She was born Maddie Bell Galvin in Norfolk, Virginia. Her first name was pronounced "Maydie", a spelling she later adopted. As a young child she sang gospel in her father's church, and while a teenager toured nationally as a gospel singer. She began performing with a jazz trio led by her high school music teacher, Reginald Walker, and also toured with a gospel group who performed at the 1965 World Fair. Because of her family's religious views, she adopted the stage name Debbie Taylor when singing in clubs in Norfolk with R&amp;B musicians, and in 1967 she was seen there by Joe Medlin, a regional talent scout for Decca Records.