DeBarge
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | El DeBarge, Mark DeBarge, Randy DeBarge, Bunny DeBarge |
| Defunct | 1989 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Studio albums: The DeBarges (1981), All This Love (1982), In a Special Way (1983), Rhythm of the Night (1985), Bad Boys (1987) |
DeBarge was a musical ensemble from the United States, composed of members from the DeBarge family. Their active years spanned from 1979 until 1989. The founding members were El, Mark, Randy, and Bunny. In 1982, James became part of the group, and later in 1987, Bobby joined following the departures of Bunny and El.
Throughout their career, the band released six studio albums, with four issued under Motown's Gordy Records imprint: The DeBarges (1981), All This Love (1982), In a Special Way (1983), and Rhythm of the Night (1985). The latter album marked their commercial peak, featuring the chart-topping single "Rhythm of the Night", which climbed to No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100. After El and Bunny pursued solo careers, the band parted ways with Motown.
The remaining members—Mark, Randy, and James—alongside their eldest brother Bobby, signed with independent label Stripe Horse Records in 1987, where they released their final album titled Bad Boys. The group continued to perform until 1989 when legal troubles—including arrests for drug trafficking involving Bobby and their younger brother Chico—as well as evolving industry trends led to their disbandment.
Family background
The DeBarge siblings are descendants of gospel vocalist Etterlene DeBarge (née Abney; 1935–2024) from Royal Oak, Michigan, and Robert Louis DeBarge, Sr. (1932–2009), a White American military serviceman of French and English heritage hailing from Cicero, Illinois. Etterlene married Robert at age 17; however, they separated during the mid-1970s and finalized their divorce in 1974. Etterlene has characterized Robert Sr. as both physically and emotionally abusive, while some of their children have also reported experiences of sexual abuse.
Originally from Detroit’s East Side before moving to Grand Rapids, Michigan, the primary group consisted of siblings Bunny and brothers Mark ("Marty"), Randy ("William"), El ("Eldra"), and James. The younger siblings Chico ("Jonathan"), Darrell ("Young"), and Carol ("Peaches") also pursued singing careers but were not part of the main band.
Early years of the group and Switch
During the mid-1970s in Detroit, the DeBarge siblings began performing collectively. By 1979, Randy, Mark, and El were members of the SMASH band, which released records through Source Records/MCA in North America and Polydor in Germany. With guidance from Bernd Lichters in Cerritos, California, they received mentorship from members of Motown’s group Switch—including their elder brothers Tommy and Bobby DeBarge—and family associate Gregory Williams. Bunny joined the ensemble in 1979; by 1980 they officially formed The DeBarges. That same year, El auditioned for Motown CEO Berry Gordy who subsequently signed them. They contributed background vocals, instrumentation, and songwriting alongside Switch on tracks such as "I Call Your Name" and "Love Over and Over Again."
After Bobby and Tommy exited Switch in 1981, they took on production roles for The DeBarges’ debut album with Bobby, Bunny, and El serving as primary producers. The lead single "What's Your Name" failed to enter the charts.
Success
In 1982, James became an official member for their sophomore album All This Love, co-produced by El and Iris Gordy. This release solidified their presence in R&B music with popular tracks like "I Like It" and "All This Love", the latter reaching number one on Billboard’s adult contemporary listing. Following their appearance on Motown 25, they launched their third album In a Special Way in 1983. It included successful singles such as "Time Will Reveal" and "Love Me in a Special Way", earning gold certification in the United States.
Capitalizing on this momentum, DeBarge supported Luther Vandross as an opening act during his "Busy Body Tour." In 1984, James briefly entered into marriage with Janet Jackson; however, it was annulled due to his struggles with substance abuse.
After concluding the tour late that year, they recorded Diane Warren’s composition "Rhythm of the Night" for Motown’s film The Last Dragon (1985). Released early that year, it became their most successful single, reaching top five positions across several countries including both the US and UK.
Departure of Siblings and Group's Conclusion
Motown shifted its attention primarily to El DeBarge for the group's subsequent album, Rhythm of the Night, largely due to concerns about the other members' substance abuse issues. This record became their highest-selling release, achieving platinum status and featuring hits such as "Who's Holding Donna Now" and "You Wear It Well". Following the album's promotion, both El and Bunny exited after securing profitable solo contracts with Motown. Without their distinctive harmonies, the remaining members were considered commercially unviable, resulting in Motown dropping the group in 1986.
