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.