Deborahe Glasgow
1965
1994
London, England
Guyanese
Glasgow was thrown into her music career at a young age. At twelve she was working with the successful producer Mad Professor, and her debut single Falling in Love on Mad Professor’s label, Ariwa, soon followed. Glasgow did part with this label quite early on, however she continued to build a name for herself in the London reggae scene through working with the local sound system circuit. She worked alongside other upcoming artists like Tippa Irie and Papa Levi.
Glasgow eventually landed a new recording contract with UK Bubblers after meeting London producer Patrick Donegan. UK Bubblers was a subsidiary of the Greensleeves Records and under these she made the hit reggae records You’re My Sugar, Knight in Shining Armour, Don’t Stay Away and When Somebody Loves You Back. In 1989 Glasgow released the lone full length album Deborahe Glasgow which featured a guest appearance from reggae rapper Shabba Ranks. She also produced such singles as Champion Lover and Don’t Test Me. Several years later Ranks hit major success with the reworking of Champion Lover under the name Mr Lover Man. Glasgow also briefly worked with producer General Lee creating Weak and Knocking the Boots, and she did some work on advertisement jingles
After her successes, Glasgow opted to focus on raising her family over pursuing her musical career further. Sadly, Glasgow was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer and died at the age of twenty nine on 25th January 1994.
Greg Prato, ‘Deborahe Glasgow: Biography’, Tidal (Tidal, revised 2020) [accessed 4 March 2022]
Jo-Ann Greene, ‘Deborahe Glasgow Review’, AllMusic (AllMusic, revised 2008) [accessed 4 March 2022]
