A Love Letter to the Legendary Man 

Behind the Voice of The Stylistics, Russell Tompkins, Jr.

By Debórah Benton

If any fans of The Stylistics want to know what Russell Thompkins, Jr. is really like behind the scenes, I'll let you in on a secret: Think of the sweetest, most kind-hearted, endearing lyrics of any song ever recorded by The Stylistics; “Betcha By Golly Wow,” “Stone In Love With You,” “ You Are Everything And Everything Is You,” “Make Me Feel Brand New,” “Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart,”… whatever the lyrics and the melody, Russell Thompkins, Jr. is even more loving, more loyal as a friend, more giving and more kind than any song he could ever sing? And that's saying a lot.

I Believe the year was 2010. I was on a roll with my TV Talk-Variety show, “Valley Gold with Debórah.” I had one advertiser, no sponsors, and countless business owners and residents of our 600k population [Youngstown DMA], who didn't think I could pull it off, and just waiting for me to fail. But here I was on a roll with one major Award-Winning R&B legendary artist after the next - Glenn Leonard [The Temptations], Ray Davis [Parliament -Funkadelic], The Whispers, Cuba Gooding, Sr., GC Cameron [The Spinners], Billy Beck [The Ohio Players], James Lloyd [Pieces of A Dream], Ray Goodman and Brown, Kool& The Gang, The Edsels, The Chi-Lites, Men at Large, LeVert - all coming into Youngstown Ohio to sit down on my set of the Valley Gold Show to be interviewed by lil’ ole me; someone considered to be a No-Name TV talk show host. Among that list of legendary artists was the one and only Russell Thompkins, Jr. of the world-renowned Stylistics. By this time, Russell had started his own group called the New Stylistics. The booking arrangements for this episode were all made between Russell’s then manager, Smitty and me. Prior to Russell's appearance on Valley Gold, Russell and I had never even so much as spoken over the phone. But once Russell and his guys came to town, and the local fans and my team inundated them with our love and appreciation, Russell and I were no longer strangers. To the point, as Russell was giving me one last hug before boarding his tour bus to move on to the next city, he said to me, “You have my number. Consider us friends. From now on, you contact me direct.”  After that initial encounter we stayed in contact pretty frequently, but as the months and years wore on, the communication languished and several years had passed since our last chat. 

From 2005 – 2019, my entire life was God, Family, and The Valley Gold Show with Debórah. By now, every person that knew anything at all about me was aware that I hosted a TV talk show, which I am quite proud of, and I love hosting the show. But if truth be told, the talk show is not my most longed for and passionate dream. What I really love the most is singing.  And if asked my favorite music and vocal stylist, my answer would be that of “Ms. Dionne Warwick – who else?”

So now, let’s go back to the year is 2019: 
I had decided to embrace the singing fully and publicly with every breath in my body. I stepped out on faith and started getting a few local bookings here and there, when finally in 2025, a NY Booking Agent reached out and asked me to perform my Deja Vu - Dionne Warwick tribute at City Winery in Philadelphia. Prior to that gig, I had not performed as a solo act outside of the Mahoney Valley in decades. I graciously accepted the offer. I was definitely up for the challenge, but not sure of how to go about it. I wondered who I knew in Philly, and remembered that my friends, Russell Thompkins, Jr. and the New Stylistics were in Philly. I reached out to Russell, and his immediate answer made my eyes burn with tears. You see, I come from a very hard place where people have been so oppressed that it's difficult for them to want to see their neighbors succeed. It's a place where I was often told very candidly by other local entertainers, ‘I don't want you to succeed before I do,’ or ‘What you’re doing is nice, but I know someone else who does it better.‘ Nearly every time I reached out for help, my hand was slapped back in rejection. So I thought long and hard about whether to reach out to Russell. (Afterall, he's a big star, and who was I?) Hardly anyone even knew I sang. I was almost overwhelmed by feelings of inferiority and thoughts like, ‘Would Russell consider it an insult to share the stage with me?’ His voice is recognized in every house in America, and all around the world. The last thing I ever wanted to do was insult him… But regardless of my fears and insecurities, I needed help, and Russell was the best and only person I knew in Philadelphia who could help me. So, I had to shoot my shot. 

When I mustered up the courage to make the call, I was not at all prepared for the response that I got from Russell, and from each member of the New Stylistics group; Jonathan Lawrence Buckson, Sr., Raymond Lewis, and even music director Kenny Thompson. One by one, I heard each of them say the exact same words, ”Anything for you, Debórah.” They made me cry. 

