For those of you El Debarge fans in L.A. that feel like rolling the dice, read on.

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El Debarge is one of the most mysterious members of the popular music culture. His career has been a reflection of his life; wild, chaotic, exciting and sometimes, troubled. As most of his adoring fans know, El has not always been in control.

There haven't been many positives in the last few years, and until recently the only headlines El's been involved in had been caused by his various run-ins with the law and rumors about his rehabilitation.

However, throughout his career he's performed his music with such great passion and an innate charisma that few artists of his era have been able to express. That is what seems to be so special about El as a musician and a person -- his energy.

Since his return to the music scene in 2010, and his aptly named release, Second Chance, El began to turn his career and life around. Second Chance was his first record in over 16 years and it seemed to prove to critics -- and more importantly to El -- that he still had the vocal prowess and motivation to produce a Grammy worthy solo record.

His singing talents will be on display this Thursday night, March 1st, when he performs solo at the Key Club for the first time. Our friends at Sean Healy Presents are also offering a special discount code for those of you who follow our newsletter.

Just enter the discount code from the flyer when you purchase your tickets for the show at: eldebargekeyclub.eventbrite.com.

Thursday night will be very memorable for everyone involved. There could even be some guest appearances from some of El's celeb friends. DJ Quik, might even be in the house, who knows.. stranger things have happened! This show could be a turning point in El's legacy and maybe even put an end to some of the drama in his personal life while providing further proof that he's one of the great entertainers of our generation.

We still have Super VIP tickets available for purchase. Those tickets include express entry to the club, exclusive access to the restaurant level, and most importantly -- a meet and greet with El Debarge following his performance. That is an opportunity we're very pleased to offer. We truly hope that everyone enjoys that experience and gets a cool photo and an autograph from El. We have VIP and General Admission tickets still available as well.

As always, thanks for reading and have a great day! See you at the show.

http://www.keyclub.com/

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Hopefully it'll be a good show.

Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

Hopefully it'll be a good show.

aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope it goes well and I hope El is doing better these days.

Uh, calling scriptgirl; you need to go to this for "use". Take your iPhone.

No takers?
Guess we'll just have to wait for the reports on Friday.




Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

Very cool writeup. If I were in town, I'd check him out.

Pop & Hiss
THE L.A. TIMES MUSIC BLOG
Music review: El DeBarge at Key Club
March 2, 2012 | 3:27 pm

When El DeBarge focused on his music at the Key Club on Thursday, it was impressive. But his attention wandered a lot, making for a volatile stop-and-start show.

^^^ This doesn't sound too good. El seems to really be struggling w/ both drugs and the fame grind. Maybe he took on too much too soon.

Sounds kinda like the reviewer didn't know what to make of El's performance

brooksie said:

^^^ This doesn't sound too good. El seems to really be struggling w/ both drugs and the fame grind. Maybe he took on too much too soon.

Like a certain other music legend that just died, he came back out too soon. When they hear of a recovering drug addict leaving prison and stating they're sober, there's always someone looking to make money off that person. And once that allure of money and show business comes back to someone who has been through hell and back, the temptations come back just as stronger. Which is why it doesn't shock me that El still hasn't seem to get on the right foot. I pray for him (and his family) though. They still have a hard road to climb. I just wished they had learned from Bobby's mistakes. Don't seem like most haven't.

nursev said:

Sounds kinda like the reviewer didn't know what to make of El's performance

If it went as described in the article, I can't say I know what to make of it either. It seems almost like he had some sort of stage fright, to put the kindest spin on it. I've often suspected that El, in particular in terms of his family, suffers from it going back to his Motown solo days. He'd seem very uncomfortable at times even before his drug issues.

Timmy84 said:

brooksie said:

^^^ This doesn't sound too good. El seems to really be struggling w/ both drugs and the fame grind. Maybe he took on too much too soon.

Like a certain other music legend that just died, he came back out too soon. When they hear of a recovering drug addict leaving prison and stating they're sober, there's always someone looking to make money off that person. And once that allure of money and show business comes back to someone who has been through hell and back, the temptations come back just as stronger. Which is why it doesn't shock me that El still hasn't seem to get on the right foot. I pray for him (and his family) though. They still have a hard road to climb. I just wished they had learned from Bobby's mistakes. Don't seem like most haven't.

