Popular Christian music singer Debby Boone is known for her '70s hit "You Light Up My Life," which stayed at number one for ten weeks in 1977 and won her a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Born in New Jersey, Boone's life was full of music growing up. Her father was Pat Boone, popular singer of the '50s. At the age of 14, Boone began touring with her three sisters and her father. Her first solo effort was "You Light Up My Life" and it gained her immediate fame and fortune. As pop music changed in the '80s to include not only music but videos, Boone found it hard to keep up the pace. '80s pop music seemed more about the image than the message behind the music. She turned her interests to Christian and inspirational music. Her albums include The Best of Debby Boone, Songs of Debby Boone, and Friends for Life released on Sparrow Records. She won two more Grammy awards in the Christian and inspirational categories.
Slowly, the pace of music became message-oriented again. Boone eventually wanted to return to the music industry, influenced by artists Joan Osborne and k.d. lang. Aside from a successful music and stage career, she is also credited with writing children's books. With four children of her own, she is somewhat of an authority. She wrote Hours for Little Ones and Tomorrow Is a Brand New Day. Her 1997 book, Nightlights, was illustrated by her husband, Gabriel Ferrer. She has also produced two children's videos, Bobby Boone's Hug-A-Long Songs, Vol. 1 and Bobby Boone's Hug-A-Long Songs, Vol. 2. She has also written her biography, in which she shares stories of growing up with Pat Boone, her musical career, and her married life. Bobby Boone so Far was written with Dennis Baker and published by Thomas Nelson Publishers in 1981.
Boone's acting career includes playing Rizzo in the Broadway production of Grease. In 1984, she portrayed Clarissa Hope in the television movie, Sins of the Past. With a vast array of talent as an author, actress, and singer, Boone continued to pursue a variety of interests. Pat Boone describes his daughter as a "reluctant risk taker." Boone's single hit single in 1977, "You Light Up My Life," gave Debby the confidence to make her successful in all aspects of her life. Debby Boone resides in Sherman Oaks, CA with her husband and their four children, Gabrielle, Dustin, Jordan, and Tessa. Her husband, Gabriel Ferrer, is the son of popular film stars Rosemary Clooney and Jose Ferrer. ~ Kim Summers, Rovi
