Debra Byrd dead at 72: American Idol star and singer dies as friend Barry Manilow leads devastated tributes
SINGER and vocal coach Debra Byrd has died at the age of 72.
The star, who worked on hit shows such as The Voice and American Idol, died on Tuesday at her Los Angeles home.
Several celebrities, including long-time friend and colleague, Barry Manilow, have led touching tributes following Debra's death.
Barry shared an emotional post on his social media.
"This is one of the saddest days of my life. I just can’t wrap my mind around the fact that Debra is no longer with me," he wrote.
"She was one of the most wonderful friends I’ve ever had. I will miss you forever, my love."
Debra had worked with several other huge stars, including Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, and Bob Dylan.
Jennifer offered her condolences on X, formerly Twitter.
"Heartbroken over the passing of Debra Byrd, the vocal coach on American Idol," she wrote.
"She encouraged and supported us from the very beginning!
"I am so grateful for everything she taught us. She will be dearly missed, but her legacy lives on through the music of countless artists she influenced during her lifetime.
"Rest in peace, Debra," she finished.
Jennifer rose to fame in 2004 when she reached the final of American Idol, where she worked with Debra.
Other alumni, including Clay Aiken, reflected on Debra's support.
"I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that no one was a better mentor, coach, teacher, or champion to us Idol contestants than Byrd was," he wrote online.
"No one spent more time with us.
"I'll never forget her drilling into us how we needed to look right into the camera and connect with the audience at home. She was a light in so many lives. I am so lucky that I got to call her a friend."
DEBRA'S CAREER
Debra was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Kent State University before starting her career in music.
She honed her craft in the Karamu and Dobama Theaters around her studies.
After graduating, she joined Barry's band and performed as a backing singer.
The band, Ladyflash, had a top 30 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1976 with the song Street Singin.
Barry arranged the song for his backing singer.
Debra worked on American Idol for the first 10 seasons before moving to The Voice, where she nurtured and guided the contestants.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Her star-studded career also included a spot in the choir during a performance of Mighty River in 2018 for the Academy Awards.
Debra also coached Bob Dylan in Australia in the mid-1980s on the tour Hard to Handle: Bob Dylan in Concert.
Debra also worked with Dylan, Stevie Nicks, and the late Tom Petty on the 1986 song Band of the Hand.
She worked on several movie soundtracks for films such as The Lion King 1½, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, and Sister Act II.
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NBC hired her for vocal production for the network's Super Bowl tribute to Prince in 2019.
The star even made a return to academia, where she worked at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles as chair of its vocal department.