The Study of Racialism

zsana · Moderator Joined: 05 Feb 2005 {Posts: 1032 }

Mama Debarge Official Website

http://www.mamadebarge.com/

gemini072 · Moderator Joined: 27 Nov 2004 {Posts: 2919 }

By: Michael A. Gonzales
POSTED: 13:27 EST, August 29, 2007

The DeBarge family - El, Marty, Randy, Bunny and James, not to mention Thomas, Bobby, and baby brother Chico - were supposed to be Motown's follow-up to the Jacksons. But after a trail of dazzling '80s hits, behind-the-scenes drama threatened to bring the family down. From dating Latoya and Janet Jackson to allegations of sexual abuse and drug addiction - the DeBarge family has dealt with everything from prison time to AIDS. But even now, their music is still sampled by the likes of Diddy and Polow Da Don, and some of the DeBarges are trying resurrect their careers. Is it too late, though, to pick up the pieces? A story in four parts, from our October 2007 issue. Episode 1.

The house lights dimmed on a humid summer evening in 1994, and El DeBarge floated across the cluttered stage of the now-defunct New York City nightclub Tramps.

"Respect to the old school!" screamed a drunk woman from the bar. El, then 33, gently grabbed the microphone and wrapped his feathery falsetto around a songbook of classic material from his family's R&B-pop group, DeBarge. Though he'd left the group in 1986, El opened with their heartbreaking 1983 hit "Stay with Me" (Gordy), which Sean "Puffy" Combs would soon sample for the Notorious B.I.G.'s 1995 smash remix of "One More Chance" (Bad Boy). As El sang, it seemed he was ready for another chance himself. Despite rumors that he was caught up in a fog of drug addiction, on this night, both El's voice and his wardrobe were sharp as nails.

An ex-child preacher at Bethel Pentocostal Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., Eldra DeBarge still knew how to work a crowd, baptizing the blissful audience simply by playing a few chords on his white keyboard. Born into a biracial - not hispanic, as many still believe - family of sublime vocalists, El was the brightest star of the eight singing DeBarge siblings.

DeBarge was part of Motown's second wave of soul-music stars after founder Berry Gordy Jr. fled the grit of Detroit for the glam of Los Angeles. Consisting of brothers El, James, Mark, and Randy, and their elder sister Bunny, the group was instantly transformed from Midwestern church singers into Right On! magazine teen dreams, complete with flashy 1980s fashions and beaming smiles. But by the late '80s, DeBarge's fame was fading.

Less than a decade later, El was in NYC to promote his new album Heart, Mind & Soul (Warner Bros.) and perhaps to make a new start. Except for the huge hit he had with Barry White, Al B. Sure!, and James Ingram of 1990's Quincy Jones-produced "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)," El had been off the radar for years. He was already a throwback in a world dominated by new jacks like R. Kelly and Jodeci, but no one could have predicted that H,M&S would be El's last solo release for 13 years.

At Tramps, El briefly closed his eyes and sang the tortured lyrics of "All This Love," a massive radio hit he wrote and produced in 1983: "I've had some problems," he sang. "And no one could seem to solve them." The poignant lyrics were a fitting synopsis of the turbulent life and times of the DeBarge family, the greatest story never told.

It began 1975, when Barry White fired a crew known as White Heat, one of his many backing bands, which included pianist/singer Robert "Bobby" DeBarge Jr., the second oldest of the 10 DeBarge siblings. The whole DeBarge family loved music. They'd sing on the radio in Detroit on Sunday mornings and perform at talent shows. Bobby's talents stood out.

