Philly’s blues and soul drenched singer and songwriter Deb Callahan recently celebrated the March 2023 release of her 6th studio album “Backbone”! The album consists of 12 songs including 10 original new tunes and recently charted #2 for the Roots Music Report Top 50 Blues albums. Her music has received some great national and international airplay on blues and triple A radio stations and is beginning to garner great press and reviews. ” The new album was produced by Philadelphia producer, songwriter, and guitarist Chris Arms and recorded live at Morningstar Studios in Glenside, PA. Deb recorded this album with her road tested, all-star band of Allen James on guitar, Garry Lee on bass and Tom Walling on drums. The CD features London producer and songwriter Danny Schogger on keyboards and Arms on slide guitar. There are guest appearances by Great Britain’s Alan Glass on acoustic guitar, and Philly musicians; Jay Davidson on sax, Steve Jankowski on horn/trombone, John Colgan Davis on harmonica and Charlene Holloway on backing vocals. “Backbone” has a blues and funk base and embraces a range of rock, soul, roots and swing styles. The songwriting reflects the intense impact of world events over the past few years exploring themes of uncertainty, vulnerability, being comfortable with and showing up for oneself, taking a stand, polarization in beliefs, freedom and letting go. Deb worked with Arms, Schogger and James to write much of the original material and chose two covers that fit in well with the material including Percy Mayfield’s “Danger Zone” and Sean Costello’s “Anytime You Want”. Deb and her core band’s sixteen years plus of performing and touring together shines through on this CD, creating a unique chemistry and an ability to play with natural, nuanced improvisation.

Deb and her band have been performing, touring, recording and entertaining music fans both regionally and around the United States since the late 1990s. Deb has released 5 prior CDs since 2002: If the Blues Had Wings, The Blue Pearl, Grace & Grit, Tell It Like It is, Sweet Soul and a limited edition World Café Live DVD. She has graced the stages of many festivals nationwide from The Monterey Bay Blues Festival in Monterey, CA, The Springing the Blues Fest in Jacksonville, FL, The Bayfront Blues Fest in Duluth, MN to WXPN’s XPonential Music Festival in Philly.

Review Quotes for Backbone

“Callahan blends timely probing lyrical content with classic blues all served up with her fiery take no prisoners power. Callahan’s voice packs a hefty punch with just a hint of urbane gravel while her smooth vibrato smooths those edges into an endlessly inviting package.”

Matt R. Lohr – Living Blues Magazine

Backbone, Deb Callahan’s first studio album in eight years, provides plenty of ‘S’ appeal: soulful, sultry, sassy, and socially conscious. Deb Callahan wanted to make a statement and successfully does so with an album as diverse and soulful as her tremendous singing voice. Emotionally compelling, Backbone has just enough sass, sultriness, and social awareness to keep listeners engaged throughout Callahan’s personal and musical journey

Ken Billet – Blues Blast magazine

“Backbone is another winner from Deb Callahan, who remains one of the most compelling vocalists in the blues and soul genres, a voice to be reckoned with in the coming years.

 Graham Clarke – Blues Bytes

The variety of musical material on Backbone snakes stealthily from soul to funk to blues rock with one constant: the exceptional vocals of Deb Callahan“. “The lady combines the attributes of skilled songwriting, a deep appreciation of American roots music, along with her powerfully affecting vocals”

Randall Parrish, Vivascene

“Backbone swings and grooves from the first note to the last, powered by Callahan’s powerful voice and some extremely sweet playing from her road tested all-star band.  This is very likely one of the best albums you’ll hear this year; completely irresistible.”

—-Hot Wax Album Review- The Rock Doctor

“Callahan has carved a niche for herself up and down the East Coast.  Now it’s time for the rest of the USA/Canada to appreciate her modern, clever lyrics that mostly stay clear of the tired old blues themes”.

—Richard Skelly, Blues Music Magazine

Press Quotes for Sweet Soul

“Deb Callahan is an exceptional blues singer who displays a deep appreciation of American roots music. Many of Deb Callahan’s compositions tell stories and have profound meaning. On her new release, Sweet Soul on Blue Pearl Records, Callahan delivers a knock-out Blues punch securing her place among the genre’s finest vocalists and songwriters” Randall Parrish/Vivascene Music Magazine.

“Deb Callahan has a singing voice that is unique: her confident swagger, great pitch, sincere passion, and resplendent phrasing combine to make her new new album Sweet Soul irresistibly captivating” Randall Parrish/Vivascene Magazine

Sweet Soul reveals the Philadelphia singer-songwriter to be in full possession of her abilities, confident, relaxed, yet pulsing with verve. Living Blues Magazine

“Sweet Soul” is a marvelous recording with some excellent material (both new and covers of lesser known numbers), terrific production and playing, and Deb Callahan’s superb singing. Let folks compare her to Bonnie and Tracy. After listening to her, folks will be comparing other singers to her. Ron Weinstock/Jazz/Blues

“From the opening minor key Big Love, it’s obvious that this is unique, both vocally and lyrically. There’s nothing cliché on the set. This is the work of a mature woman with the thoughts and ambitions of a grown up. Brilliant”. Mark E. Gallo/Big City Blues

Callahan’s voice has the spiked fervor of contemporary Susan Tedeschi, but it’s richer and smoother.  Stylistically she’s picked up a lot from one of her earlier influences, Nina Simone – Simone’s squirming rhythms and hypnotic vocals reverberate in Callahan’s music.”  “Deb Callahan is a shouter, a crooner, a soul-belter and above all a gifted lyrical interpreter.  She could sing the phone book and make it sound good.”