As I see it, El seemed to really want this Second Chance...which is a good thing, IMHO. He's gotta earn some money to support these 8 million babies he's done made! In a way, this desire to do right by his kids shows he's owning up to his responsibilities, growing up, and is doing some real recovery work.

He's been away from the grind so long and frankly fans are so much more demanding then in his heyday, he seems overwhelmed. He's been relasping rather frequently, but manages to clean up fairly quickly too. It's like he's on some sort of cycling phase. I wish he'd starteed rather smaller and gradually worked his way back like say Robert Downey Jr (yes, I know films are a diff game, but music has it's equivalent).

I hate to see these bumps in the road for him, but it's all apart of the road back. I'm an Eric Clapton fan, so I REALLY know how awful it can get along the way, but I have a feeling El will come thru this.

brooksie said:

Timmy84 said:

Like a certain other music legend that just died, he came back out too soon. When they hear of a recovering drug addict leaving prison and stating they're sober, there's always someone looking to make money off that person. And once that allure of money and show business comes back to someone who has been through hell and back, the temptations come back just as stronger. Which is why it doesn't shock me that El still hasn't seem to get on the right foot. I pray for him (and his family) though. They still have a hard road to climb. I just wished they had learned from Bobby's mistakes. Don't seem like most haven't.

As I see it, El seemed to really want this Second Chance...which is a good thing, IMHO. He's gotta earn some money to support these 8 million babies he's done made! In a way, this desire to do right by his kids shows he's owning up to his responsibilities, growing up, and is doing some real recovery work.

He's been away from the grind so long and frankly fans are so much more demanding then in his heyday, he seems overwhelmed. He's been relasping rather frequently, but manages to clean up fairly quickly too. It's like he's on some sort of cycling phase. I wish he'd starteed rather smaller and gradually worked his way back like say Robert Downey Jr (yes, I know films are a diff game, but music has it's equivalent).

I hate to see these bumps in the road for him, but it's all apart of the road back. I'm an Eric Clapton fan, so I REALLY know how awful it can get along the way, but I have a feeling El will come thru this.

I do to! His a great man and seems really sweet. He wants to start fresh and do right by his children which is important. I hope God continues to watch over him and his family. We love you El please stay strong and on the right path!

brooksie said:

Timmy84 said:

Like a certain other music legend that just died, he came back out too soon. When they hear of a recovering drug addict leaving prison and stating they're sober, there's always someone looking to make money off that person. And once that allure of money and show business comes back to someone who has been through hell and back, the temptations come back just as stronger. Which is why it doesn't shock me that El still hasn't seem to get on the right foot. I pray for him (and his family) though. They still have a hard road to climb. I just wished they had learned from Bobby's mistakes. Don't seem like most haven't.

As I see it, El seemed to really want this Second Chance...which is a good thing, IMHO. He's gotta earn some money to support these 8 million babies he's done made! In a way, this desire to do right by his kids shows he's owning up to his responsibilities, growing up, and is doing some real recovery work.

He's been away from the grind so long and frankly fans are so much more demanding then in his heyday, he seems overwhelmed. He's been relasping rather frequently, but manages to clean up fairly quickly too. It's like he's on some sort of cycling phase. I wish he'd starteed rather smaller and gradually worked his way back like say Robert Downey Jr (yes, I know films are a diff game, but music has it's equivalent).

I hate to see these bumps in the road for him, but it's all apart of the road back. I'm an Eric Clapton fan, so I REALLY know how awful it can get along the way, but I have a feeling El will come thru this.

Yeah it does sound like he's trying hard to stay clean. I wish him well. I just wished he and his family had lawyers to look into their Motown contract and not have their musical rights sold to Berry and 'em. I'm still bothered by that.

Timmy84 said:

brooksie said:

As I see it, El seemed to really want this Second Chance...which is a good thing, IMHO. He's gotta earn some money to support these 8 million babies he's done made! In a way, this desire to do right by his kids shows he's owning up to his responsibilities, growing up, and is doing some real recovery work.

