BUCYRUS―Danielle Rebon said she recently experienced a calling from God she wasn’t expecting.
The 32-year-old daughter of Pastor Dan Rebon and his wife, Karolyn Rebon, a teacher, recorded her first CD last week at her parents’ church, Father’s Heart Healing Center, on Woodlawn Avenue.
“My parents joke that I started singing while still in the womb,” Danielle said with a laugh.
Karolyn said Danielle really began singing from the moment she started talking.
“And she sang all the time,” Karolyn said.
Karolyn had sent Danielle information about Resurgent Sound with Bethel in California two years ago.
“They are a recording studio and find different artists that want to do a recording,” Danielle said.
She said she requested information from them that put her on their email and text list for the future.
“I received a message in December that they were holding a contest for a recording at half the regular price, so I sent, ‘Pick me, Columbus, Ohio,’” Danielle said. “I didn’t know why I did it. I never win anything.”
Two minutes later, Danielle received a message back stating that she was a winner in the contest.
“They were coming to Columbus in February to do a full-length, 10-song recording with me at half-off the normal price. I could not believe it,” she said.
While the news was exciting, the fact that Danielle did not have the $2,950 needed for the recording was not lost on her.
“I did something I have never done before and set up a Go Fund Me account. I even did live videos to let people know what was happening and why I needed the assistance,” said Danielle, who works as a DJ for three radio stations, including Ohio’s Gospel Giant, WXIC AM 660 in Chillicothe where she resides.
Danielle said she started writing her own songs three years ago and with God’s help, was able to create four new songs to record within the two months of her learning she had been chosen to record.
“I still needed $1,700 on Sunday and we were recording on Thursday,” Danielle said. “God had put it on my heart to record the CD, so I left it to him. If it’s God’s will, it’s God’s bill.”
By Wednesday, Feb. 27, she had the remaining money needed to move forward with the recording on Feb. 28.
“This whole thing was God. I just showed up with the gift he gave me,” Danielle said. “I am forever grateful to everyone who donated and helped make this all happen.”
Ryan Hall, a producer at Resurgent Sound, agreed to allow Danielle to record at her parents’ church in Bucyrus.
“This is where I learned to play the piano. I would sit beside my mom while she played on Sunday mornings,” Danielle said.
Danielle recorded the 10 songs she had prepared with a little help from friends and family.
“Several people are featured on the CD with me,” said Danielle, said of the album which includes her parents and close friends Heidi Lyons, Kayla-Ann Myers and Norman Moxley.
Karolyn said even though she is her mom, she is amazed by Danielle’s talent.
“She had to write all this music herself for the CD,” Karolyn said.
Danielle said she could not have pulled it off without God’s help and guidance.
“It’s not about fame or anything like that for myself,” Danielle said. “It is about using my gifts of singing and songwriting to spread God’s word and his love.”
The CD, “Take Me Back,” will be released by early summer.
“I will be having a CD release party, probably one in Bucyrus and one in Chillicothe so everyone who helped make this happen can attend,” Danielle said.