Deborah Evans began working in the music publishing business in 1998 for Beebe Bourne at BOURNE CO. representing a prestigious catalogue of standards such as “Me and My Shadow,” “Here’s That Rainy Day,” “Unforgettable,” and “When You Wish Upon a Star.” She joined the staff of THE HARRY FOX AGENCY in 2000 for several years, working in both the synchronization and the mechanical licensing departments. In 2002, she moved to HELENE BLUE MUSIQUE LTD. as Director of Copyright and Licensing, managing all areas of copyright, licensing, and royalties for the company. Deborah later took on the responsibilities of Director of Publishing for Stray Dog Music, a Brooklyn-based company handling a growing and diverse catalogue of indie-rock, alt-country, rock-a-billy, jazz, pop, and hip-hop.
She is now an independent music publisher of her own, having started DELLA MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC in August 2007, and represents NYC area hip hop/rap artists such as Redman and prolific and versatile songwriter Randy Klein. Deborah’s New Orleans artists pay honor to original music with a unique NOLA sound. They include Ha Sizzle, the King of Bounce, and Abigail Cosio-Kelley of Bon Bon Vivant, a genre bending band that pulls from both dark ballads and up-tempo indie dance music, much of it rooted in storytelling. Dance/pop artist LeTrainiump and rap artist Slim Kuttar round out the New Orleans artist roster. In addition, a second administration company, Della Blue Music, handles catalogues formerly under Helene Blue Musique, Ltd which include poet and songwriter Rod McKuen, 50s and 60 jazz catalogue Irving Mills Music, world music by Paul Winter and Living Earth Music, publishing for RGS Music which contains compositions belonging to the German metal bands UFO and the Scorpions, and Andval Music for compositions by the ground breaking 50s Native American guitarist Link Wray.
In 2009, Deborah Mannis-Gardner and DMG CLEARANCES, INC. came into her life and since then, the fascinating and challenging world of clearing music for diverse projects such as films, tv, internet streaming, video, art installations, album compilations, and classical pieces sampling other music or literary works, became incorporated into her workday. A musician herself, Deborah holds a Master’s Degree in Harpsichord Performance from Montclair State University and also spent many years teaching piano and performing. She resides in New Orleans with her husband Joe and daughter Gianna.
