Deborah Holland

This article is about the American musician. For the Australian Paralympic swimmer, see Deborah Holland (swimmer).

Deborah Holland
Born	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Genres	Roots, folk, Americana
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, guitarist, teacher
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, bass guitar, accordion
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Virgin, I.R.S, RageOn, Bulge, Gadly, Wabuho, Bulge
Associated acts	Animal Logic, The Refugees
Website	www.deborahholland.net
Notable instruments
Taylor 914-CE

Deborah Holland is an American singer-songwriter. She rose to national prominence in 1987 as the lead singer and songwriter of Animal Logic featuring Stanley Clarke and Stewart Copeland.

To date, Deborah Holland has released five solo albums: Freudian Slip (1994), The Panic Is On (1994), The Book of Survival (1999), Bad Girl Once… (2006), and Vancouver (2013).

In 2007, Holland formed The Refugees with Cindy Bullens and Wendy Waldman. To date, The Refugees have released two albums: Unbound in 2009, and Three in 2012.

Early life and education

Holland grew up in Passaic and Clifton, New Jersey. She began learning piano at age 5 from her father, Irwin Heilner, who was a composer and songwriter.

At age 14 she began playing the guitar, writing songs, and performing in New Jersey and New York City. She appeared twice on Izzy Young’s Folk Show on WBAI FM and in 1969 her song, “When I Hear About War” was published in Broadside Magazine. She attended the New Lincoln School in New York City (Grades 11-12) where she studied music with Philip Corner and Cathy MacDonald, and also took classes at the Mannes School of Music.

She briefly attended the Berklee College of Music and later received her B.A. in Jazz Studies at Livingston College (Rutgers University) where she studied with, and was mentored by, jazz pianist Kenny Barron.

In 1977 Holland moved to Los Angeles CA to pursue her career. In 1996 she became the first student to earn a Master’s degree in Commercial Music from California State University, Los Angeles and in 1997 joined the faculty; running the Master's in Commercial Music from 1998-2010.

Music career

Animal Logic (1987–1991)

In 1987, Holland auditioned for, and was hired to be the lead singer and songwriter of Animal Logic, after a two-song demo tape was forwarded to Police drummer Stewart Copeland by publisher Dan Howell. She was selected over hundreds of other singers who auditioned for the band. Holland is credited with writing nearly all the songs recorded by the group.

Animal Logic released their debut album Animal Logic' in 1989, peaking at No. 106 on the Billboard 200.

A second album, Animal Logic II was released in 1991.

Both Animal Logic albums feature guest appearances from well-known musicians, including: Jackson Browne, David Lindley, George Duke, Steve Howe and Freddie Hubbard.

The band did not tour extensively but did appear on The David Letterman Show, The Tonight Show, and had videos appear on MTV and VH-1. Although the band did not achieve the commercial success that was hoped for, both albums are highly regarded among the people who discovered them.

Solo recordings (1988–2007)

In the years following the demise of Animal Logic, Holland released five solo albums, and has recorded and performed music for movies, television and commercials.

In 1988 Deborah recorded "Come To Me", the main song of the movie Fright Night II. She also contributed to the I.R.S. Records compilation Just In Time For Christmas in 1990, providing the song “It Only Comes Once a Year”.

She has scored 5 films including the cult classic Circuitry Man, and has had 2 collaborations with Stewart Copeland used in films; “Heaven is a Place” in the 1991 movie Highlander II: The Quickening, and “For One Moment” in the 1992 television movie Afterburn.

More recently, Holland’s songs have appeared in the television shows Keeping Up with the Kardashians, My Name Is Earl, and Longmire.

The Refugees (2007–2012)

In 2007 Holland formed a folk “Supergroup” group called The Refugees, with Wendy Waldman and Cindy Bullens. The group released their first album Unbound in 2009, which won the International Acoustic Music Award for Best Album. The Refugees' second album, Three, was released in 2012 and made the Folk DJs' Top 20 charts as well as charting on Roots Music Report’s TOP 50 Folk charts. The trio toured extensively throughout the U.S. and in Canada appearing at venues, arts centers, folk clubs, and festivals, including the Philadelphia Folk Festival, Wheatland Music Festival, Canmore Folk Festival, the Iowa Women’s Music Festival and more.

Vancouver (2013)

Deborah’s most recent album, Vancouver was released June 2013. The album is her first CanCon recording, and received International radio play. The record charted for over 9 months on Roots Music Report’s TOP 50 Americana/Roots chart and Galaxie Music’s Canadian Folk charts. The song “Home” from the record made the finals of the International Acoustic Music Awards.

Personal life

Deborah is married to Entertainment attorney Ken Meyer. They have two children, Ethan and Simon Meyer.

After receiving a master's degree from California State University, Los Angeles, Holland subsequently joined the faculty; running the Master's in Commercial Music from 1998-2010.

In 2010, Deborah relocated from Los Angeles to Vancouver, BC. In 2011, Holland began teaching songwriting at Langara College in Vancouver.

Discography

Solo albums

• 1994 – Freudian Slip
• 1997 – The Panic is On
• 1999 – The Book of Survival
• 2006 – Bad Girl Once
• 2013 – Vancouver

With Animal Logic

• 1989 – Animal Logic
• 1991 – Animal Logic II

With The Refugees

• 2009 – Unbound
• 2012 – Three

Compilation albums

• 1990 - “Just In Time For Christmas” – IRS Records Compilation

External links

• Official website
• Official site for The Refugees
• 2006 Story and Interview
• 1999 Story and Interview
• 1989 Story and Interview
• Review of "The Book Of Survival"