San Diego Reader

Debora Galan: Percussion, Vocals | Nathan Brown: Bass guitar | Enrique Platas: Drums | Jimmy Patton: Guitar (acoustic), Guitar (electric) | Gerardo Nuno: Keyboards, Piano | Richard Sellers: Drums | Anthony Smith: Keyboards

Genre: Blues & Soul, Jazz, Latin | Tejano

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Related Links

• Debora Galan and Silk website

• Musician Interview: "Deborah Galen Mixes Jazz and Lounge" · Sept. 8, 2010

• MySpace page

Synoposis

Inception: Vista, 2009

Influences: Etta James, Billie Holiday, Renee Olstead, Chaka Khan, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Sade, Oletta Adams

Background:

“I go for a groovy vibe,” says singer-percussionist Debora Galan, “mixing old jazz and Latin jazz standards with lounge music, along with whatever surprises I decide to add in.”

Born in Madrid, Spain, Galan says she was singing at family gatherings before they moved to the U.S. when she was eight. “Both my mother and grandfather sang flamenco and salsa, and that was a big influence on what I listened to and, later, my own music.”

After her family moved to Washington DC, “I learned my first Mexican rancheras and was performing them at school functions. By the time I graduated high school I had already had my first paid professional gig. I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life, and that was my dream from that point on.”

In 1987 Galan settled in San Diego, where she joined the Carlsbad-based variety band OSM and expanded her repertoire to include gospel and contemporary Christian music. From there, Galan went on to perform with Burt Brion, Steven Ybarra, Deborah Flores, and the Fabulous Pelicans. In 2008 she struck out on her own, performing as a soloist with her band Silk.