Debora Iyall
Encyclopedia
Debora Kay Iyall (ˈʌɪalwahawa; born 29 April 1954), professional name “Debora Iyall” ˈaɪ.ɑːl, a Cowlitz
Native American
, is an artist and was lead singer for the new wave
band Romeo Void
. Debora got her surname from her family adopting their ancestor Iyallwahawa's "first" name written at the time as Ayiel.
She was born in 1954 in Soap Lake, Washington
, but grew up in Fresno
, California
. While attending the San Francisco Art Institute
, she joined Frank Zincavage and Peter Woods to create Romeo Void
in 1979. Inspired by Joy Division
, the band was remarkable for their modernization of the punk
sound, and for Iyall's forceful, half-spoken delivery. They reached hit status on college radio stations with the suggestive and multi-leveled song "Never Say Never" in 1982. Their song "A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)
" landed them in the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100
chart, and an appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in 1984.
Romeo Void parted ways in 1985, and the following year Iyall released her debut solo album Strange Language on Columbia Records
. After a lukewarm reception of the album, Iyall returned to her first love, as an artist and art instructor. Throughout the 1990s she taught art at the 29 Palms Cultural Center and for the Arts Council For San Bernardino. She also led hikes and made presentations for the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum as a paid docent. She presently resides in Sacramento, California
, with her husband, audio engineer
and instructor Patrick Haight.
Since late 2009, Iyall has been performing new material written with Peter Dunne at a variety of local venues in Northern California. On 17 April 2010, during a performance at Slim's in San Francisco, California, she announced a new album, "Unsettled", currently planned for release in July 2010 (the album was ultimately retitled Stay Strong). In addition to Romeo Void
and solo songs from her back catalog, she also performed eight new songs that demonstrated her characteristic vocals and enthusiastic stage presence. The band for this performance included Peter Dunne, (producer and guitar, formerly with Pearl Harbor and The Explosions), Karl Severeid (electric and stand-up bass, formerly with Robert Cray
), Dawn Richards (percussion, formerly with Tracy Chapman
), and Iyall's nephew, Dakota Iyall (saxophone, flute, keyboards, formerly with Let's Go Bowling
). The opening band was Persephone's Bees
.
Iyall's second solo album, retitled Stay Strong, was released in July 2010.
Cowlitz (tribe)
The Cowlitz are a group of Native American peoples from what is now western Washington state in the United States. The Cowlitz tribe actually consists of two distinct groups: the Upper Cowlitz, or Taidnapam, and the Lower Cowlitz, or Kawlic....
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, is an artist and was lead singer for the new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band Romeo Void
Romeo Void
Romeo Void was an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. The band primarily consisted of saxophonist Benjamin Bossi, vocalist Debora Iyall, guitarist Peter Woods, and bassist Frank Zincavage. The band went through four drummers, starting with Jay Derrah and ending with...
. Debora got her surname from her family adopting their ancestor Iyallwahawa's "first" name written at the time as Ayiel.
She was born in 1954 in Soap Lake, Washington
Soap Lake, Washington
Soap Lake is a city in Grant County, Washington, on the shores of Soap Lake. The population was 1,733 at the 2000 census. In 2002, the city announced preliminary plans to construct the world's largest lava lamp as a tourist attraction....
, but grew up in Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. While attending the San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco Art Institute is a school of higher education in contemporary art with the main campus in the Russian Hill district of San Francisco, California. Its graduate center is in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The private, non-profit institution is accredited by WASC and is a member of the...
, she joined Frank Zincavage and Peter Woods to create Romeo Void
Romeo Void
Romeo Void was an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. The band primarily consisted of saxophonist Benjamin Bossi, vocalist Debora Iyall, guitarist Peter Woods, and bassist Frank Zincavage. The band went through four drummers, starting with Jay Derrah and ending with...
in 1979. Inspired by Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, the band was remarkable for their modernization of the punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
sound, and for Iyall's forceful, half-spoken delivery. They reached hit status on college radio stations with the suggestive and multi-leveled song "Never Say Never" in 1982. Their song "A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)
A Girl in Trouble (Is a Temporary Thing)
"A Girl in Trouble " was a hit single for Romeo Void in 1984, from the Columbia album Instincts. It was the band's biggest hit and only Top 40 single, peaking at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.- Charts :...
" landed them in the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart, and an appearance on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in 1984.
Romeo Void parted ways in 1985, and the following year Iyall released her debut solo album Strange Language on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. After a lukewarm reception of the album, Iyall returned to her first love, as an artist and art instructor. Throughout the 1990s she taught art at the 29 Palms Cultural Center and for the Arts Council For San Bernardino. She also led hikes and made presentations for the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum as a paid docent. She presently resides in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, with her husband, audio engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
and instructor Patrick Haight.
Since late 2009, Iyall has been performing new material written with Peter Dunne at a variety of local venues in Northern California. On 17 April 2010, during a performance at Slim's in San Francisco, California, she announced a new album, "Unsettled", currently planned for release in July 2010 (the album was ultimately retitled Stay Strong). In addition to Romeo Void
Romeo Void
Romeo Void was an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. The band primarily consisted of saxophonist Benjamin Bossi, vocalist Debora Iyall, guitarist Peter Woods, and bassist Frank Zincavage. The band went through four drummers, starting with Jay Derrah and ending with...
and solo songs from her back catalog, she also performed eight new songs that demonstrated her characteristic vocals and enthusiastic stage presence. The band for this performance included Peter Dunne, (producer and guitar, formerly with Pearl Harbor and The Explosions), Karl Severeid (electric and stand-up bass, formerly with Robert Cray
Robert Cray
Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
), Dawn Richards (percussion, formerly with Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
), and Iyall's nephew, Dakota Iyall (saxophone, flute, keyboards, formerly with Let's Go Bowling
Let's Go Bowling
Let's Go Bowling is an American third wave ska band hailing from Fresno, California. Since the band's inception in 1986, the band's traditional ska style, barbershop harmonies, wisely crafted instrumentals, and its frantic live performances, helped set the standard for dress and culture for West...
). The opening band was Persephone's Bees
Persephone's Bees
Persephone's Bees is an Oakland-based rock/pop music group.-History:Growing up in Pyatigorsk, Russia, lead singer Angelina Moysova was musically inspired by her family: her mother played traditional folk/gypsy music while her brother played modern music...
.
Iyall's second solo album, retitled Stay Strong, was released in July 2010.