Music like Debbie Dean

Reba Jeanette Smith (February 1, 1928 – February 17, 2001), known professionally as Debbie Dean, was an American singer who was the first white solo artist to record for Motown.

Born Reba Jeanette Smith on February 1, 1928 in Corbin, Kentucky. She was the fourth child of Walter B. Smith, a railroad engineer by his wife, Alma, a housewife. Debbie Dean recorded as Penny Smith and Debbie Stevens at various labels before arriving at Motown in the early 1960s, and was Motown's first white female solo recording artist, signed by Berry Gordy.

Unlike most of the early Motown recording artists, she was neither an R&B or blues singer. Her first single at Motown was "Don't Let Him Shop Around," (1961) an answer record to the Miracles #1 R&B and #2 pop hit, "Shop Around." Dean's perky vocals with a noticeable southern twang barely reached Billboard's Hot 100 charts with the song.