He's been away from the grind so long and frankly fans are so much more demanding then in his heyday, he seems overwhelmed. He's been relasping rather frequently, but manages to clean up fairly quickly too. It's like he's on some sort of cycling phase. I wish he'd starteed rather smaller and gradually worked his way back like say Robert Downey Jr (yes, I know films are a diff game, but music has it's equivalent).

I hate to see these bumps in the road for him, but it's all apart of the road back. I'm an Eric Clapton fan, so I REALLY know how awful it can get along the way, but I have a feeling El will come thru this.

Yeah it does sound like he's trying hard to stay clean. I wish him well. I just wished he and his family had lawyers to look into their Motown contract and not have their musical rights sold to Berry and 'em. I'm still bothered by that.

If he can get some money built up, it's still possible to look into these matters. Early in the 00s, Pete Townshend did just that and spent time/money really trying to get his publishing and back catalogue in order. IIRC, it worked out really well and The Who did some very lucrative licensing. If possible, El needs to really look into this because too many people have made money off them w/o them seeing a cent.

For me, the saddest (yet maybe most encouaraging) thing is his voice. After seeing him live in January '08...and having read / seen all the reviews & drama since (including his last album, which was good, IMO)........

He still has that voice. I swear it sounded like not a day had passed since his 80's heydey. I was stunned.

The man still has the gift...just needs to make the right choices & newfound greatness is his for the taking.

JamFanHot said:

For me, the saddest (yet maybe most encouaraging) thing is his voice. After seeing him live in January '08...and having read / seen all the reviews & drama since (including his last album, which was good, IMO)........

He still has that voice. I swear it sounded like not a day had passed since his 80's heydey. I was stunned.

The man still has the gift...just needs to make the right choices & newfound greatness is his for the taking.

All the surviving DeBarges seem to still have THAT VOICE... especially El, Chico and Bunny...

JamFanHot said:

For me, the saddest (yet maybe most encouaraging) thing is his voice. After seeing him live in January '08...and having read / seen all the reviews & drama since (including his last album, which was good, IMO)........

He still has that voice. I swear it sounded like not a day had passed since his 80's heydey. I was stunned.

The man still has the gift...just needs to make the right choices & newfound greatness is his for the taking.

This! I actually think El can have a far better career now than he did in the 80s. Here he is 50, a jailbird, and Mr. Drama but he's still got it and we've been missing talent of this sort for too long.

Hey Timmy..speaking of Bobby, have you heard anything about Motown having solo track on him? I'd never heard that he was officially going solo at Motown, but I think it's very possible he recorded some tracks.

What do you think/know?

brooksie said:

Hey Timmy..speaking of Bobby, have you heard anything about Motown having solo track on him? I'd never heard that he was officially going solo at Motown, but I think it's very possible he recorded some tracks.

What do you think/know?

He signed a solo contract after leaving Switch in 1981 but he never got to finish it due to his problems with drugs (mainly heroin and cocaine).

Timmy84 said:

brooksie said:

Hey Timmy..speaking of Bobby, have you heard anything about Motown having solo track on him? I'd never heard that he was officially going solo at Motown, but I think it's very possible he recorded some tracks.

What do you think/know?

He signed a solo contract after leaving Switch in 1981 but he never got to finish it due to his problems with drugs (mainly heroin and cocaine).

I wonder if Motown still has them or if James actually stole them (according to legend )? Those should definitely get a hearing even if they're raw. Bobby has a strong underground following.

Do you know how Berry beat them out of all of their publishing? This seems unusual, even for Motown.

brooksie said:

Timmy84 said:

He signed a solo contract after leaving Switch in 1981 but he never got to finish it due to his problems with drugs (mainly heroin and cocaine).

I wonder if Motown still has them or if James actually stole them (according to legend )? Those should definitely get a hearing even if they're raw. Bobby has a strong underground following.

Do you know how Berry beat them out of all of their publishing? This seems unusual, even for Motown.