The Philly gig at City Winery was January 2025. I was elated to see a venue filled with eager and warm receptive fans, family and friends from all over - NY, PA, ATL, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton [OH] - for my ‘maiden voyage.’ Dave Wooley, who is Dionne Warwick’s biographer, members of the group TRU, and other recording artists were in the audience. My biggest surprise guest was Vannessa Jordan, Executive Director of the National Rhythm & Blues Music Society. 

Sidebar - Cute Story:
Vannessa was introduced to me by some of my closest friends, Scotty, Walter, Nicholas, Leaveil and Grady, aka The Whispers. Over the years she and I have become truly great friends. So, when I called her to say that I would be performing in her neck of the woods, she rather flatly and dismissively said she would not be in attendance because she had other plans. Vannessa is “my Girl.” So, it was a bit odd for her not to elaborate at all. I didn't take it personally, I just concluded that she must have a lot on her mind. Meanwhile, the show must go on. On the night of my Philly debut, the music of the Bill Jolly Band began to play, and I donned the stage singing “The Look of Love.” As I finished my first song, I took a deeper look into the audience and who did I see seated in the front row? “My Girl, Vannessa!” She and her hubby Stuart had planned all along to be there for me, but she decided to make it a surprise. Looking out into the audience and seeing Vannessa smiling back at me felt like a great big warm hug. That night on that stage in Philadelphia, I felt nothing but love.

But back to Russell Tompkins Jr. and the New Stylistics: 
I had the absolute delight of introducing them on stage – and…, check this out: I performed two songs with them. That's right, this lil’ girl from the YO [Youngstown, Ohio], was favored by God to share the stage with one of R&B’s greatest vocalists of all time. What an endorsement! I can’t tell you how long I basked in the glow of that performance. The audience was gracious and welcoming. Vanessa videoed a segment on her phone that got about 4,000 views and lots of favorable comments within the first few hours. Most comments were from people asking, ‘Who is that sounding like Dionne Warwick?’ Now let's be clear, I do not have anywhere near the vocal ability and gifting of Queen Dionne Warwick. But I was immensely honored and humbled that people thought I was reflective of her. After the concert and meet & greet concluded, the Booking Agent asked if I would accept another City Winery gig, to which I gladly obliged. 

If that’s not enough, the love didn’t stop there. Russell and I are now working on a recording project together. It’s like those annoying infomercials that come on every week, all hours of the day and night, ... “But Wait! There’s More!”  My Déjà vu – Dionne Warwick Tribute show is now the official opening act for Russell Thompkins, Jr. and the New Stylistics. I can hardly type this without becoming emotional. 

Several weeks after that Philly show, Jonathan Lawrence Buckson, Sr. and I were having a conversation. Jonathan told me how he, Russell and the other guys moved to the back of the room to watch my performance, and Jonathan said their response among themselves was, “She's a star." I cannot tell you what they saw in me or felt from me. When I played back my video of the performance, I see room for a lot of improvement. But I will say what we used to say as kids whenever someone called you a name. “It takes one to know one.” So if Raymond, and Jonathan, and Kenny, - and Russell Tompkins Jr. whose name and voice are legendary throughout this entire world; who has sung at every major spectacular venue and stage in this nation and beyond; whose voice is copied and imitated and emulated and set as the standard for thousands of first tenors around the world, If ‘he’ says I'm a star, then I say, “It takes one to know one.” And who am I to argue with Russell? 

No Matter a Person’s Age, Everyone Needs a Champion:
Everyone needs someone to see into them and tell them they have value, and they are deserving of a chance, and they are worth paying attention to. That's who Russell Thompkins, Jr. is to me. That's what Russell does for me. 

Post-Philadelphia, 2025:
Since that beautiful experience at City Winery, Philadelphia in 2025, Russell and I have been joined at the hip, and his wife Janice and my husband LaMarr have become thick as thieves. Russell is my brother and Janice and LaMarr are brother and sister. The four of us are the most fun-loving force to ever be reckoned with. There is a love bond between us that comes from God. On several occasions, I’ve heard people ask Russell why he pours so much into me. With a twinkle in his eye, he simply says, "Debórah is part of my destiny." And whenever I hear the name Russell Tompkins, Jr., or I hear a Stylistics song, my heart is filled with gratitude. Everyone needs a champion, and Russell is that for me.

My husband of 41 years is an incredible Visual Artist who was always struggling to find more time and space to do what he loves most, To Create. So for the entirety of our lives together, he has been creating and building. But when it comes to purging, not so much. In our home and on our property no empty space was safe from my Artistic Hubby's stuff-accumulating hands. Only 1 car was permitted to occupy our 3- car garage because the other 2 spaces had to house his artwork and woodworking equipment. The tool shed couldn't shelter landscaping tools and lawn equipment because it existed in a perpetual state of retrofitting as a spay paint booth for Hubby's creative designs in wood. And surely Hubby must have been convinced that nearly every corner of every room inside our house was beckoning to be accentuated by an easel- big or small triangular base - whatever size he could taylor-make and squeeze into each triangle corner. But glory be to God for the wisdom He gives to wives. 

