INDUCTED: January 14, 2014
AWARD PRESENTED: November 22, 2014
Debbie was born on July 30, 1951
OHIO BACKGROUND
Born in Hamilton, Ohio
LIFE & HISTORICAL EVENTS
Debbie K. McQueen was born in Hamilton, Ohio.
In 1972 Debbie and a young man named Cloid Baker were married. Cloid had been traveling with the Bill Gaither Trio. At which time Debbie left the Weatherfords and moved to Fairmont, Indiana.
In 1985 they moved to Bright, Indiana.
GOSPEL MUSIC MINISTRY
Debbie attended the Stamps / Baxter School in 1968 and 1969.
She started playing piano for the Crownsmen based out of Cincinnati in late 1960s.
Sometime in the early 1970s, while playing for the Crownsmen, they appeared in a concert with the Weatherfords. As a result, Earl Weatherford offered her the job, and wanting to travel-full time, she started traveling with them.
After getting marriage they sang briefly with Cloid’s father as the Baker Trio.
In 1976 they both started traveled with the Weatherfords.
In 1977, when Danny Gaither left the Bill Gaither Trio to start his own group, Cloid & Debbie became part of his ministry.
In 1988 Cloid and Debbie, after singing with Doug Sharp for a while, they started their own group called Forgiven, based out of Lawrenceburg, Indiana. They have changed personal several times but they continue to travel singing in around 200 services each year.
SONGS / AWARDS / RECOGNITION
Forgiven has recorded for Counterpoint Productions with Dr. Charles Novell, Middletown, Ohio and the Eddie Crook Company in Nashville, TN, on their Morning Star label.
They have been recognized by many national southern gospel music publications, including SoGospelNews.com, Gospel Music Profiles, Streets of Gold and Southern Gospel Music Forum. They have been featured multiple times in the distinguished Singing News Magazine. Forgiven has participated in television appearances on Phipps Gospel Sing, Andy Bryan’s Spirit of Praise, Atlanta Live, Hazen Ministries, TV 49 in Augusta, GA, Nightline Program in Greenville, SC, TCT Ministries and Daystar Network.
Forgiven made their first appearance on the National Quartet Convention Main Stage in September, 2014.