Pic time:
Chico in 2008

El and some of his kids

SMASH-this is the group that El, Marty, Randy and their Abney cousins were in before Debarge. You can see El, Marty and Randy in the pic

From the photo session that produced the "All This Love" album cover. My 2nd fave photo session of Debarge.

El in 2003 with Jermaine and Jackie Jackson in NYC. This pic should put to rest any questions about any possible beef between the 2 first families of RnB. Still hanging out after 20 plus years of knowing each other.

[Edited 3/7/09 21:51pm]

scriptgirl said:

scriptgirl said:

scriptgirl said:

I thought I was the only one who preferred El's vocals over Bobby. Don't get it twisted, Bobby had a beautiful voice, but El's voice does something to me more so than Bobby's.

Slenderoni1978 said:

I would put Marty's name under instruments; he plays the trumpet/flugelhorn and sax. On the songs "I Like It" & "All This Love", you can hear Marty's flugelhorn constantly featured. Marty also co-wrote "Stay With Me" and "I'm In Love With You". Songwriters, El and Bunny are in a tie for top spot. As far as Bobby and El..that's hard to say. I've heard both live and I think El surpassed his brother in terms of his range and depth vocal wise. I don't know, that's a toss up.
[Edited 3/8/09 9:00am]

Is the fluegelhorn the trumpet like sounding instrument that plays at the beginning of "I like it"?

scriptgirl said:

Yup.

2008 Jet Article on the clan

Matriarch Of DeBarge Singing Family Tells Story Of Fame, Loss And Perseverance In Book 'Other Side Of The Pain'; Christian, Margena A
Jet 03-03-2008



Etterlene DeBarge has witnessed a lot in her 73 years. The mother of the DeBarge singing family has watched her children hit the highest of highs in the recording industry and plummet to the lowest of lows in their personal lives.

But the woman affectionately known as "Mama DeBarge" believes she had to endure so much heartache to help others.

"God took me to the other side of the pain in my right mind," said DeBarge. "I was encouraged to share my story to help other women. The peace that God has given me is a gift."

DeBarge, who has 10 children, is sharing her story in a new memoir, Other Side of the Pain (www.othersideofthepain.com).

In the book she tells how eight of her children made a name for themselves in Hollywood and how they paid the price for fame. She also discusses their painful childhood and why she eventually had to leave their father, a White man of French and English descent from Cicero, IL.

"God is a God of love. Nowhere does it say I'm supposed to get beat up or my kids should get beat up," DeBarge said. "I stayed in that marriage for 23 years, but I was constantly leaving him. I was in an abusive relationship and an interracial relationship. That was taboo in my day."

Her former husband, Robert DeBarge Sr., has previously denied allegations of abuse.

A very religious woman who came from a musical background, DeBarge found comfort in music and began to sing with her children. Eventually they were good enough to try show business.

"Every time I was looking around, someone was going to Hollywood," she laughed. "It's a blessing to have all my children make it because of what they went through. You wonder how they birthed such beautiful music. Even with so much pain, they were able to share love."

Bobby and Tommy DeBarge, the two oldest boys, were members of the '80s R&B group Switch. Bobby's voice led the group's classics, which included There'll Never Be, Wall Your Name and Love Over and Over Again.

Five other children formed the group The DeBarges: Bunny, Mark, Randy, El and James. Their hits included All TMs Love, I Like It, Time Will Reveal, Love Me In A Special Way and Rhythm Of The Night. Their tune Stay With Me has been sampled by Mary J. Blige, Ashanti and the late Notorious B.I.G. A Dream, which sister Bunny wrote and led, has been sampled by Mary J. Blige, Blackstreet and the late Tupac.

Another son, Chico, became a solo artist. His neo-soul sound produced hits like Iggin Me, Love Still Good, No Guarantee (w/Joe), Listen To Your Man (w/Joe), and Soopaman Luva (feat/Redman).

Though her children found success in the industry, Etterlene DeBarge also saw the other side of the fame.

"I believed my kids were lured into something they didn't know anything about," she said. "All they knew was church. California isn't what people think it is. People go out there looking for an illusion. You pay the price for fame but you don't realize it. They had everything that money could buy, but they didn't have peace of mind."

Bobby DeBarge developed a drug addiction. His battle with drugs and an overly promiscuous life led to his demise when he died of complications caused by AIDS in 1995. He was 39 (JET, Sept. 25, 1995).

"Bobby DeBarge is the most talented artist I have signed," said Motown Records founder Berry Gordy Jr. at the time of Bobby's death. Gordy signed the famous family to his label.

Chico and Bobby also served time in prison for drug trafficking. Some of her other children also developed substanceabuse problems.

"Narcotics is popular when you get famous," their mother said. "I've seen a lot behind the scenes and how people set them up to get drugs. There are so many snakes in Hollywood. When they put their eyes on you, they want money. And someone else is looking for a way to get some of that money so they get you strung out."

Her son El was a member of The DeBarges, but she said that he was pushed to leave the group and go solo.

"It was a nightmare. El was told he would be a superstar," she said. "[Berry Gordy] divided them. He didn't realize he was dividing a family and not a group."

El's solo career spawned hits like Love Always, Someone, Who's Johnny and After The Dance (w/Fourplay).

In her book, Etterlene DeBarge also discusses her former daughter-in-law, singer Janet Jackson, who was married to James DeBarge. (Jet, Oct. 15, 1984).

"I was a little fearful of what she would share," said James DeBarge about his mother's book. "Some of the things in the book were real tough and moving. Some things I couldn't go into because it was going into my past and it was hurtful. I touched on as much as I could bare."

James DeBarge is now the father of four children. In the past, Janet Jackson has denied allegations of having had a child with James during their marriage.

