Deborah McDuffie is the production manager at the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum and the choral director at Paxon School for Advanced Studies.
WHAT IS HER INVOLVEMENT WITH THE RITZ?
“I am founder and choral director of Ritz Voices, an all-city, 100-person youth chorus. That takes up most of my time. I also produce amateur night. I used to produce amateur night at the Apollo Theatre [in Harlem]. I produce musical events on behalf of the theater. In terms of other events [for clients], I will produce or co-produce if music is involved. For all other [non-musical] events, I may be called in as technical advisor.”
HOW LONG ON
THE PAYROLL?
“I was full-time from 1999-2001. Now I’m part-time.”
WHY REDUCE HER HOURS?
“I got to the point in my career where I wanted to teach. I majored in music composition and minored in education. In New York, I produced and composed music for commercial jingles and records. But I always wanted to teach. In 1996, I left. When I was down here [on vacation], I was offered a job at Jefferson Davis Middle School, where I worked for three years. Then I was offered the job to run the theater. Later, I was asked to develop the chorale program at Paxon. I believe it is ranked No. 8 among high schools in the nation. I teach there during the day then leave two, three times a week for rehearsals at the Ritz.”
WHAT IS MOST REWARDING ABOUT HER WORK?
“I really love to work with young people in the arts. It brings me a lot of joy. I work on their self-worth and integrity in addition to their musical ability. Raising the self-esteem of young people crosses cultural boundaries. The young people of today don’t believe in themselves. I want them to go out in the world and survive and stand up for themselves in a manner that’s respected by society. I give them the tools to express themselves that way.”
WHAT CLIENTELE DOes SHE SERVE?
“At the Ritz, it helps to have experience in different areas because we serve so many diverse clients. We have this stigma that, because our roots are in an African-American theater, that our audience is all African-American. But, we have many occasions where the audience is all white. A month ago, we had a Korean night. It’s balanced and culturally diverse. Our clients come from all walks of life. The Ritz has got that vibe where we’re comfortable for everybody.”
WHERE DID SHE GO
TO SCHOOL?
A native New Yorker, McDuffie graduated from Western College.
HER RESUME
Over the past 29 years, McDuffie has accumulated experience in music production, performance, composition, arrangement, marketing, advertising, special promotions, teaching and lecturing. She started as a trainee in music production with McCann Erickson advertising agency, working on the “Buy the World a Coke” campaign. During her 10 years there, she worked on music for national accounts using the song styles of pop, country, jazz, gospel, and rhythm & blues. Being fluent in French and Spanish, she also worked on ad campaigns for Miller Brewing Company and Coca-Cola. She left in 1981 to further develop her production company, Jana Productions, that she operated for over 20 years. She has also written musical themes for television, radio and live shows.
WHAT FAMOUS MUSICIANS HAS SHE MET?
Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Will Smith, Gladys Knight, Al Green, Patti Labelle, Luther Vandross, Michael Bolton, Roberta Flack, the Temptations, the Four Tops and Grover Washington Jr.
WHO WAS MOST MEMORABLE?
“Luther Vandross was my favorite to work with because it was always so fun in the studio.”
WHY LEAVE THE BIG CITY?
“Even something as fascinating as working with music legends still becomes repetitious. I was interested in developing talent. There is energy and talent in this town.”
WHY GO INTO
THIS PROFESSION?
“I’ve always been into music because of how music allows us to express ourselves. I don’t talk that well but I can write it in a song. Music and lyrics are a deep and profound form of expression, especially if you’re shy. A lot of big celebrities are very shy. It’s hard for them to handle [too much attention]. Music provides an outlet that helps you to overcome your shyness.”
IS SHE AFFILIATED WITH ANY GROUPS?
McDuffie is a member of the American Society of Composers, Artists and Producers.
HOME LIFE
McDuffie resides on the Westside with her son Kemal.
HOBBIES
Gardening, cooking and studying metaphysics. She also enjoys eating Japanese food, reading self-help books, relaxing to jazz music or tuning into “Law & Order.”
HER HERO?
“Quincy Jones because my past has kind of followed his. He was always supportive of what I was doing as I was coming up through the ranks. It was like an invisible mantle of support that I found very comforting. I try to incorporate his success, learning from his experiences, in my career.”
— by Monica Chamness