Philly's own blues and soul drenched singer and songwriter Deb Callahan has been performing, touring, recording and entertaining music fans both regionally and around the United States since the late 1990s. She has graced the stages of many festivals nationwide from The Monterey Bay Blues Festival in Monterey, CA, The Springing the Blues Fest in Jacksonville, FL, The Bayfront Blues Fest in Duluth, MN to WXPN’s XPonential Music Festival right here in Philly. She celebrated the release of her 6th studio album "Backbone" in March 2023! The album consists of 12 songs including 10 original new tunes and has been charting for the past 6 months on The Roots Music Report Top 50 Blues albums peaking at #2 in the blues category for April 2023. Her music has received some great national and international airplay on blues and triple A radio stations and garnering wonderful press and reviews. " The new album was produced by Philadelphia producer, songwriter, and guitarist Chris Arms and recorded live at Morningstar Studios in Glenside, PA. Deb recorded this album with her road tested, all-star band of Allen James on guitar, Garry Lee on bass and Tom Walling on drums. The CD features London producer and songwriter Danny Schogger on keyboards and Arms on slide guitar. There are guest appearances by Great Britain’s Alan Glass on acoustic guitar, and Philly musicians; Jay Davidson on sax, Steve Jankowski on horn/trombone, John Colgan Davis on harmonica and Charlene Holloway on backing vocals.
“Backbone” has a blues and funk base and embraces a range of rock, soul, roots and swing styles. The songwriting reflects the intense impact of world events over the past few years exploring themes of uncertainty, vulnerability, being comfortable with and showing up for oneself, taking a stand, polarization in beliefs, freedom and letting go. Deb worked with Arms, Schogger and James to write much of the original material and chose two covers that fit in well with the material including Percy Mayfield’s “Danger Zone” and Sean Costello’s “Anytime You Want”. Deb and her core band’s sixteen years plus of performing and touring together shines through on this CD, creating a unique chemistry and an ability to play with natural, nuanced improvisation.
Deb's previous CD "Sweet Soul" was produced by Tony Braunagel (Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray) and recorded in Los Angeles with some incredible studio musicians in addition to her longtime guitarist Allen James. Sweet Soul was also charted high for the Blues-Music roots report and Living Blues radio report and received outstanding reviews. Deb has released 5 prior CDs since 2002 and a limited edition World Café Live DVD.
Review Quotes for Backbone
"Callahan blends timely probing lyrical content with classic blues all served up with her fiery take no prisoners power. Callahan’s voice packs a hefty punch with just a hint of urbane gravel while her smooth vibrato smooths those edges into an endlessly inviting package.”
Matt R. Lohr – Living Blues Magazine
Backbone, Deb Callahan’s first studio album in eight years, provides plenty of ‘S’ appeal: soulful, sultry, sassy, and socially conscious. Deb Callahan wanted to make a statement and successfully does so with an album as diverse and soulful as her tremendous singing voice. Emotionally compelling, Backbone has just enough sass, sultriness, and social awareness to keep listeners engaged throughout Callahan’s personal and musical journey
Ken Billet - Blues Blast magazine
“Backbone is another winner from Deb Callahan, who remains one of the most compelling vocalists in the blues and soul genres, a voice to be reckoned with in the coming years.
Graham Clarke – Blues Bytes
The variety of musical material on Backbone snakes stealthily from soul to funk to blues rock with one constant: the exceptional vocals of Deb Callahan“. “The lady combines the attributes of skilled songwriting, a deep appreciation of American roots music, along with her powerfully affecting vocals”
Randall Parrish, Vivascene