scriptgirl said:

Whaaatt? DJ Quick tis da truf!!

Chico in 2003



EL in 2003 at Alicia Keys's record release party. It is nice to see her give him props. Always nice to see new artists pay tribute to their elders.

Rare article from El, done in the early 90s. Note how eerily prophetic his comments are re jail time and how sanctimonius he seems to be when talking about Bobby and Chico.

FLASHBACK: it's 1989 and El DeBarge is sitting in a conference room
> at Motown records discussing his then new album, "Gemini" (his first
> in three years), and although the word was out that he'd already
> sighed a new deal with Warner Brothers, he was interested in seeing
> the Motown LP make some headway. While it was hardly a blockbuster by
> anyone's standards, the album did contain some strong material (like
> the haunting "Broken Dreams" and the poignant "Turn the Page") and
> was perhaps a strong indicator of what we could expect from El's
> Warner debut...
>
> Fast Forward: a rainy march day in Los Angeles and El's relaxing in
> the office of his manager Fred Moultrie. The artwork for his first
> album for Warner Brothers is in view and while El is still pretty
> much a laidback, genial kinda guy, he seems enthusiastic about "In
> The Storm" which he produced with the assistance of Maurice White of
> Earth, Wind & Fire fame and Keith Crouch (nephew of gospel star
> Andrae Crouch)...
>
> "I began working on the album in October of 1989. I started writing
> songs, accumulating material and at that point what I knew was that
> this had to contain real music. I wanted to use the same musicians on
> every track and in terms of lyrical concept, the album would be about
> life's ups and downs, drugs, social issues, pain and problems...that
> we're all in this thing together and we have to start looking out for
> one another."
>
> There's no question that El, no longer a teen idol and now a close to
> thirty year old man, has had more than a few experiences to draw upon
> for the material on "In the Storm." It's no secret that two other
> singing members of his family (Chico and Bobby) remain in prison as a
> result of convictions for drug-related offences; that the group
> DeBarge went through more than a few changes during its years as
> hitmakers; and that El himself has had his own set of personal
> challenges to deal with over the years.
>
> "People think of me as having 'made it' but I haven't made it yet. I
> get a certain amount of satisfaction from knowing I've reached some
> people with my music. I've had my own struggles to deal
> with...dealing with popularity. I tend to shy away from people, from
> audiences and I have to acknowledge that I am uncomfortable with
> people. I'm uncomfortable when people put me in the spotlight. It's a
> struggle and sometimes I can handle it, sometimes I can't... like
> being able to just be myself...in some ways, I don't want to be the
> centre of attraction. I'm like an out-front person with a background
> mentality."
>
> SO, you gather El is perhaps more comfortable in the studio working
> on material and he admits that it took a while to complete the album
> because he wanted to make sure it was right. He would get inspired at
> different times, work on a song, leave it alone, then go back to it.
> By June of 1991, it seemed like everything was in place. "I mixed the
> album three times and it just didn't sound right. I was lucky
> because, in the early days with Motown, Berry Gordy always let me
> have the freedom...the problem was that later on at Motown, you'd
> finish off in the studio and then somebody would come and alter
> everything. That meant I was scared and made me feel insecure...I was
> afraid the same thing might happen with this album.
>
> Benny Medina, who signed me to Warner Brothers knew me from my Motown
> days and understood that I had insecurities. He kept reminding me
> that this was a new situation. He gave me the space to do what I
> needed to do and I found that there was a different musical mentality
> at Warners, where they're not just stuck on one kind of music...and
> he kept telling me that he wanted me to be musically free."
>
> Finally, El felt the album was finished...but that something was
> missing. Warners' Medina asked El if he might suggest enlisting some
> assistance on the project, which up until that point he'd worked on
