Information AboutDebarge |
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HISTORY Jackson 5 member Jermaine Jackson discovered Switch,and they signed with Motown in 1977, including Tommy DeBarge, had hits with songs such as "There'll Never Be" (1978) and "I Call Your Name"(1979). Switch (Bobby DeBarge, Tommy DeBarge, Greg Williams, Jody Sims, Phillip Ingram and Eddie Fuellen) was formed in 1976/77 in Mansfield, Ohio when Bernd Lichters flew into Grand Rapids, Michigan from Germany. Two days later Greg Williams and him flew to Mansfield, Ohio to form First Class, later re-named Switch. An album was created which was released in Europe by Polydor under Hot Ice in 1977. In 1979 ist was released in the USA by Source/MCA under SMASH. Bernd met Mark and Randy in LA. after that brought El to LA, Bunny followed. They were backing up the product. You can read the whole story 'Smash - The Roots of Switch and DeBarge)', including the historic cd release at http://www.burndsman.com. In 1980 they signed with Motown and Bobby DeBarge was their first producer and teacher of El DeBarge and his great talent. DeBarge finally released their self-titled debut album in 1981 , which was a commercial disappointment. The next year saw the release of ''All This Love'', which was a success, reaching gold-selling status. "I Like It" and "All This Love" were the major hits from this album, with the former single reaching #1 on the US R&B charts. El DeBarge's verse from the chorus ("I like the way you comb your hair/and I like the stylish clothes you wear") became an oft-repeated line in Hip Hop and R&B songs during the following two decades. 1983 Saw the release of ''In a Special Way'', another gold album for DeBarge, featuring the hits "Be My Lady", "In A Special Way" (another US #1 R&B hit), "Time Will Reveal", "Stay With Me" and "A Dream". A rare performance (against the pre-recorded track) of "Time Will Reveal" on American Bandstand March 23, 1985 can be seen here: {Link without Title} . The final section of "Stay With Me" later became one of the most famous Samples in hip-hop and R&B, with The Notorious B.I.G. ("One More Chance {Link without Title} "), Mary J. Blige ("Don't Go"), and Ashanti ("Foolish") all making use of the sample for their own hit singles. DeBarge opened for R&B singer-songwriter Luther Vandross on his 1984 tour. The same year, James DeBarge married Jermaine Jackson's 18-year-old sister Janet Jackson ; the marriage was annulled shortly afterward. In 1985 , DeBarge had its biggest hit with the Diane Warren -penned "Rhythm of the Night", the main single from both the gold ''Rhythm of the Night'' album and the Motown/ Tri-Star Pictures Motion Picture '' The Last Dragon ''. Other hit singles from ''Rhythm of the Night'' included "Who's Holding Donna Now?" and "You Wear it Well", which he performed with the cast of The Facts Of Life during a guest appearance on the show as himself. The Rhythm of the Night video can be seen here: {Link without Title} . After the release of a 1986 Greatest Hits LP, El DeBarge left the group for a solo career. The final DeBarge album, 1987 's ''Bad Boys'', featured Bobby and Tommy added to the lineup, but Bunny left the group the same year. DeBarge finally disbanded in 1989 , though the members would continue to perform together on occasion until Bobby's death from complications resulting from AIDS in 1995 . Bobby DeBarge also released his final solo album entitled It's Not Over in 1995 before his death. Younger brother Chico DeBarge , although never a member of DeBarge, became an R&B solo star during the latter half of the 1990s . By 2000 , all of the DeBarges had moved from R&B to Gospel Music . DISCOGRAPHY Albums
{Link without Title} Singles
SEE ALSO
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