I'm still trying to figure that out. I'm thinking some funky shit was going on with Motown and the DeBarges. They got dumped unceremoniously even though they helped to bring Motown into the '80s... James possibly has them though as far as Bobby's music. I heard some songs from Bobby's final project and the tragic thing was he still had his voice too at nearly 40.

Timmy, didn't Motown take everyone's publishing? The sad part is, El still reveres Berry.

scriptgirl said:

Timmy, didn't Motown take everyone's publishing? The sad part is, El still reveres Berry.

Yeah except for, I believe, Smokey, Stevie (post-1971) and Rick (I think, but I don't know...)...

Timmy84 said:

brooksie said:

I wonder if Motown still has them or if James actually stole them (according to legend )? Those should definitely get a hearing even if they're raw. Bobby has a strong underground following.

Do you know how Berry beat them out of all of their publishing? This seems unusual, even for Motown.

I'm still trying to figure that out. I'm thinking some funky shit was going on with Motown and the DeBarges. They got dumped unceremoniously even though they helped to bring Motown into the '80s... James possibly has them though as far as Bobby's music. I heard some songs from Bobby's final project and the tragic thing was he still had his voice too at nearly 40.

Ya know, that was a huge mystery at the time. This band was actually very popular and successful at the time....they were the young guns of Motown, yet they get dumped? The drugs stuff doesn't wash w/ me because how many music folks would have just disappeared if so? You just sent your people to the sanatorium/rehab, dried them out, and got on w/ it. You didn't dump your hot up and comers because they got high...not back then you didn't (or now either, if truth be told).

I went to see "The Last Dragon" specifically to see them and I know others did too. Even by crazy Motown standards, how they were treated still amazes me. The more I learn about it, the worse it gets. This is yet another great Motown Mystery!

Bobby project you refer to is "Not The End" or something like that?

brooksie said:

Timmy84 said:

I'm still trying to figure that out. I'm thinking some funky shit was going on with Motown and the DeBarges. They got dumped unceremoniously even though they helped to bring Motown into the '80s... James possibly has them though as far as Bobby's music. I heard some songs from Bobby's final project and the tragic thing was he still had his voice too at nearly 40.

Ya know, that was a huge mystery at the time. This band was actually very popular and successful at the time....they were the young guns of Motown, yet they get dumped? The drugs stuff doesn't wash w/ me because how many music folks would have just disappeared if so? You just sent your people to the sanatorium/rehab, dried them out, and got on w/ it. You didn't dump your hot up and comers because they got high...not back then you didn't (or now either, if truth be told).

I went to see "The Last Dragon" specifically to see them and I know others did too. Even by crazy Motown standards, how they were treated still amazes me. The more I learn about it, the worse it gets. This is yet another great Motown Mystery!

Bobby project you refer to is "Not The End" or something like that?

Strange how Smokey Robinson and Rick James was smoking crack yet Berry dumped DeBarge... And the Bobby project was "It's Not Over".

Timmy84 said:

scriptgirl said:

Timmy, didn't Motown take everyone's publishing? The sad part is, El still reveres Berry.

Yeah except for, I believe, Smokey, Stevie (post-1971) and Rick (I think, but I don't know...)...

I think he might have gotten Rick's publishing too, tho maybe not all of it. That said, I think Rick got performance and producing $$$ for most things. Rick was keeping Motown afloat for a time there and seemed to do most of the hot producing, so I bet he maybe some extra.

The thing w/ DeBarge is that I think they got nuthin'...maybe El gets a bit for his solo era and performance, but I don't think they siblings or Bobby's estate gets anything for writing/producing/performance. If so, that's shameful.

theAudience said:

Pop & Hiss
THE L.A. TIMES MUSIC BLOG
Music review: El DeBarge at Key Club
March 2, 2012 | 3:27 pm

When El DeBarge focused on his music at the Key Club on Thursday, it was impressive. But his attention wandered a lot, making for a volatile stop-and-start show.

[img:$uid]http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b59/jbodine/Music%20II/6a00d8341c630a53ef0168e84c51d0970c-600wi.jpg[/img:$uid]

It wasn’t clear what exactly El DeBarge was referring to Thursday night when he asked his audience at the Key Club, “How could you love me so much, putting up with all this craziness?”

