DEBRA GUSSIN

Prior to becoming a songwriter, Debra enjoyed a career as a television producer on programs such as ABC's Wide World of Sports, Fox Sports News, Daytime Emmy Awards, Wolfgang Puck, National Geographic Channel, and Dr. Phil.

After winning three Concord Records & Barry Manilow Songwriting Scholarships, Debra was given a Lifetime Barry Manilow Scholarship Award, and left her television career, and the Dr. Phil show, to focus on songwriting full time.

She went on to win both the Grand Prize and the Lennon Award in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and won several other international contests in different genres, including Pop, Dance, Adult Contemporary, Country, & Broadway.

When UCLA Extension chose THIS IS OUR TIME as its Official Graduation Song, it received a WORLD PREMIERE performance at Royce Hall in Los Angeles, performed by Erich Bergen (Jersey Boys, Madam Secretary). The song will soon be the Debut Single of the 2014 winner of Ottawa Idol.

Debra was commissioned by the Federal Trade Commission to write songs for their AnnualCreditReport.com commercials, which won a CINE Golden Eagle Award for Best Public Service Announcement.

Her songs have been featured on several TV programs including the CW primetime show "90210," NBC's primetime drama "The Event," E! Entertainment's "Kourtney & Kim Take New York," Speed Network's "NASCAR Race Hub," and the UK's "It's Only The Beginning."

In 2013, Debra received her first major label cut on Warner Music when U SO MEAN NOTHING TO ME was recorded and released by European singing sensation, Innocence.  Debra's country song, KISS ME LIKE U MEAN IT, was the debut single by Ottawa Idol winner, Ally Mayson, and is currently in Top 30 rotation on radio stations across Canada.

Debra was nominated for three HOLLYWOOD MUSIC IN MEDIA AWARDS, and took First Place in the Adult Contemporary/AAA category.  She also took the top prize in the Australian Songwriters Association's International category, as well as the Dallas Songwriters Association (Country).  In addition to winning the Grand Prize of Songdoor International, her songs won both the Soft Rock and Christian categories. 

While continuing to write pop, country, dance, & Hot AC, Debra is currently the lyricist for TURMOIL! A New Musical. 

2015 looks bright as one of Debra's songs will appear in a feature film releasing later this year.  She has five co-writes on the highly anticipated new album, DETOUR, by international singer/songwriter Kyle Vincent.