Deb Callahan- Rockin' Blues Belter from Philly!!

www.debcallhanband.com


“Deb Callahan is a great writer and an even better new voice for the blues. It’s as if she’s an old soul, but with a sense of what’s new. She’s a must hear.”
Blues Source

“This nearly flawless debut signals to the rest of the world what those in her home area know well: Deb Callahan is a major talent“ "Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, and Aretha Franklin...Callahan is very nearly in their league.”
Blues Revue Magazine

“She sings with all the authority of Ma Rainey or Janis Joplin, but it’s her song-writing that sets her apart”
Sing Out! Magazine

“Very impressive debut CD - She’s fiery and bodacious.”
Baltimore Blues Rag

“A singer with sandpaper-laced, soulful pipes, displaying huge promise. Her 2002 debut, If the Blues had Wings, is a striking endeavor. An excerpt from Memphis Minnie’s “Moanin’ the Blues”—one of a few well-placed, ancient blues snippets—gives the album its title and opens it up, leading into “Mama’s Curse, Mama’s Blessing,” an eerie blues that lets loose spirits directly from the mud of the delta. “More Love” is dramatic, the piano and washes of organ giving it a churchy feel. “Burning Bridges,” meanwhile, is a catchy roots-rocking tune.”
Hittin The Note Magazine, Rensselaer, NY.

“Deb Callahan sings with passion and verve...if this impressive debut is any indication, The Deb Callahan Band may rise from regional to national blues scene success in the very near future.”
Illinois Entertainer

Philadelphia's blues and soul drenched vocalist and songwriter Deb Callahan celebrates the release of her newest CD “The Blue Pearl”, November of 2005. She's teamed up with producer, musician and song-writer Chris Arms, to craft a contemporary sounding CD with all the elements of timeless blues, soul and rock music. From the New Orleans blues/funk of the title track "Blue Pearl Moon" to the marriage of traditional and modern in the "Credit Card Blues", she encorporates thoughtful and often funny lyrics to tell a modern day blues tale. Doing social work in the heart of Philadelphia would be a good place to learn about life's challenges and this urban school ground taught singer/songwriter Deb Callahan well. Her rich, honest and soulful tunes resonate with listeners and run the gamut from soulful ballads to upbeat, dance oriented romps. “The Blue Pearl” features 12 new original songs and a cover of a classic Paul Butterfield tune “Lovin Cup". Callahan's top-notch band consists of Philly greats Allen James on the guitar, Garry Lee on bass and Doug Master on drums. “The Blue Pearl” also features Chris Arms on slide guitar and acoustic instruments, Steve Achenbach and Reggie Johnson handling keyboard duties and Mikey Jr. on the harmonica.

Deb hails from the Boston area originally, but has been a fixture on the mid-Atlantic music scene for the past several years. During that time she and her band have gained a reputation for an exciting live show featuring a mixture of blues, soul, rock and folk originals and classics. Her debut CD "If the Blues Had Wings" was released in 2002 and garnered her positive acclaim from the blues and roots music community. “If the Blues Had Wings” is a collection of primarily original material that combines funky New Orleans rhythms, exotic delta blues, gospel influenced blues and rock to create sultry, soulful blues music. This CD features 11 original songs, a Bob Dylan cover and a few short outakes of songs written by female blues legends Memphis Minnie, Victoria Spivey and Edith Johnson. The CD was produced by guitar player Jon Dichter (Jive Five minus Two) and Callahan and recorded by Mike Comstock at Indre Studios in South Philadelphia. There was also some additional production/recording by Andy Kravitz of Brickhouse Productions and keyboard player Walter Runge. The songs were written by Callahan, Runge, and Dichter with a contribution from local bluesman Randy Lippincott. Musicians include band members Runge, piano, Robbertto Rickards, bass, Doug Masters, drums plus the talents of Billy Baltera and Allen James on guitars. Special guests include George Bonds (doing a duet with Callahan), Mike Brenner"Slo-Mo" on the dobro and Seth Holzman on harmonica.

The Deb Callahan Band has been touring quite a bit during 2005, playing as far away as The Monterey Bay Blues Festival, in Monterey Bay, CA and The Springing the Blues Fest in Jacksonville Beach, Florida as well playing festivals and clubs in the East Coast Circuit such as The Western Maryland Blues Fest in Hagerstown, MD, The Heritage Blues Fest in Wheeling, W. VA, Red Bank Blues Fest in Red Bank, NJ, Lehigh Valley Blues Fest in Whitehall, PA and a number of others

Deb’s music has been played at radio stations around the country and she has been selected as WXPN Philly Local Pick a number of times over the past few years, received regular airplay on WXPN (Phillie) Blues, Folk Shows and the Women’s Music Hour She’s also received airplay from WRDU in Newark, DE, WRSU in New Brunswick, NJ, WDIY and WMUH in the Lehigh Valley, PA area, WTMD in Baltimore, MD, WPFW in Washington DC, WMPG in Portland, ME, other parts of the US and stations around the world including Italy, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany and France.

Deb has shared the stage with Buddy Guy, Billy Preston, James Cotton, Shemekia Copeland, Hubert Sumlin, Debbie Davies, Savoy Brown, Big Jack Johnson, Sean Costello, The Holmes Brothers, Phil Guy, Deanna Bogart, Ann Rabson, Nick Curran, Southside Johnny, Floyd Lee, NRBQ, Joe Bonamassa, Guitar Shorty, Little Ed and The Imperials, Bob Margolin, Paul Cebar, Tommy Castro, Anthony Gomes and more.

Deb is most often compared to singers such as Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Susan Tedeschi and Lydia Pense from the late 60’s San Francisco group Cold Blood. She cites her biggest vocal influences as Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Rickie Lee Jones, Bessie Smith, Joan Osborne, Ray Charles, Al Green and Mavis Staples.