A falsetto-voiced R&B star since his stint with the early-’80s family band that bore his last name, DeBarge might’ve been describing the drug troubles that have repeatedly sidelined his career over the last two decades, most recently following the release of an excellent 2010 album, “Second Chance,” widely marketed as his comeback. Last year he dropped out of a tour shortly before it was set to begin, citing in a press release his need “to work on me.”

Then again, Thursday’s performance, which lasted less than an hour, felt plenty volatile all by itself, with false song starts, a baffling dance contest and the temporary disappearance partway through of DeBarge, who tearfully retreated behind a curtain at the rear of the stage after singing “Rhythm of the Night.” (A handful of associates coaxed him back out.) So perhaps he was apologizing for more immediate craziness. “I’ve done a couple of no-shows, but I couldn’t do one in L.A.,” DeBarge said near the end of the concert, adding that he was suffering from the flu. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

What made this especially frustrating was how good DeBarge could be at the Key Club when he put his frazzled mind to it. Backed only by a drummer and the L.A. hip-hop veteran DJ Quik — the latter of whom sang a bit of Eddie Kendricks’ “Intimate Friends” during DeBarge’s unannounced intermission — the 50-year-old demonstrated how little age has coarsened his feather-light tone in “Stay With Me” and “Time Will Reveal.” His keyboard playing, too, remained nimble and expressive, particularly in a delicate reading of the title track from “Second Chance,” which he said had been one of Whitney Houston’s favorite songs.

It was easy to think of Houston throughout Thursday’s show, as DeBarge’s erratic behavior continued to draw focus away from his music. In “Rhythm of the Night” he spent an enormous amount of time selecting someone from the crowd to compare moves with a mohawked dancer he described as his protégé. And after “Time Will Reveal” he demanded, without apparent provocation, “Don’t feel sorry for me! We’re good!”

And yet just when you were wondering how much blearier things might become, DeBarge planted himself behind his keyboard at center stage and offered up a pair of tunes — first “All This Love,” then “I Like It” — that felt totally snapped-down, as though they were beamed in from some other show. “I Like It” was almost scarily intense, DeBarge’s eyes flashing with the kind of purpose he’d seemed incapable of earlier in the evening; DJ Quik looked on, seemingly impressed.

After that song DeBarge hopped into a throng of front-row fans who more or less tackled the singer with hugs. Then he clambered back onstage and apologized again, promising, “It’ll be greater later,” before he left for good.

http://latimesblogs.latim...-club.html

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Music for adventurous listeners


tA

Tribal Records

Tough review.

Neil, were you at the show? If so, what'd you think?

This is so sad to read. I really hope the brother buckles down and slays those demons. All the things he has to offer us aside, he's got so much more life to live and enjoy.

Timmy84 said:

brooksie said:

Ya know, that was a huge mystery at the time. This band was actually very popular and successful at the time....they were the young guns of Motown, yet they get dumped? The drugs stuff doesn't wash w/ me because how many music folks would have just disappeared if so? You just sent your people to the sanatorium/rehab, dried them out, and got on w/ it. You didn't dump your hot up and comers because they got high...not back then you didn't (or now either, if truth be told).

I went to see "The Last Dragon" specifically to see them and I know others did too. Even by crazy Motown standards, how they were treated still amazes me. The more I learn about it, the worse it gets. This is yet another great Motown Mystery!

Bobby project you refer to is "Not The End" or something like that?

Strange how Smokey Robinson and Rick James was smoking crack yet Berry dumped DeBarge... And the Bobby project was "It's Not Over".

He couldn't dump Rick cuz Rick was really producing hot stuff. That guy did the impossible...he got a smash on the Tempts in like 1982! "Standing on the Top" was the bomb! Rick, Lionel, and Stevie were pretty much Motown for a bit there.

Berry and Smoke...well you know how that is. Smokey knows where all the bodies are buried too, so...

I often wonder why the DeBarges didn't just go downstairs in the Motown building and talk to Dick Griffey? He coulda blew them up methinks.