GREAT NEWS!!! Indieheaven Radio has added our song, “Secret Sin”, to their Radio Chart! This chart is published in CRW and distributed to most Radio Stations and Christian Bookstores/Musicstores. Please visit the link below to vote and help us move up the chart! Simply find our song, "Secret Sin", click on it and then scroll back to the top where my picture is. Then, click on the stars to cast your vote. (You may have to click twice) Thank you so much!! http://www.indieheaven.com/go.idh?section=radiochart _____________________________________________ The UNISONG INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING CONTEST has chosen our song, “Building Idols in a Fallen World”, for the 2005 Gospel/Christian category HONORABLE MENTION award!! NEWS FLASH: (01/10/06) Debbie was recently nominated in the "Contemporary Artist of the Year" and "Female Vocalist of the Year" categories for the prestigious "Momentum awards" given out by IndieHeaven.com. ________________________________________________ Hi everyone, and welcome to my page! Thank you for stopping by. This has been such an adventure, and I just welcome you to listen to my songs and leave me a message on my message board. Hopefully my songs will inspire you, or at least make you think about things a little differently than before. Debbie L. Rice has been playing piano by ear since age 7, and in the mid 90s she was the keyboardist for a well-known rock band in Houston with her now ex-husband and brother-in-law. Things fell apart after her husband decided to pursue a music career on his own. Left as a single mom with a 10 month old son ,a bankruptcy and a foreclosure, she faced the challenge of moving back to her hometown and accepting a low paying job just to make ends meet. Her music career was put on hold. Slowly but surely, the Lord continued to bless her and restore her. She was able to get a better job, and began to rebuild her life with her son. At age 4, her son required major surgery to correct a birth deformity. Only 3 months into his recovery, at the age of 36, Debbie was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She neglected her own diagnosis until she knew her son was out of the woods. By then, however, the physicians didn’t give her much of a chance. But she continued to trust in the Lord, telling everyone, "I KNEW that I had already been healed." Debbie went on to have a complete mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, but she knew the battle had already been won. Her surgeon was amazed to find that her cancer had not spread, and she was given a clean bill of health. Six months into her chemotherapy, her house flooded due to a tropical storm. Debbie and her son were forced to move into a different house down the street. But, the Lord is good, and even as she was going thru this battle, He had put into motion His plan to bring her a soul-mate. Debbie and her current husband, Darren, went on their first date just weeks before her hair fell out due to Chemo. "I had not had the time to date after my first husband left, and quite frankly, had not been looking." Debbie and Darren knew each other from Sunday School, but neither had thought about dating. It was her son’s daycare lady who suggested that they get together. Darren’s children, a son and a daughter, went to the same daycare as Debbie's son. They were a family without a mother, and Debbie and her son were a family without a father. They were married after 24 months of courtship, and now are a blessed family of five. During this time, Debbie hadn’t really thought much about her music; it was just a part of her past. She still tinkered around on the piano, but didn’t pursue it seriously. Darren, however, knew her heart. He bought Debbie a fancy keyboard for their first Christmas together, and within a week she had her first song. “There is no doubt these songs are coming from the Lord", Debbie says. "On my own, the ability just isn’t there. The songs He gives me are so varied in style...everything from country to rock, children’s to alternative. I feel like God has given me these songs because He has a message that needs to get out”. Although Debbie has dabbled in writing before, this time it is different. "The music just seems to pour out", she says, "And if it helps someone somewhere along the way, then His will is done. These songs are meant to honor Him. I can only hope that I can do them justice". Debbie started out as a songwriter only, not interested in performing. But, she needed live musicians and vocalists to bring her music to life. Debbie found the vocalists she needed right in her own church...and in her own family. Jennifer Barber is a Worship leader at Willow Drive, and is also active in the Wednesday night children's group. Debbie knew Jennifer's voice was perfectly suited for her material. “Jennifer is such a gifted and talented singer", says Debbie. "I truly believe she is unaware of how good she really is". Jennifer consented to sing some demo's for Debbie, and the songs quickly found a home on several Internet Radio Stations. Debbie had been playing every instrument in her songs on her keyboard, and she realized that having a live guitarist was a necessity. "You just can't duplicate that strumming technique on the keyboard", said Debbie. The search for a guitarist to do demo work began with Debbie's sister, Pamela Bieri. Pamela was singing with a different band in her hometown of Dickinson, Texas. She had several contacts with musicians, and one of them was with Tommy Meador. Pam mentioned to Tommy that her sister was looking for a guitarist, and Tommy quickly volunteered. Tommy was playing in a Christian band in the Clear Lake, Texas area, but was looking to do more. Debbie found a kindred spirit in Tommy, and soon talked him into adding guitar tracks to all her songs. Although Debbie had approached her sister, Pamela, several times about singing, the timing had never been right. Circumstances soon changed, and Pamela became the demo band's 4th official member. Pamela brought her own style and interpretation to several of Debbie's songs, giving them a unique sound. "She's able to hear the melody line in a way I never anticipated.....and that's a GOOD thing!", says Debbie. The new group made a demo CD titled "By Faith" for Debbie to shop around. The CD quickly caught on, and requests were made for Debbie to perform. At first, she ignored these requests, explaining that she was just a songwriter, not a performer. But as the requests kept coming, she decided to approach the others about actually performing a live concert. They all agreed, and the rest....as they say.....is history. "I never meant for this to happen", says Debbie. "But God had other plans for us. We are truly stepping out on a Walk of Faith, and we can't wait to see what HE has in store for us next!". For more of my bio, please visit my website: www.indieheaven.com/artists/debbielrice Vocalists: Pamela Bieri is the mother of a beautiful daughter, Lindsey. She is currently a heavy metal singer in Dickenson, TX, and works with several metal bands in the area. She is a full-time NASA employee and a wonderful wife to her drummer husband, Bret. I am also blessed to call her my sister! I've bugged her and bugged her to sing my songs for me, and she has finally consented. You can hear her on "I Want To Know You Lord", "Building Idols in a Fallen World", "Psalm 94:12", "Pride", and "Jesus Is Real". Jennifer Barber is one of the Worship Leaders at Willow Dr. Baptist Church in Lake Jackson, TX. Her voice is blessed, and is matched in beauty only by her humbleness. She is an incredibly busy wife and mother, but has still found the time to add her wonderful voice to several of my songs. For that, I am eternally grateful! You can hear her on "Free", "In Your Silence", and "Psalm 94:12". Coming soon: "Secret Sin" Musicians: Tommy Meador is my fantastic guitarist. My sister found him (on the Internet of all places!) when she was looking for a guitarist. We went to see him play in his band, Cross Country, and I decided I needed him more than she did! Tommy manages to find time to put wonderful guitar licks to my songs despite working full time, being a great husband and dad, and continuing to play with his band in the Clear Lake, Deerbrook, Pasadena area. He's also the proud father of a new baby boy! This is a man blessed not only with talent, but patience! You can hear Tommy on just about everything. "Jesus Is Real" was written and composed by Tommy. Check it out, it's great! Devin Knapp is the newest add