When Deborah McDuffie created Amateur Night at the Ritz, she created a venue for Jacksonville youths to display their talent. It was the city's answer to New York City's famed Apollo Theater. Now, she has taken her creative abilities to a new level by having recently opened the non-profit Jacksonville School of Music at The Jacksonville Landing.

McDuffie has already won the admiration and confidence of youngsters who aspire a career in entertainment. First of all, according to one of her constituents, she is a "musical genius." Secondly, she is patient with those whom she mentors--offering constructive criticism in a way that's encouraging, and getting young people to respond beyond their own expectations.

McDuffie grew up in New York, but after high school, she decided to continue her education at Western College for Women in Ohio. Having been recruited right out of college by a New York agency, McDuffie returned home to write jingles and produce commercials for Coca-Cola, Miller Brewing and others.

The exposure from this career brought McDuffie in contact with recording artists such as the late Luther Vandross (before he became famous--in fact, she claims a hand in it by persuading officials at Epic Records to sign him.) There was also Al Green and Janet Jackson.

As the music industry began o change in the late 1980s. She was not pleased with where it was going so she decided to enter a different phase of the music world. Teaching. After attending a job fair in Jacksonville, she was hired at Jeff Davis Middle School as band director. She remained there until 2000 when she was hired as a production manager at the Ritz theatre and LaVilla Museum.

In 2004, McDuffie won the coveted Onyx Magazine Award for excellence in Music and Entertainment.