In 1987, Bobby rejoined the ensemble, which then signed with the independent label Striped Horse Records after unsuccessful attempts to land deals with major labels. Their final studio effort, Bad Boys, was released under this label but failed to chart due to limited promotional resources from Striped Horse and absence of Motown backing, despite singles like "Dance All Night" reaching #33 and "I Got You Babe" peaking at #73.
During 1988, DeBarge toured with their younger brother Chico, who opened for them and was enjoying success with his single "Talk to Me". The siblings also made a guest appearance on the show Punky Brewster. Later that year, both Bobby and Chico were arrested and convicted on drug trafficking charges, which ultimately led to DeBarge disbanding in 1989.
By the time they dissolved, DeBarge had accumulated nine top 40 R&B hits, five top 40 pop singles—including two that reached the Pop top 10—five top 10 R&B tracks, two number-one R&B chart-toppers, one number-one dance hit, and three number-one adult contemporary songs. In 2008, Bunny DeBarge authored The Kept Ones, detailing the family's journey from Grand Rapids, Michigan. A second edition was released in 2020 but ignited family conflicts, with El DeBarge publicly disputing Bunny's narrative as inaccurate.
Challenges, Solo Endeavors, and Partial Triumphs
Although struggles with addiction and legal troubles among members have been widely reported, the siblings have occasionally reunited for performances. In 1991, Randy and James contributed to a gospel album featuring their mother Etterlene along with younger siblings Darryl (Young DeBarge) and Carol (Peaches DeBarge), collectively presented as "the DeBarge Family."
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, several family members pursued solo careers releasing albums; however, none achieved the commercial impact of the original group. Their narrative of ascent and decline was featured in a 2008 episode of TV One's Unsung.
After a six-year absence marked by battles with addiction, El DeBarge returned in 2010 with his Grammy-nominated album Second Chance. He supported this release by touring alongside Mary J. Blige in 2011 before experiencing a relapse that led him back into rehabilitation.
In 2011, James, Randy, and Bunny appeared on Dr. Drew's program Lifechangers to openly discuss their struggles with substance abuse. Bunny continued her recovery journey and provided updates on her progress during the show.
Drug addiction has significantly impeded the family: Bobby DeBarge succumbed to AIDS following heroin dependency; Tommy DeBarge faced addiction issues along with kidney failure before passing away in 2021; Randy and Mark DeBarge reportedly live with incurable illnesses; James served time in prison related to drug convictions.
Musical Legacy
The essence of the group’s music—combining soul, boogie, and R&B with deep Detroit roots—has left a lasting impact on numerous artists through extensive sampling and reinterpretations:
- Their collaborations with Switch, including songs like "I Call Your Name" and "My Friend in the Sky," alongside their own hits such as "I Like It," "Stay with Me," and "A Dream," have been frequently sampled.
- The remix of "One More Chance" by The Notorious B.I.G. incorporates a sample from "Stay with Me."
- Mary J. Blige has both sampled and covered multiple DeBarge tracks, often integrating their distinctive vocal ad-libs.
- Tupac Shakur drew from "A Dream" for his popular song "I Ain't Mad at Cha."
- Blackstreet utilized a sample from "A Dream" in their track "Don't Leave Me," covered "I Like It," and featured a gospel rendition of "Time Will Reveal" on their platinum-certified album Another Level. Teddy Riley recognized El DeBarge as "a living legend."
- Riley also sampled Switch’s "My Friend in the Sky" for Queen Pen’s song "No Hooks," which was later sampled by Raheem DeVaughn.
- Ashanti’s hit single "Foolish" and Mariah Carey’s "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" both revisit the melody found in "Stay With Me."
- Switch’s "I Call Your Name" was sampled in Rich Boy’s 2007 track "Throw Some D's."
- Among their catalog, "I Like It" stands out as the most frequently sampled, while various artists have regularly covered "All This Love."
Honors and Recognitions
- At the 26th Annual GRAMMY Awards in 1984, In A Special Way earned a nomination for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.
Members
- Etterlene "Bunny" DeBarge – vocals (1979–1986)
- Eldra "El" DeBarge – vocals, piano/keyboards (1979–1986)
- Mark "Marty" DeBarge – vocals, drums, percussion, trumpet, saxophone (1979–1989)
- William "Randy" DeBarge – vocals, bass guitar (1979–1989)
- James DeBarge – vocals, piano/keyboards (1982–1989)
- Robert "Bobby" DeBarge Jr. – vocals, piano/keyboards, drums (1987–1989)
- Jonathan "Chico" DeBarge – vocals, piano/keyboards (1988–1989)
Albums
- The DeBarges (1981)
- All This Love (1982)
- In a Special Way (1983)
- Rhythm of the Night (1985)
- Bad Boys (1987)