Generally speaking, I like to note the 70th birthday of performers that I enjoy in this blog. Well, Debbie Harry, the lead singer of the group Blondie, no relation to Bumstead, turned 70 on July 1, and I totally missed it.
Blondie is an American rock band that Harry formed with guitarist Chris Stein. It took the band until its third album, Parallel Lines in 1978 before they became big in the United States. Their music is eclectic, including elements of punk rock, disco, pop, rap, and reggae.
Many of their songs were co-written by Harry and Stein, including “Heart of Glass”, “Picture This”, “Dreaming”, “Island of Lost Souls”, “Rapture”, and “Rip Her to Shreds”.
The group broke up in 1982, and Debbie Harry pursued a solo career with mixed results. She took a few years off to care for Chris Stein, “who was diagnosed with pemphigus, a rare autoimmune disease of the skin.”
Blondie re-formed in 1997 and performs and records to this day. The group, which has sold 50 million records worldwide, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
LISTEN to The Best of Blondie, which includes my favorites, including Heart of Glass, The Tide Is High, Hanging On The Telephone, Rapture, One Way Or Another (written by Harry and Nigel Harrison), and Call Me (written by Harry and Giorgio Moroder for the film American Gigolo).
WATCH Debbie Harry explain The Pogo to the Americans.
I shouldn’t be surprised by the news that Debbie Harry is 70, but for some reason, I am. I guess when I first became aware of Blondie, in 1981, I thought she was much younger. I didn’t know the history of the band at that point, so I didn’t know how long they’d been around.
ATOMIC!!!!!
70 already????
Oh my gosjjj …. i’ve listened to her music as i was on highschool, never searched for her age but never imagined that she would be that much older than i am
Kind Regards
Melody
You always give me information I hadn’t been aware of. Thanks Roger.
Another great post for the letter H.
Interesting information.
A band from my youth… (although I was always more interested in classical music)
Greetings from Germany
When we moved back to upstate NY from Florida in early 1981 (I think it was), I can remember The Tide is High being on the radio about every 20 minutes for the entire drive up. Hearing it today still puts me in the passenger seat of the U-Haul my sister was driving. Today Call Me is probably me favourite song of theirs, but I like most everything they did. Liked Harry in her actor turn on Wiseguy, too.
Well it won’t be long until I am in the same league (in age only).
Ann
Debra Harry is beautiful.
Her music still makes me move to the rhythm. I too didn’t know her age, but nowadays everyone looks young to me! I always enjoy walking down the musical memory lane. Thanks also for what you do for ABC Wednesday to keep it going.
Another band and personality for me to research. You contribute to my musical education in spades. Roger.
I never realize that stars are getting older ! That doesn’t make me younger !
Haven’t heard of them but looking forward to checking them out on YouTube.
I loved Blondie and Debbie Harry, she had and still has a great voice.
She was on TV recently, a blast from the past…I liked her singing
Denny, Denny..and all the others.
I had a friend who looked just like her, needless to say we all called her Blondie !
Best wishes,
Di,
ABCW team,
I’m another one who can’t believe Debbie Harry is 70. But, then I couldn’t believe when the actress who played Marsha Brady turned 50 sometime back. lol
it is unbelievable that she is older than I am! I remember my daughters enjoying her music and I got into it, too. Seldom do we all like the same stuff. My favourites of her songs are “Heart of Glass and ” “Call Me.” Great post this week, as usual.
Leslie
abcw team
I’m a fan…Have ‘Call Me’ as one of my favs on my IPod.
She always appears timeless. Great songs.
Sad to say, I am not familiar with this singer. But it is great to hear she is still performing at 70 years old….