Amazing Drummer!! Debra Pearce from Partridge Family!

[kebler823]

just got home and turned on the TV and seen this very last seen on TV just as I did on Youtube! it's almost like I saw a replay! lol..............

[misti295]

ThePartridge Family Was based on the cowsills not Debbie.

[velocity2themax]

Good ole' FOX, and I DONT even mean that sarcastically. This Queer wouldn't have been exposed to what I consider to be the original POP group the Partridge Family had their re-runs not aired on Fox Fam in early 2000s. I fell in love with their sound, bought every CD I could and even convinced a couple of my friends' parents to give me their vintage albums.. One of my friends mom's even cried when she gave me Shopping Bag, bc she saved the plastic bag all these years for someone to appreciate.

[withloveT]

well i can tell you that The Partridge Family was supposed to be written for her and her sisters in a band called the Pearce Sisters but they decided that they wanted to include boys in the show. They wanted to keep Debbie but her parents didn't want to split her up from the others. Well anyways they agreed to let the producers use her in the first episode. (: Now she lives in Florida and she's doing well! She still plays a little and she paints and whatnot, it's pretty cool!

[calism23]

@withloveT - Very cool - thanks for sharing that. I'd really like to find some clips of her playing now.

[penpusher]

@withloveT That's a very interesting story. However, the widely circulated tale is that "The Partridge Family" was really the story of The Cowsills, who ABC was apparently ready to bring on board to play the parts of the kids, with Shirley Jones as mom, but they didn't want their mother left out of the project so they vetoed the show and the network went ahead without them. Are they still the Pearce Sisters?

[Charles787980]

I recall around this era seeing a young girl performing "wipeout" on the Lawrence Welk show. She was very good. Anybody know if it's the same girl.

[sussexcounty]

wow! can't believe it!

[finmarc]

How many kids nowadays would get Ritalin from their docs to keep quiet?

[RoofFiddler]

This episode just aired on Antenna TV here in Chicago. Had to google that drummer kid, which led me here. LOL. Cool to see that she's posted here.

[1martuska]

This is amazing! Whatever became of Debbie?

[BeatleBangs1964]

Where does this little Ringo play? What band is she with?

Love that drummer girl! No wonder Jeremy Gelbwaks' nose was out of joint. Debbie is the real deal. The Partridge Family was a rock group like Ben Casey was a doctor.

[BeatleBangs1964]

Where does this little Ringo play? What band is she with?



[calism23]

Where can I find video of her or her band? I've been wanting to find out what's become of her.

[biotda]

Debbie is still a great drummer. It is a pleasure to play with her. KC

[calism23]

@biotda - Where can I find video of her or her band? I've been wanting to find out what's become of her.

[somewhatlongdong]

@calism23 Why do you care? This was 40 years ago

[bigboyvernon]

Love that drummer girl.

[cassidy322]

Hi Deb. Just to reiterate what a great drummer you were as a kid......You should have been the first choice for the Partridge Family.

From another drummer.

Take care

[matt89102]

Hi Debra,

I'm a musician myself(guitarist) and always wondered what happened to ya. Your playing was great on that clip and I couldn't imagine you didn't have a career in myusic. 

Do you still play? Is Debra Pearce your name and are there any recordings released with you on them?

Thanks,

Matt Zito

[DaveWollenberg]

Hey, Debbie, I promise not to bring up questions about your age, anymore. Consider the matter closed. Anyway, do you still keep in touch with either Shirley Jones, or Polly Bergen. Write back and let me know. God bless! Be blessed every day!

[alfan14]

haha we watched this episode in AP US today after our writing SOL. I'm a drummer myself, that solo blew me away...was not expecting it at all

[DaveWollenberg]

Deb, I'm sorry if I hit a sensitive spot. If you'd given your age in that '70 clip, I would've figured out by myself just how old you are now! Didn't mean to say or do anything wrong! God bless! Remember, age is nothin' but a number!