"I've never heard anyone sound quite like him, and with so much ease," producer Bernd Lichters has said. "I knew I saw a star." Lichters worked with former White Heat members Bobby DeBarge and Gregory Williams (a schoolmate of Bobby's) to launch the pioneering soul-pop group Switch. Bobby co-wrote and co-produced much of the group's best music, but behind the good looks and dazzling talent lurked a tortured soul."I've never heard anyone sound quite like him, and with so much ease," producer Bernd Lichters has said. "I knew I saw a star." Lichters worked with former White Heat members Bobby DeBarge and Gregory Williams (a schoolmate of Bobby's) to launch the pioneering soul-pop group Switch. Bobby co-wrote and co-produced much of the group's best music, but behind the good looks and dazzling talent lurked a tortured soul.

Bobby's drug issues were common knowledge among the members of Switch, but his voice was too gorgeous to ignore. Still, Switch - which released five albums on Motown's subsidiary Gordy Records - almost bounded into the studio without his supple crooning. "I wasn't sure I wanted Bobby to be in the group because he was still on drugs," says Williams. But when a chance meeting in Los Angeles with Jermaine Jackson and his wife, Hazel (Berry Gordy's daughter), got them an audition with Gordy, Williams reconsidered.

To be continued in Episode 2, coming soon.

Chico DeBarge

Etterlene DeBarge Knight

aka Bunny DeBarge

City: Grand Rapids

Occupation: Self employed singer, songwriter, producer

Church Affiliation: Bethel Pentecostal Church

Shero: My Mother and my Grand mother

Favorite Bible Verse: Trust the Lord with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways and He will direct your past.

I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me!!!

I began singing as a child at church in the family group known as the "Little DeBarge Children". We grew up in Detroit where we polished our abilities as singers. Momma was the inspiration behind our performing. We showcased our talent by performing at our church and at the local radio station. Around the age of 12 or 13, we moved to Grand Rapids. I then began singing at my uncle's church without my brothers. A year later my entire family relocated to Grand Rapids but we no longer sang together as a group. Eventually, we all ventured off and did our own thing. I was now singing in the choir and with various church groups. I was Bethel's own soloist. Before finishing High School, I was awarded a scholarship to Interlockin and Julliard School of Music in New York and had an opportunity to sing at Madison Square Garden. By the time I was 21, I decided to leave school and the church so that I could become a wife and mother. I eventually went back to my church and began singing with the family once again. The group was now called "God's Children of Harmony" which now included my brother El. In 1979/1980 I went to California along with my family and formed the group "DeBarge". Not only was I singing but I was now a songwriter along with my brother Bobby for the group "Switch". The rest as they say is history. Today, I'm currently writing a book called "The Kept One's". When the project is complete I will be traveling to different communities conducting interviews and booksignings.

Erykah: Most people recognize you from the being a member of the "Super" R&B group DeBarge. When did you decide to switch from Gospel to secular music? Was it a difficult to transition?

Bunny: Not at all! It happen naturally. DeBarge's transition to secular was only in words to a women or man instead of God. Our music has never changed. I started out singing gospel as a child. It has always been my first love. I decided if anything to go secular if you know what I mean? I feel that Gospel is Home!!

Erykah: Tell us about your latest project.

Bunny: It is right now the most important thing in my life to get done with my book because I believe it is such healing for me and my family. I'm talking about the hurting things and the reasons why, and the generational curses upon the family. The sins of our fathers and our fathers fathers. It's been healing for me and I feel God has made me the one to write this. I am looking for it to become a movie and I am looking for it to reunite the family again and take us to the land of Milk and Honey. To our destiny, I believe DeBarge will return in Jesus Name!!!

Erykah: What are you most passionate about?

Bunny: Today I am learning to be passionate about me, my life, and loving Bunny. I had that all wrong, [you must read my book to understand]. I am passionate about things that concern me and mine. My relationships!!! with God, my husband, my children and my siblings - all in that order!

Erykah: Name a sistah that you've encountered who possesses a phenomenal spirit.

Bunny: My cousin Sharon Renee Braden!!! She has always been there, always loved me with God's love, she's seen me with God's eyes. She has been a inspiration in my life and has always believed in me, for me and with me!!