"James refuses to say anything," Etterlene DeBarge said. "Magazines offered him big money to say stuff. He could be rich, but he would not do it. He would rather be broke," she said. "He's very, very loyal to Janet. She really loved him and he really loved her."

Bunny DeBarge, the mother of four and a breast cancer survivor, is currently penning her own memoir.

"It's called The Kept Ones and I'm doing a gospel album," she said. "My book will be about my childhood, the music business, Motown and the drug problems I had in my life and how I overcame."

Carol "Peaches" DeBarge, the youngest daughter who never entered the spotlight like her older siblings, said her mom's book revealed things she never knew.

"I think this was a story that needed to be told," she said. "As the youngest, things happened that I wasn't even aware of."

The 10th child is Carol's twin brother, Darryl. He is a singer who goes by the name Young DeBarge.

Etterlene DeBarge said that life in the fast lane has caught up with her children.

Tommy, the father of nine, is on kidney dialysis, according to his mother's book.

Randy, the father of five, has an incurable disease, according to his mother's book, that was not disclosed. "He's doing well with it. It's not AIDS," she assures. "It was just that fast life. Now that he's getting older, it's catching up with him."

El "is the father of the nation," laughs Etterlene DeBarge. "He has 11 kids. He had a child at 15 and married three times." His oldest child, daughter Adris, works closely with Hollywood businesswoman Tracey Edmonds.

Mark, the father of five, suffers with chronic debilitation in his legs and walks with a cane or crutches, the book said.

"Experiences in your life is what it is," Mark DeBarge said. "We are grateful to God to be here and to be alive."

Chico, the father of five, is currently in the studio working on a new album. He's performed in several stage plays, including TylerPerry's Why Did IGet Married.

Etterlene DeBarge concluded: "In spite of their failures, weaknesses, disappointments and shortcomings, I think I have the most wonderful children in the world. I thank God he gave me 10 children. I didn't know they would be a blessing. I thank him for the mountains and the valleys. Through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus."
SIDEBAR
Etterlene DeBarge, the mother of the DeBarge singing family, said "thank God my children had a praying mother and they are still here after all they've been through."
SIDEBAR
Bobby DeBarge (c) and brother Tommy (bottom, 2nd r) were members of the group Switch, which included (clockwise, top k) Phillip Ingram, Gregory Williams, Eddie Fluellen and Jody Sims. Bobby DeBarge, the lead voice of the group, died of AIDS In 1995. Shown at the height of their success in the '80s, The DeBarges included (clockwise, l-r) James, Randy, Mark, Bunny and El. El DeBarge, at the urging of record label executives, eventually left the group for a solo career.
SIDEBAR
Last November some family members (l-r). Tommy, El, James and Mark, reunited for a special Thanksgiving performance at Destiny Community Church in Whrttier, CA.
SIDEBAR
In a recent photo, Randy and Bunny (r) join one of their youngest siblings, Carol "Peaches" DeBarge, who has a twin brother, Darryl.
SIDEBAR
Chico DeBarge has enjoyed a solo career. He describes the DeBarge sound as "music from the heart mind and soul, spiritual music with love at the foundation." He is working on a new album and publishes his own magazine, The 9s.
AUTHOR_AFFILIATION
By Margena A. Christian

JET MAGAZINE
Matriarch Of DeBarge Singing Family Tells Story Of Fame, Loss And Perseverance In Book 'Other Side Of The Pain'

Byline: Christian, Margena A
Volume: 113
Number: 8
ISSN: 00215996
Publication Date: 03-03-2008
Page: 36
Section: CELEBRITIES
Type: Periodical
Language: English

scriptgirl said:[quote]Pic time:
Chico in 2008


...he looks good with the bald-look..
..mzsexybaby

scriptgirl said:

Damn, this family has been through alot

I thought one of them had an incurable disease but I wasn't sure if it was Randy or Mark.

... IGGIN ME...man that song is so KOOL..i felt EXACTLY like it says..
..mzsexybaby'play it 4 me al'

Switch, Debarge and SOS Band in concert in 2008

scriptgirl said:

I was at that concert!!! First time seeing El and family.
[Edited 3/8/09 18:36pm]

I dig this thread. scriptgirl, thank you for comin' through!!

No prob. Trust me, I have all I have posted and so much more in my Debarge archives.

TD3 said:

That looks like that was so much fun! And you got all three of those cool old skool acts for the price of one; I am officially jealous!

The youtuber's comments were kind of funny. I started laughing when she wrote that a "stepper's ball" broke out during the intermission

From 1984

Slenderoni1978 said:

[/quote]


Why Jermaine look older than Jackie? Jackie still look good!

Jermaine looks older, because 1) shitty genetics and 2) bad plastic surgery. But enough about the Jacksons, this is a Debarge thread.

scriptgirl said:

That's that's some very bad plastic surgery, that messed up his looks. He looked mucked up way back when.... after he appears to have gotten some type of nose job and cheek implants ? Scary!

But back to our real topic.....

.

Damn Scriptgirl you got some good stuff on my fav groups....DeBarge & Switch....Awesome talents and its such a shame that this family has gon through it and suffering to a degree....I wish them well and i will keep them in my prayers.

scriptgirl said:

This picture is sooo cute! I've never seen this one before. Thanks, scriptgirl!

TD3 said:

Hey TD3, how was this concert! Were you trying to hit the high notes like El

Glad you guys like what I have posted so far. That Mickey D's add is just proof as to how popular the group was at that time.

There is one concert clip where EL is singing along to Time will Reveal and there is an audience member who is just singing horrendously off key. It only makes you appreciate El all the more.

DJ Quik (and them Bay area cats) are huge DeBarge fan, don't believe me...

I believe you, I just think DJ Quik and his crew are trashy as fuck

re Jermaine Jackson, he was once very handsome. Now,not so much