> pretty much by himself.
>
> "When Benny asked me who I'd like to have help me, I mentioned
> Maurice White who had signed to Warners wit Earth Wind & Fire - I
> felt he came from the 'old school' yet had a fresh vibe. He listened
> to the whole album and he said, 'it just needs to be mixed right'.
> There's a real science to that part of the process. He produced
> various overdubs to create the feeling I wanted and he went through
> everything.. .and came up with some interludes to go along with my
> music...working with Maurice was great."
>
> While White only wrote one song ("Special", co-penned with Mr.
> DeBarge), his distinctive touch is clear on various tracks...but
> there's no doubt that vocally El's inspiration comes straight from
> the late Marvin Gaye. Indeed, the cover concept, the whole feel of
> the album, is very much akin to the kind of projects Marvin did in
> his heyday.
>
> "Marvin? I've heard that a lot and, yes, he's been a great influence
> on my life musically. I guess listening to Marvin's music was like
> going to school...he was a genius who had the ability to write about
> whatever he was going through at the time. If he was horny, he'd do a
> love album (Let's Get It On," "I Want You"), if he was going through
> a divorce ("Here My Dear") or if he wanted to express what was in his
> soul ("What's Going On"). I learned a lot from that. I think of him
> as a teacher, but I'm not trying to be like Marvin. We all have to
> have influences."
>
> ASIDE from the Gaye classic "After the Dance" which he recorded with
> Fourplay (and which was added on to the album after it did so well as
> a single a few months back), El has certainly covered some of the
> kind of ground that Marvin did on album. The title cut, "In the
> Storm", is reflective "Another Chance" is romantic, "Leggs" is out-
> and-out funk, "Tip O' M Tongue" is raunchy and nasty and co-written
> by a certain 'Paisley Park' character... Prince.
>
> "The songs, hmmm..."You Know What I Like" is almost prophetic... I
> always felt I'd meet this special girl one day and in some of my
> previous songs, I'd sing thinking about how it would be. The
> songs "Time Will Reveal" or "All This Love" and people would ask
> me, 'who's the girl?' and I could only say, 'I haven't met her yet'
> But "You Know What I Like"...well, yes I do have this girl in my life
> right now and so you could say the song is about that 'mystery
> woman.' I don't mind my fans knowing that, because I don't want them
> to buy my music because they think I'm an eligible bachelor but
> because they like the music itself. You never know, I might settle
> with this woman...
>
> "Other songs? "Thick" is about the kind of friend who'll stick with
> you through the ups and downs. "Leggs?" that's a silly song! But you
> see I love legs!! "Love Me Tonight" is one of those ballads with a
> great mood to it. The album has no one theme...there are love songs,
> dance music...it's me doing my thing."
>
> El DeBarge leans back in his chair. The questions about this album
> have been answered. It would be easy to leave it at that and ignore
> questions about more personal matters but...
>
> "Bobby and Chico...well, they have less than a year left in jail. I'd
> say that what happened with them hasn't hurt us publicly but, if
> walls could talk...We've stayed in touch and I have a high phone
> bill! Naturally I was emotionally hurt because I'm very close to them
> but we've had to hold each other up as a family. I know they're
> remorseful about what they did but, in some ways, what happened was a
> blessing in disguise because it allowed them to get away from a scene
> they were caught up in. I'm amazed at the strength they've shown and
> I know they've both matured so much out of this experience. I do know
> they'll have a lot to say musically when they come out...it's a
> privilege for me to be in the same family with them and I think of
> them like soldiers. What's happened to them has helped me to look at
> myself. I've had my own share of being tested and this business
> affords you many influences and cities for that. By the grace of God
> I've been fortunate, but I know that none of us are exempt or
> infallible or immune...we all have to deal with different tests and
> challenges."
>
> And we come through such tests, like El DeBarge, through the storm...
>

