that all of her musical experiences
influence "every note" from Gospel to R&B to Jazz to Pop and the
genres have attributed to the musical success she enjoys.
Deborah has been on various musical recording projects through out the
years, including a Jazz album Bill Cosby produced in the 80’s with
performers such as Ray Parker Jr. Most recently Deborah is a background and
guest vocalist on jazz artist, Burt Brion’s CD, “Say the Word”.
A person whole heartedly committed to her music,
Deborah looks
forward to growing in her craft and sharing her talents with
the world. |