– Living Blues Magazine Feb 2011

Major Festivals 2005-present

Winter Blues Fest Guitarmageddon, Scranton, PA 2023

Summerstage Valley Creek Park Blues Fest, Malvern, PA 2023

Haddon Township Fall Fest, Haddon Township, NJ 2023

Beverly Blues Fest, Beverly, NJ 2023, 2022

Savage Mills Blues Fest, Savage, MD 2021

Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Fest, Long Branch, NJ, 2017

Reading Blues Fest, Reading PA, 2017, 2021

The Berks Blues and Jazz Festival, Reading, PA 2006, 2019

Destination Blues Fest, Bloomsburg, PA, 2017

Blues, Brews & BBQ, Allentown, PA 2019

Monterey Bay Blues Festival, Monterey Bay, CA 2005

Kickoff event for the St. John’s Blues Fest, St. John, VI, 2009, 2010

Fargo Blues Fest, Fargo, ND 2010

Springing the Blues Festival, Jacksonville, FL 2005

Rockin the Bay Music Fest, Gladstone, MI June 2010

The South Florida International Blues Fest, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 2009

The Trempealeau Blues Fest, Trempealeau, WI 2009

The Boundary Water Blues Festival, Ely, MN, 2008

Bayfront Blues Fest, Duluth, MN 2009

Blues on Belgrade, Mankato, MN, 2016

Dam Blues Festival, Damariscotta, ME, 2016

The Hidden River Blues Fest, Phila., PA 2015, 2016

Silver Springs Blues Fest, Silver Springs, MD, 2017

Paramount Blues Fest, Grafton, WI 2014

Shakedown Blues Fest, Santiago, MN 2014

Sawdust Days, Oshkosh, WI 2011

Philadelphia Folk Festival, Schwenksville, PA 2018

WXPN  88.5 radio Exponential Music Fest, Philadelphia, PA 2011

Asbury Park Jazz Fest, Asbury Park, NJ 2012

Ambassador’s Blues Fest, St. Peter, MN 2012
Central Delaware Roadhouse Blues Fest, Magnolia, DE, 2016

Bourbon St. Blues Fest, Lebanon Township, NJ 2010

Blast Furnace Blues Fest, Bethlehem, PA 2011

Gypsy Moon Blues Fest, E. Petersburg, PA 2013

River City Blues Fest, Phila., PA 2016

Low Country Blues Bash, Mt. Pleasant, SC, 2009

PeeDee Blues Bash, Florence, SC 2009

Greenwood Blues & BBQ Fest, Greenwood, SC 2013, 2019

Cookin at McCooks in Niantic, CT, 2008, 2011

White Mountain Blues & Boogie Fest, Thornton, NH 2009

Eastern Bayside Blues Fest, Essex, MD 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2021

The Pittsburgh Blues Fest, Pittsburgh, PA 2009

The Western Maryland Blues Festival in Hagerstown, MD 2005, 2006

The Heritage Festival, Wheeling, WV 2005, 2011

Black Walnut Winery Blues Fest, Sadsburyville, PA 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
Phoenixville Blues Fest, Phoenixville, PA 2012, 2017

Haverford Music Festival, Haverford, PA 2015

Central PA Arts Fest, State College, PA, 2009, 2016, 2018, 2022

Red Bank Blues Fest, Red Bank, NJ 2005

The Philadelphia Blues Festival at The World Cafe Live, 2006

Lehigh Valley Blues Fest, Whitehall, PA 2005

The Briggs Farm Festival, Nescopeck, PA 2006, 2008, 2010

The Greater Eastern Blues Festival, Harrisonburg, VA 2006

The Chesapeake Bay Blues Festival, Anapolis, MD 2007

The Riverfront Blues Fest, Wilmington, DE 2007, 2017

The Media Blues Stroll. Media, PA 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019

The Shenandoah Valley Blues Bash, Luray, VA 2007

The Central Delaware Blues & Jazz Festival, Felton, DE 2008

The Safeway BBQ & Blues Fest, Washington DC 2007, 2008, 2014

The Belair BBQ & Blues Fest, Belair, MD 2006

Chester County BBQ, Elverson, PA, 2016

The Jenkintown Arts Festival, Jenkintown, PA 2015

The Bucks County Blues Society R & B Picnic, Morrisville, PA 2008

Bucks County Blues Society, Levittown, PA  – Spring Fling 2012, Fall Fling 2017, 2023

Musikfest, Bethlehem, PA 2008, 2009, 2014

Brandywine Food & Wine Festival, Westchester, PA 2013

Lehigh River Blues Jam, Catsauqua, PA 2013

Stockton Blues Fest, Stockton, NJ 2009

June Jam, Houston, DE 2009

Arden Guild Music Fest, Arden, DE 2005

Footmad Concert Series, Charleston, WV 2005

Steppingstone Museum Blues Fest, DE 2005, 2012

Paoli Blues Fest, Paoli, PA 2009, 2011, 2014, 2023

Lancaster Blues Fest, Lancaster, PA – 2007

Chameleon Club Blues Fest, Lancaster, PA 2009

Spyglass winery Blues Fest, Sunbury, PA 2008

Wine in the Woods Music Fest, Columbia, MD 2008, 2010, 2012, 2018

Camp Jam in the Pines, Medford Lakes, NJ 2007, 2017

Turks Head Music Fest, Westchester, PA – 2007