Kristinia Debarge, James' daughter, singing on American Juniors a few years back. She is now signed to Babyface's label. El was a mentor to Babyface and El's oldest child, Adris Tracey Edmonds', Babyface's ex-wife's assistant.

scriptgirl said:

Wow, she really has the charm and talent of the Debarge family bloodline!!!

I like this thread as a sticky! They mods should have done this sooner Having all these videos and interviews in one place is kinda fun to see, and we know scriptgirl will keep comin' up with updates

Oh, I WILL be a major contributor to this thread, believe that!
RE an El update, his mother says he has found God in the slammer and when he gets out, he will be concentrating on working for the Lord.

scriptgirl said:

Who is
Who who is

"Who's Jesus!"

Scriptgirl, it worked

Here's a video I uploaded to youtube from my collection of DeBarge performances. This is from Sinbad's Summer Fest where DeBarge minus Bunny performed "Rhythm of The Night" and "All This Love.

I just found this for you, Scriptgirl

Thank you! Can you pm me the direct link? How long ago was this?

I remember seeing him perform this on The Best of Soul Train a few years back. It sounded a little funkier so I'm guessing it was a remix version.

Real Quick!

I forgot, Chico is co-publisher/writer of an online magazine called: "The 9's" It's under renovations but I think back issues and interviews can still be found and read. Chico interviewed El..... a year before he was sent to prison. http://www.the9smag.com/frontpage.html

I have read several articles that Chico has written and I don't think he is the original writer. I think he suggests the ideas and has someone ghostwrite them.

EL and Ms. Keys how cute.
--
I don't remember the Debarge in a
McDonald's commercial or an Ad if that was the case
back in the 80's. How we are stuck in the eighties.
Where real music died. There are some real artist today
that are holding on by a thread.
--

I'm still Waiting on Chico's new CD....
-----

....

Timmy84 said:

oh lawd! that's why I don't read vibe. Can't handle the disillusionment. I knew Chico had drug issues but dayum EL? Wasnt he like married to a hot school teacher at one point and writing songs to bring in the paper?

El too pretty for jail. Hope they didn't touch him

LittleBLUECorvette said:

I like this song. Infact, his debut album had some great songs actually.

That song was on Chico's 2nd cd, I think. I know that El's current and maybe soon to be ex wife is not a school teacher. I think she is or was an aspiring actress or singer. His 2nd wife may have been a teacher, but that marriage ended VERY badly.

There is in fact a Debarge Mc Donald's commercial. I have someone trying to find me a copy of it.

It never ceases to amaze me how so few people know of El's lengthy criminal record, but everyone knows about Chico's.

scriptgirl said:

"Girl next door" was on Chico's debut. Honestly Love some of the tracks off that set.

Even though theres only about 3 rnb songs off it. El's debut album is one of my all time favs. I understand the hate it gets from fans, as theres only a few cuts for Debarge fans, but I love it. Notice how El didn't even co-write one song off that album LOL.

Motown musta had high hopes for El's debut, as they pulled in all the then current and expensive session musicians/songwriters to make it. Should of sent a couple of the songs to AOR stations, but anyway, Motown dropped the ball on that one.

Motown didn't know what to do with El as a solo artist. He never should have gone solo or continued with the group and done solo shit on the side.
[Edited 3/11/09 21:58pm]

Also, how many solo cds did El do on Motown?
[Edited 3/11/09 22:00pm]

scriptgirl said:

2. Self titled debut and "gemini". His debut had everything to be a big seller. It sounds very dated now, but it had decent pop, aor, rnb. Abit of everything, yet Motown couldn't do anything with it. A real shame.

"Gemini" was more typical El. He got some proper songwriting credits on that one, though the album has an odd empty feel about it. Hard to explain. I mean, album has 2 reprises of the same track if iam not mistaken? Odd. Also, a few of the tracks sounded like leftovers from his 1st album. Which is good for me, as I love that album, but adds to the confusion. Again I love some of it though. Even filler like "cross my heart" is excellent to me. And the album is slick, well made and well produced.

Do you have a track listing for gemini?

scriptgirl said:

Off wiki LOL

"Real Love"
"Cross My Heart"
"Somebody Loves You"
"Broken Dreams"
"Broken Dreams (reprise)"
"Turn The Page"
"After You"
"Love Life"
"Broken Dreams (Think About It)"
"Make You Mine"

"Cross my heart"


Its abit long, but I dig the production and "cuteness" of it all.

The song is too long and the arrangements too New Jack Swingy, but El's voice just transcends. Thanks for that!

scriptgirl said:

Personally, the song sounds more like The Jets sorta pop then newjack, but "real love" could pass for newjack I guess? (At a stretch). If anything, both those tracks sound a bit dated for 1989. A bit pre newjack really. Newjack had pretty much completely rnb taken over by 1989, but El seems caught slightly on pre newjack side. Doesn't deter from the track mind you, just an observation.

Also, newjack came with such a quickness, he wasn't the only one where his music sounded abit dated only a mere 1 or 2 years later. That does not happen in rnb really now (hence why I hate alot of todays commerical rnb, as it does not progress). I still love that track though!

"Somebody loves you" is my fave track, I think.