I think the music/entertainment industry put so much glamour into their artist and for the public to see, we tend to forget that they're just like us. Especially when it comes to Motown, there are so many tragic tales of Motown artists. One thing I can say about the Debarge family is that I can relate to them more so than the Jacksons because of their trials. The Jacksons always seem untouchable and too out there for me (and I know one Jackson family member personally), yet it seems as though the Debarge family could be my family members or my next door neighbors (I feel the same way about Marvin also). All the issues with drugs, HIV/AIDS, going to jail, family member murdered, child abuse, family member having breast cancer, I grew up around all of that.

I think the Jacksons and Debarges are different in that the Jackson drama is otherwordly. The Debarges are more realistic and everyday, you're right, thattruth. And Motown was damn good at covering up drama. It makes me wonder if the Debarges would have have fared better at another label.

At the same time, though, Debarge-all of 'em seem to be still be dealing with ish. I hear that El's son-his oldest, I think-is a real mess.
[Edited 10/3/08 18:51pm]

thatruth said:

Marvin reminded me of some of my brothers.

My family has had its' ups and downs, but nothing like the Debarges, thank goodness

I still can't decide if Chico is just as talented as El and Bobby or not nearly talented enough as his big bros.

Chico's voice is rougher and more masculine than El's. It fit neo soul very well. Although in Chico's stuff from the 80s, it was very breathy-he was very much a Prince/Ready for the World clone. Chico came into his own with neo soul and was very relevant for the time in a way that I don't think El could have been. Also, Chico's lyrics are more sexually explicit than El's. I do think El is more talented, though and more magnetic than Chico.

Also, was Debarge from Grand Rapids or Detroit. I have always heard GR, but now a lot of sources say Detroit.

filmnoirdame said:

Mainly in Grand Rapids but they have relatives in Detroit. Mama DeBarge was raised in Detroit's Brewster Projects. IMHO, DeBarge had more of a Detroit vibe than a Grand Rapids vibe.
[Edited 10/5/08 21:38pm]

LOL, you mean to say they were ghetto? Timmy, how do you know this?

filmnoirdame said:

NO.

I meant to say that they grew up in a street environment but were very religious. From recollections, they sung on gospel shows in Detroit as youngsters.

And you were saying?

Oh! Are you from the Detroit area?

filmnoirdame said:

No! I'm from North Carolina.

And before you asked, I read biographies on DeBarge that confirmed this, lol.

My mom lives in NC. What are the names of the books you read?

filmnoirdame said:

I read biographies online, lol. Usually any biographical info on artists I've found online.

Wasm't there a rumor that James DeBarge hooked up with Vanity back in the day??

Yeah, I read that too, and my response is, why James? I would have gone for El. James always seemed weird to me. Still does.
Allegedly, when in the summer of '85, when Debarge was doing a summer replacement show on NBC called Motown Revue, Vanity would sneak into James' dressing room. Then again, they also probably knew each other from "The Last Dragon," which Debarge camoed in and Vanity starred. Either way, Janet was jealous.

filmnoirdame said:

I agree with you about both James and El

Wow-I didn't know this allegedly went down while James was with Janet

Now that I think about it, I think that James, Randy and Marty might be the only one of the Debarge brothers that have never seen the inside of a jail cell. Am I wrong about this?

filmnoirdame said:

Well, that statement alone pretty much destroys any notion of me thinking you truly knew what you were talking about.

Damn, filmnordaine.

You are so crazy about Debarge you shit the members'' first letters when you go and take a dump.

I like them and some of their tracks but.

Debarge is talented and has many songs that I like but what's with all of the Jackson comparisons? It's the same with the corny Osmonds, lol, someone is always bringing up the Jacksons, wow.

Anyway, the comparisons stop when you see them performing. Debarge, for all of their great songs, have stiff asses when on stage. They need to loosen up when performing. They don't have any charisma like the Jacksons.

carlcranshaw said:

I don't see any comparisons between the osmonds and the jacksons-except they both had big ass families.

Yes, I love Debarge-and I agree that in the beginning they were stiff, but if you youtube el and chico, you can see that their performing has gotten better, esp el.

Vanity and a Debarge? Well, why not, seems she went for everything else. If she had gone for EL, she might have been his babymama.
And I seem to remember that Randy had legal trouble, but for the life of me, I can't remember what about.

scriptgirl said:

I would think drug abuse, no? I'm only assuming it because many of the DeBarges were arrested on drug charges.

See, I don't think it was drugs. Shit, I can't remember exactly what. I am thinking it might have happened between 84-86. Not sure, though. I think it had something to do with a girl, but I can't remember now. Things are different, cause when someone gets in trouble, it's put on blast right away, but back in the 80s, shit could go down and get hushed up cause there weren't that many media outlets. Damnit, I wish I could remember...

I read that the mom of the Debarges did not leave her husband, that he left her for another woman that he later had 3 kids by. Some of the Debarges acknowledge those kids and others of them don't. Chico considers them family.

Well Chico himself once said he was the black sheep of the family (that's saying something) and that his relationship w/his family was damaged by his jail term and he had to work to get back in their good graces.

El and some of his kids