[DaveWollenberg]

Hey, Deb, I was just wonderin'. How old WERE you in that Partridges' clip? You already played like a seasoned veteran! I was 7 myself, when that was shown. Write back, if you're comfortable about it. God bless!

[withloveT]

this is my auntie!!!!! (: whatttt?!?!

[DaveWollenberg]

Hey, Deb, why would bearswilleatme say that you girls died in a boatin' accident in '81, when it never happened? Is he tryin' to pull a fast 1? Write back! God bless!

[pearcedrummer]

@DaveWollenberg I don't know why bearswilleatme said that. I have to admit, it took me by surprise. Even more so, 7 names were listed, but I assure you, we never had a guy, John, in our band

[DaveWollenberg]

Hey, Deb, now I'm confused. Why would bearswilleatme say you died in an accident off the coast of Newfoundland in '81, when I got a reply from you just now? C'mon, is this a put on? And which of your sisters was the trumpeter? God bless!

[pearcedrummer]

@DaveWollenberg

Terri is the trumpet player. She doubled on guitar as needed. In the early days, she liked to play Herb Albert. What I remember about Roseville fair is that it was about 115 degrees that year, and I thought all you guys who lived there were crazy!

No boating accident for us. In fact, we never appeared in New Foundland, though we did do a tour through Canada as far as Toroto.

[DaveWollenberg]

Hey, bearswilleatme, what instruments did each of the Pearces' play. I seem to remember the lead singer either on cornet or trumpet, also maybe doubled on tambourine. Please let me know, thanx. God bless!

[pearcedrummer]

@DaveWollenberg The Pearce Sisters were the band: Barbara, Terri, Patty, Lori, and Birdie were the other members--keyboard, drums, trumpet, guitar, bass. A solo appearance by me, the drummer, just didn't happen. This guest appearance on the Partridge family was completely out of the norm, as we really are sisters, and always stuck together as one and all. Hi to my skating pal from jr. high.

[galtech01]

@pearcedrummer Did you forget about Mary?? Thanks Debbie, I love you too!!!!

[bearswilleatme]

sadly they died in a boating accident off the coast of newfoundland in 1981. RIP debra, patty, sue, john, rita, and mittens.

[slamer123]

@bearswilleatme I remember seeing the Pearce Sisters band play many times in Roseville, Ca at the Fair grounds back in the 1970's. They had a great act and were very talented. I always wondered why they never made a record. I've searched for information on the Internet but have never found much.

[Drumminman4U]

At that age? Amazing. Truly an amazing clip. There are people on youtube who call themselves drummers and cannot play like that in the clips they post. I'm stunned!

[kuurby]

I went to Junior high with this girl...in 1972 to 1973...she was a sweet girl. I wonder what ever happened to her and her sisters....

[pokerbaby7]

i think she might be a drummer by the name of Debra Dobkin. Just a guess.

[calism23]

Well, Debra Dobkin is left handed and plays matched grip, and Debra Pierce plays traditional grip and right handed. She also seems like a better drummer at this age than Debra Dobkin.

[pearcedrummer]

@calism23

[pearcedrummer]

@calism23

Hey, you do a great analysis of my drum clip. I was a bit shocked to see this come up after all these years. I so appreciate your comments. Thank you. Debbie Pearce of The Pearce Sisters.

[calism23]

Wow, it's amazing to hear from you. I'm glad you liked our comments. At the time that Bill and I posted this clip, we were hoping to generate interest that may help us locate you. But I was more expecting to find someone that had info about recent drumming clips from you, or something. The only thing I found on The Pearce Sisters was animation (probably didn't look enough). Do you still play drums?

[cassidy322]

She should have been the real drummer.........why on earth they couldnt have used kids who could really sing and play with Cassidy as lead amazes me

[sequel91]

Yeah--unlike most TV shows, she's really doing this. Hadn't seen this for at least 20 years...

[oldhacks]

fucking kieth moon in a skirt!

[rozkaz66]

heheh Blast Blast;)

[UnrealDrumKid]

Nice video lol

[cymbalplayer56]

Chris is just like "screw this!" lol