Where It All Began

People ask me - where are you from? I’m the daughter of a jazz musician , a drummer and trumpet player , who became a minister. Dad was on stage with his entire family, most nights from the age of 8. His parents and siblings - also professional musicians. By the time I was 4 he’d taught me the Ukulele, by 8 the guitar and I earned my pocket money playing scales on the piano , which he also taught me . His mother was a concert pianist , choir mistress and a woman of some considerable vocal talent; as was dad. His goal for my early piano tuition was that I be able to stretch my left hand to reach an octave. Then I’d be able to play the stride bass lines on the jazz and gospel music he wanted to solo along to on the trumpet. The day my small left hand could stretch an octave, a great day , I scored an extra five bucks which was quite something in those days.

My mother also had a beautiful voice and my sister played piano at church . When I first started gigging at around 10 , she was my pianist for a while. My mother was the one who really rehearsed me vocally. She saw I had a gift but knew without strict training, my voice would never be all that it could be. She made sure there was no slacking off when it came to rehearsal , performance and pitch perfect intonation.

I played local churches , radio , TV and the like. This picture here on the right is me performing my solo at the annual harvest celebration we did each year at North Sydney Church Of Christ.

My grandfather was a wartime composer and I’ve found some of his music catalogued in the National Library of Australian. Here he is in the centre surrounded by his wife and kids. My dad in the top right corner.

As the years rolled on I began to spread my wings . A win in the Australian Singing Competition , working with Galapagus Duck and forming my own jazz combos - moving on to soul , pop and funk.

Residencies at Soup Plus, The Marble Bar , Round Midnight and The Bridge Hotel kept me pretty busy.

What happened next

On the gig with Galapagos Duck

Onstage at the famous Soup Plus with my dad there behind me on trombone. I had a long standing residency at The Soup every weekend . It gave me the opportunity to book some great players and really work my repertoire as a jazz musician

The Marble Bar : Left to Right - Calvin Welch , Graham Jesse, Deborah Dicembre,

Carl Orr, Victor Rounds

In 1993 I took off for NYC. I spent 3 months travelling across the USA visiting every music town I could , soaking in the sounds and history of musicians I had long admired. From Chicago to New Orleans , LA to Memphis ; it was an amazing time . I landed in New York City with $400 and a suitcase, and it was here that I planned to stay. I found a gig, a residency down in Greenwich Village , another gig on the upper east side , and played my original tunes legendary venue The Bitter End - a legacy I think for singer songwriters with a passion for New York . They were great days and after 3 years it was time to come home.

I arrived back in Australia and kissed the ground ! It’s great to get out and see the world , but boy is it good to get home.

At this point I discovered Country Music . I had a residency at the Orient Hotel in the Rocks Sydney , and through a series of connections , met Allan Tomkins - master luthier and custom guitar maker. I bought a beautiful , one of a kind guitar from Allan and traveled around with his Country music review.

I wrote some songs and released a few albums- ‘The Ballad Of Malcolm Campbell’ and ‘What You Are’ .

Before too long I was back singing jazz and gospel music - my roots. I played a lot of gigs with great musicians and released a few albums - ‘Manhattan Love Bistro’ , ‘The Outstanding Standard Duo’, ‘Praise Glory and Honour’ .

How It’s Going

In 2006 I moved to the country to raise my children . I’ve spent 20 years , the best of my life , doing the most important job ever. Gigs became school concerts, Christmas productions and Church services - we’ve done it all together.

I made a point of stepping away from my professional music life to be there for my kids 100%.

Around 2014 I began speaking in Highschools and Women’s seminars , taking the guitar along with me, encouraging people to spread their wings and fly.

In 2020 the world shut down - there was no more school , no more Saturday sport . I took to painting , my constant companion over the years, and have made a fair crack at that. Deb’s Art Site - see here.

Now in 2026, I have decide to once again dip my toe into the only other life I’ve ever known - music. In fact I've just released a single , ‘My Beautiful Australian’.

With the world the way it is , I have a few things to say about that. There comes a time when to stay silent is to be complicit. I would like my grandchildren who haven’t even been born yet to enjoy the wonderful life and opportunities that I have had, in this wonderful country. That won’t happen by chance or by accident. It will only happen if patriots have a say in how the country comes of age moving forward.

Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand , for the love of country.