http://www.blogtalkradio....h-jay-king

Greg Williams gave a very indepth interview on 2/10/2014 to Jay King of the 80s group Club Nouveau. He talks about the founding of Switch, his Motown experiences, Jermaine and Hazel Grody-Jackson as managers, and of course the De Barges (esp Bobby). It's about 2 hrs long and Greg is really candid. It's a rare opportunity to hear about a group that put out fanastic music yet whose story remains fairly mysterious. Enjoy!

[Edited 2/25/14 23:41pm]

I didin't want to spoil the interview for ya'll, but I realize 2hrs is a bit much. If you don't wanna know, stop reading now...

Greg talks about how Switch was founded from Two And The Family, T n T Flashers, White Heat, and finally Switch. Within all of these groups, there's at least 1 D brother/cousin/future brother-in-law. Of course Gr eg gives some of his own personal and musical background and how he met the Ds. He also talks of Bernds Lichters and gives his opinion of his true contributions which tend to differ from Bernds'. For Bernds' PoV http://www.burndsman.com/...rge_1.html and http://www.burndsman.com/...ife_1.html (he goes very in depth w/ his D experiences here...not a short read)

One of the more interesting things he speaks of is how Motown discouraged them from touring and how they basically became a studio band. They only did 1 short (4 month) tour after their 3rd album and by then it was too latefor the big money and they were near breaking up.

He confirms the widely held belief that Bobby was sexually abused by his father, discusses how being biracial totally affected the experiences of the Ds, and how ultimately Bobby's personality and drug use helped cause the group's demise.

Basically it's very important to Greg that we know he founded and led Switch, not Bobby or the Ds. JMHO, but it seems to annoy him that Switch is so strongly associated w/ the D brothers...but he doesn't deny them any propers.

Overall, I found it a very good interview. The interviewer asked good questions. Greg is extremely candid about his experiences and his impressions of various people, including Bobby. I figure the Ds and some of their fans maybe a bit ambivalent about this interview, but it's def a PoV not much heard and clears up many questions fans may have.

I'm gonna listen to the entire interview when I have time.Switch was a superb band.Their first three albums are great,I have em' on vinyl.

I'm jelly of you guys that have the LPs!

I've a few more interviews that are Greg/Switch related.....should I post them?

brooksie said:

I'm jelly of you guys that have the LPs!

've a few more interviews that are Greg/Switch related.....should I post them?

Yes!

This one has Greg, Phillip, and Eddie of Switch from 5/16/2012. there's some relly informaive talk here, esp about thr state of the present music industry.

http://www.blogtalkradio....-of-switch

This one is just Greg from 4/9/2012...if I find any more I'll post 'em.

http://www.blogtalkradio..../09/switch

[Edited 2/17/14 7:20am]

White Heat was both the album and group that proceeded Switch. Greg, Bobby, Jody, and Tony Jordan (aka Mutley...Bunny's 1st hubby) are all present and counted for here. Barry White had planned to use them for more, but changed his mind so they eventually went on to form Switch. I love this album because while it fits the funk style of the era, it's not all bounce and beats.

Listening to it right now. Great interview with Greg. Definitely a lot of great insight into the beginnings of Switch and the struggles with fame. Didn't know all of them free based. Glad Greg got sober, which brings a more sobering fact when he talked of Bobby's issues on Unsung. Didn't know after all those hits they had, they were only making $5,000 a night and performing for less days (they said they only toured four months a year!).

Timmy84 said:

Listening to it right now. Great interview with Greg. Definitely a lot of great insight into the beginnings of Switch and the struggles with fame. Didn't know all of them free based. Glad Greg got sober, which brings a more sobering fact when he talked of Bobby's issues on Unsung. Didn't know after all those hits they had, they were only making $5,000 a night and performing for less days (they said they only toured four months a year!).

I was amazed that Switch did so little live performance/touring in their time at Motown. Of course Greg states that Motown did that to line their pockets thru record sales/publishing, but I can't understand why they didn't connect the long term record sales w/ building the fanbase w/ live performances? Someone really dropped the ball there, but Motown was in an odd period then...doncha think?

brooksie said:

Timmy84 said:

Listening to it right now. Great interview with Greg. Definitely a lot of great insight into the beginnings of Switch and the struggles with fame. Didn't know all of them free based. Glad Greg got sober, which brings a more sobering fact when he talked of Bobby's issues on Unsung. Didn't know after all those hits they had, they were only making $5,000 a night and performing for less days (they said they only toured four months a year!).

I was amazed that Switch did so little live performance/touring in their time at Motown. Of course Greg states that Motown did that to line their pockets thru record sales/publishing, but I can't understand why they didn't connect the long term record sales w/ building the fanbase w/ live performances? Someone really dropped the ball there, but Motown was in an odd period then...doncha think?

Yeah Berry was trying to stop his company from going bankrupt. He let Jermaine in charge but Jermaine didn't really do anything with them. Ask Rick James.

Timmy84 said:

brooksie said:

I was amazed that Switch did so little live performance/touring in their time at Motown. Of course Greg states that Motown did that to line their pockets thru record sales/publishing, but I can't understand why they didn't connect the long term record sales w/ building the fanbase w/ live performances? Someone really dropped the ball there, but Motown was in an odd period then...doncha think?

Yeah Berry was trying to stop his company from going bankrupt. He let Jermaine in charge but Jermaine didn't really do anything with them. Ask Rick James.

Interesting you say that. I've asked Greg to go into some more detail about their time at Motown and also about how Jermaine/Hazel handled them and Rick James. He's thinking of writing a book, so I hope he goes into details about what Motown felt like then. I really want to know how Jermaine dealt w/ Switch and RJ...lawdy he had his work cut out there.

I didn't know Motown was that close to bankrupcy at that time , but they were really on that movie making tip then. I just know it was a strange period for them, but RJ, Lionel, and even DeBarge helped bring new live to the place.

If you could find out anything about Switch and Motown, what would you want to know?

brooksie said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah Berry was trying to stop his company from going bankrupt. He let Jermaine in charge but Jermaine didn't really do anything with them. Ask Rick James.

Interesting you say that. I've asked Greg to go into some more detail about their time at Motown and also about how Jermaine/Hazel handled them and Rick James. He's thinking of writing a book, so I hope he goes into details about what Motown felt like then. I really want to know how Jermaine dealt w/ Switch and RJ...lawdy he had his work cut out there.

I didn't know Motown was that close to bankrupcy at that time , but they were really on that movie making tip then. I just know it was a strange period for them, but RJ, Lionel, and even DeBarge helped bring new live to the place.

If you could find out anything about Switch and Motown, what would you want to know?

Why didn't they get promoted more is my question. Switch plays an important part in music history? Also why did Motown cut Greg's name off the writing credits for "I Wanna Be Closer"? It sounds like Jermaine stole writing credit... But yeah Berry Gordy was going through money issues with Motown. It got straighten out in the '80s but he later put the label on sale for $61 million of course at the end of the '80s.