Debra Killings (born July 7, 1964) is an American singer and

bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

ist, notable for extensive session and background vocal work for

LaFace Records LaFace Records was an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia, that operated as a unit of Sony Music Entertainment from 2008 to 2011 and was historically a part of Bertelsmann Music Group from 1989 to 2004. It was most active and achiev ...

and

Rowdy Records Rowdy Records is a record label distributed through Motown Records and Republic Records. It was founded by record producer Dallas Austin in 1992, and the precursor to his entertainment company, Freeworld Entertainment. History Formed in 1992 by ...

-based artists such as

TLC TLC may refer to: Arts and entertainment Television * ''TLC'' (TV series), a 2002 British situational comedy television series that aired on BBC2 * TLC (TV network), formerly the Learning Channel, an American cable TV network ** TLC (Asia), an A ...

, Monica, and

Outkast Outkast (sometimes written as OutKast) was an American hip-hop duo formed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1992, consisting of Big Boi (Antwan Patton) and André 3000 (André Benjamin, formerly known as Dré). Widely regarded as one of the greatest an ...

. Killings appears on the majority of the recordings in TLC's catalogue, singing background vocals. She also appears on Monica's first two albums ('' Miss Thang'' and '' The Boy is Mine''), and has performed both background vocals and

on several OutKast albums, including ''

ATLiens ''ATLiens'' is the second studio album by the American hip hop duo Outkast. It was released on August 27, 1996, by Arista Records and LaFace Records. From 1995 to 1996, Outkast recorded ''ATLiens'' in sessions at several Atlanta studios—Bosstow ...

'' and ''

Aquemini ''Aquemini'' () is the third studio album by the American hip hop duo Outkast, released on September 29, 1998, by LaFace Records and Arista Records. The title is a portmanteau of the two performers' Zodiac signs: Aquarius (Big Boi) and Gemini ...

''. In 2002, Killings signed to

Verity Records Verity Records is an American gospel music-focused record label, founded in 1994. The Gospel group operated by Provident Label Group, which in turn is owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Artists * 21:03 * Crystal Aikin * Deitrick Haddon * D ...

, and she released her debut solo album, a gospel LP entitled ''Surrender'', in 2003. Killings was the singing voice of Paula Patton's character, Angel Davenport, in the film '' Idlewild''. Killings' recognizable voice is spotlighted in "Moving Cool", the song that the character of Angel first performs in the movie.

Television

Killings was a member of Big Jim's Penthouse Playas, the house band on ''

The Mo'Nique Show ''The Mo'Nique Show'' is an American talk show hosted by comedian and actress Mo'Nique. Airing on BET, the series began October 5, 2009. The show's second and final season premiered on Monday, October 4, 2010. Overview The show ran all-new episo ...

''. Killings also occasionally played bass in the house band for

Showtime at the Apollo ''Showtime at the Apollo'' (formerly ''It's Showtime at the Apollo'' and ''Apollo Live'') is an American variety show that first aired in syndication from September 12, 1987, to May 24, 2008. In 2018, the series returned on Fox with Steve Harve ...

. Killings also played bass for BET's " Black Girls Rock" all-star band.

Personal life

Killings was born on July 7, 1964, and grew up in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

. She is married and has two sons.

Discography

;Album With Princess & Starbreeze: * ''Princess & Starbreeze'' ( MCA, 1987) With Modest Fok: * ''Love or the Single Life'' (

EastWest East West Records (stylized as east''west'') is a record label formed in 1955, distributed and owned by Warner Music Group, headquartered in New York City. History After its creation in 1955 by Atlantic Records, the label had its first hit wit ...

, 1992) Solo albums * ''Surrender'' ( Verity, 2003) * ''Open Heaven'' (Hands Up, 2008) ;Singles * "Message in the Music" * "It's Gonna Be Lonely" * "Love or the Single Life" ;Other Appearances * "Fled" Motion Picture Soundtrack (Rowdy, 1996) * "13th Floor / Growing Old",

on ''

'' (LaFace/Arista/BMG, 1996) * Various songs,

on ''

Speakerboxxx/The Love Below ''Speakerboxxx/The Love Below'' is the fifth studio album by the American hip-hop duo Outkast. It was released on September 23, 2003, by Arista Records. Issued as a double album, its length of over two hours is spread across solo records by Big ...

'' (Arista/BMG, 2003) * "Moving Cool",

on '' Idlewild'' (LaFace/Jive, 2006)

Awards and nominations

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1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

, '' FanMail'' ,

Grammy Award for Album of the Year The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is an award presented by the The Recording Academy, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the r ...

, , , -

References

External links

Debra Killings
Official website * * Princess & Starbreeze All Music. com [] * Modest Fok All Music.com [, FOK~C] Living people African-American guitarists American contemporary R&B singers American gospel singers American women bass guitarists Performers of Christian contemporary R&B music 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century American women guitarists 20th-century American women musicians Dungeon Family members 1964 births {{US-bass-guitarist-stub