I realized how much Hubby's life and creative juices were being stymied by his obsession to complete the hundreds of old projects. I'm talking about the mass production projects he began in 1997 when we had a full-fledged 3-story manufacturing facility. We closed the factory, but Hubby brought all the factory contents and equipment to our residential home. 

Good news: I was able to convince LaMarr that if he got rid of all the materials and projects from decades past, he could have a whole new lease on life, and he believed me. He immediately ordered a dumpster, filled it way past the brim and so was launched the "LaMarr Benton Studio Gallery." The images below reflect a space and tell the story, from STUFF to STUDIO" AFTER."

This is what love and friendship, and community looks like. Howard Howell on the left - local music artist and entrepreneur who has been working really hard for many years. On the right is Royal Bayyan, local music artist and INCREDIBLE producer who has been all over the world, made millions $$$, worked with many of the greatest names in entertainment; Teddy Riley, Kool & the Gang, Pink just to name a few. Royal used his experience and his influence to open a door for Howard. Howard did whatever he had to do to make good on the opportunity. The outcome of what they've done has given us ALL a reason to celebrate. Let's all take a lesson: "When you have been BLESSED with the power to help your brother/sister, JUST DO IT."

"It must have been cold there in my shadow"... The first lyrics to "Wind Beneath My Wings, and so befitting to the life of a publicist of most major celebrities. But not so for Dionne Warwick's Publicist of 40+ years and counting. Dionne's Publicist is Angelo Ellerbee (Double XXposure Media Relations). I have always LOVED DIONNE WARWICK. But meeting her just seemed like a pipe dream. Then in January 2024, I connected with Dionne's Publicist, Angelo. Angelo never promised me that I'd meet Ms. Warwick, but as our friendship grew he allowed me to know her through his eyes. He talked about how she took him all over the world and made her world his; the beautiful places they visited, the amazing people they met. And through the compassion and commitment she displayed for marginalized and oppressed people, Angelo felt more loved. 

My conversations with Angelo inspired me to read his books ("Before I Let You Go" and "Ask Angelo"), and in so doing, I gained even greater insight into the heart of my music Queen Dionne Warwick. So when I was invited to interview Ms. Warwick with John Batcho (94.7 FM), I felt like I knew her - so well that I didn't have a lot of questions. I really just wanted to celebrate her for what I already knew, and for what I had newly learned about her through the eyes of Angelo. Because of Angelo Ellerbee I was able to spend those very precious moments with this Queen to simply say "Thank You," and celebrate her for 65 years of sweet music. That is, 65 years and counting ... 
Angelo Ellerbee, thank you for being that inspiring light just for me - into the life of my Queen, the incomparable Ms. Dionne Warwick

This past week has been all about my entertainment queen, Ms. Dionne Warwick. Monday I was prepping to co- host a radio interview with John Batcho, Mr. Sports, 94.7. Tuesday we engaged in the interview with Dionne which was a major milestone for my LIFE! Saturday afternoon Hubby and I practically destroyed our bedroom dressing room as we tried on one outfit after the next - trying to find the perfect set that would work with our Dionne Warwick T-shirts. AT LAST, I settled on this cute sparkly black chiffon jacket to accentuate the white T-shirt boasting Ms. Warwick's gorgeous blondish-gray coiffed hair, beautiful eyes, high cheekbones and brilliant smile. I wore well-fitting black jeans with sequined pockets and black suede high ankle-strapped heels. Oh, and I wore THEE BOLDEST BRIGHTEST bracelets I could find because I wanted Queen Dionne to see me from the stage, clapping with the beat and applauding her performance on "EVERY - SINGLE - SONG." 

Now, here we are. Hubby and I finally at the Robins Theater to see Dionne Warwick "live" for the 2nd time. The 1st time 10 years ago and it was wonderful, but it was during the period in my life where I had given up the hope of ever singing again, and that period lasted for decades. Now, fast-forward to this week of March 9, 2026. A time in my life that I am actually performing Ms. Warwick's music on stages before live audiences... This night, all I wanted to do was hang on to her every note, her every inflection, her every interpretation of every phrase... and to somehow say, "Thank You." Thank you Ms. Warwick for all the voice lessons and performance lessons that I continue to glean from you every day; morning noon and night - as I listen to, and practice, and sing your music. I never conceived that I could actually have a future singing this music I love, but God. So, if anyone wonders why I've been so over the moon this whole week, why I call Dionne Warwick my Queen, why I love her so very much,... Well, now ya know.