Today we’d like to introduce you to Debbie DeCasio.
Hi Debbie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Hello, this is Debbie DeCasio! I’m thankful that I grew up in a very musical family! My father, Nolen Golden, was an evangelist musician at a church while we lived in Wichita, Kansas, and got a calling to go on the road and sing the gospel across the country. My mother was our booking agent (typing in the car), and we sold everything. We began traveling on the road in a 1963 Catalina Pontiac from 1963 until 1967. We were called The Nolen Golden Trio Plus Two. My dad, mom, Lela, and my sister Trudi made up the trio. My brother, Ron, and I made up the plus two. My dad wrote most of the songs we sang, and his style of writing and arranging was contemporary and modern, especially at that time singing religious music. Along with other recordings, our entire family recorded an album on Word Records, “Music For You” that is still worth a listen to even now! When my brother and sister get together and remember our dad’s awesome tenor voice (he sounded like Mario Lanza), we realize what a talent he was and that his original music was way ahead of his time. So, from when I was 5 years old to around nine, we were solely on the road, living in motels and peoples’ homes while singing in churches, prisons, nursing homes, everywhere my mother booked us on a continuum, all across the country and even in the Bahamas. We eventually settled in the Ohio area, and needless to say, it was an adjustment. We still sang at local churches for a while, but when I got to be a pre-teen in the early ’70s, I really didn’t want to sing with the family any longer. At this time, my sister was in a popular local band called Trudi and the Hopple Street Exit. My brother decided to do his own thing, too, singing his tunes on the piano. I felt that my parents were somewhat disappointed that we no longer sang as a family, but they tried to be understanding and continued singing as a duet. After school, I would come home and sing and write songs on our grand piano. I sang in the high school choir, and a couple of my songs were performed at a school show. Eventually, I sang in a rock band called Axual Fax with my ex-husband, who played the drums. One member of the band let me use his Casio MT-40, and I fell in love with it immediately. We performed at various local venues for about six months. After the band, I was happy to find that same model, Mt-40 Casio, at a local pawn shop. By this time, I was a single mother of 3 and thought I could maybe make it big in the music industry and get rich singing my songs! Who knows, right? I began singing my (new wave type) originals as Deborah’s Casio Designs in 1985 at the Canal Street Musicians Coop, hosted by Sharon Lane, in Dayton, Ohio. She informed me to also try Tollivers (then located in the Oregon District in Dayton, OH). That’s where I met Sue Elam of Dayton Dykes. So, she came up with my name, Debbie DeCasio, and I thought it was an easier name, so I went right along with it. I started to perform as an opener for various local bands at that time and also got a chance to play in Feather’s (vintage clothing) in their display window for a couple of Halloween celebrations in the Oregon District. I continued to play out as much as possible back then to start a following. Today, I still enjoy performing with my Casio MT-40, and I have collected a few more Casio’s, including these listed (I adore too): MT-35, MT-500, CTK-573, 7000, SK-1. So, with all of these Casios, I enjoy playing different tunes with various sounds and beats as I continue to experiment and write songs. Also, I enjoy a really good jam session playing my flute! Overall, I’m really thankful that I grew up in a musical family, as I feel it has helped me to be able to express myself and my feelings through song. My biggest musical influence was watching my dad write songs at the piano (with manuscript paper) and also singing with my family. I love singing for people and connecting with them through my various words and arrangements so that they can get their own impression and or perception of my songs. I try to write each song as a unique entity of itself, depending on the model of the Casio, at times it leads the way of the song, where other times, I tell the keys what beats and sounds I’m trying to come up with as I’m pushing buttons until it’s just right. This does, however, make it nice to have a few different models of Casio keyboards that I can interchange with in getting the perfect sounds and arrangements. It’s an ongoing fun challenge as and I’m writing lyrics or thinking of more song ideas almost every day. Some of my music is available on Soundcloud, “I’m OK” and I also have an EP available on Bandcamp (Gamma Ray Gun Records) “Music For You,” with 4 of my songs: “Sludge”, “I’m OK”, “Little Control”, and ” Giving In To Situation”. I hope to see you at my next show! Thank you!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There were times when our family was traveling on the road that we were all very tired and just wanted to have a normal life living in a normal home like everyone else. But we’ve come to appreciate the interesting life we had on the road singing in many cities and states across the country. It was such a learning experience too, venturing out in so many different places and meeting so many different types of people We (my sister and brother), also appreciate the fact that even now, our musical upbringing has an on going positive influence in our daily lives. Although, I can get discouraged at times, trying to come up with new music, etc. as I tend to write songs about what I personally think and feel. But it’s the thrill of completing a song and then performing it that inspires me to keep on going!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am now retired from many years as a Communications Assistant for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Speech Impaired at USA/Ohio Relay. I now work part-time at various temporary positions throughout the Dayton, Ohio area.
I enjoy having time now to get outside more hiking, and riding my bike on the many bike paths in the area.
I also enjoy sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cooking. I’m still trying to finish a handmade bowtie quilt my grandma taught me how to sew that I started on when I was a teenager! The old rule is to sew it all by hand! So, over the many years, I’ve been continually adding more squares to where it’s now actually a king size quilt! I can’t believe how big and wonderful it is. I’m almost finished with it too!
Most of all, I enjoy performing and playing my Casio’s writing more songs, and preparing for that next show to perform at.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Stay true to who you really are as an individual person. Whatever in your life you are studying or aiming to go, keep learning and finding out more about it, and follow inspiring people who tell you not to give up on anything!
If it’s music you are interested in as a performer, keep your ears and eyes open to all opportunities to learn more about performing music and music theory in general. It’s really best if you take some piano or guitar (or other instrument) lessons to learn the basics of reading music.
Even though I did take a few voice lessons and also on the piano and flute, I feel like I could always use more lessons and study with more practice. There is always something to learn in music theory and just technique in general on whatever instrument you’re interested in learning.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @debbiedecasio
- Facebook: @debbiedecasio
- SoundCloud: @debbie De Casio
- Other: Bandcamp@debbiedecasio
Image Credits
Ron
Lela
Trudi
Nolen
