Who Is Bobby Debarge?
Robert Louis DeBarge, Jr., who is mostly known as Bobby DeBarge, was an American singer and musician.
He was the lead singer of the Motown R&B/soul vocal group Switch and was born in Detroit on March 5, 1956. He was well-known for his falsetto vocals. Bobby later worked with his siblings’ band, DeBarge, as a mentor and co-producer.
Due to his father’s maltreatment, Bobby DeBarge had a challenging childhood. He was first exposed to heroin when he was 15 years old and developed a lifetime addiction.
Bobby and his family moved to Grand Rapids following his parents’ divorce and separation, where he and his younger brother Tommy began performing in neighbourhood bands.
Bobby joined forces with fellow musician Gregory Williams to establish the band White Heat in 1975. They released their debut record and were accepted into Barry White’s background group.
But after the band broke up, Bobby’s heroin addiction worsened. Bobby was invited to join Gregory Williams’ newly formed band, Switch, after kicking his addiction. The quartet, which also included Bobby’s brother Tommy, was signed by Motown Records.
Switch had success with their 1978 debut album, which included the number-one song “There’ll Never Be.”
They kept putting out successful albums, such as Switch II and This Is My Dream, which highlighted Bobby’s ability to sing in a variety of octaves. Bobby’s drug abuse, though, came back, which led to conflict within the gang.
Bobby quit Switch in 1981 after signing a solo recording contract with Motown Records. He then concentrated on producing the albums for his siblings, contributing to the writing of their popular song “Queen of My Heart.”
But Bobby’s solo career flopped, so he joined his siblings’ reorganised band, DeBarge. Sadly, he was found guilty of narcotics trafficking in 1988 and given a five-year prison term.
Bobby pledged to stay sober after being released in 1993 and released music he had written while incarcerated. It’s Not Over,” his album, was released in 1995, not long before he passed away. Bobby told his family he had acquired HIV when he was behind bars.
He developed a serious illness and spent his final days in a hospice in Grand Rapids. He was 39 years old when he passed away on August 16, 1995.
Personal difficulties, such as substance misuse and health problems, impacted Bobby DeBarge’s life and made it difficult.
Despite these difficulties, his distinctive falsetto vocals and musical talent helped him make a lasting impact on the music industry. He is remembered as a gifted and significant R&B and soul musician today.
Bobby Debarge Siblings; All You Need To Know
Bobby DeBarge had several siblings, many of whom were also involved in the music industry. His siblings include El DeBarge, Bunny DeBarge, Randy DeBarge, James DeBarge, and Mark DeBarge.
El DeBarge achieved significant success as a solo artist, with hits like “Rhythm of the Night” and “Who’s Johnny,” while Bunny DeBarge also had a successful career as a member of the group DeBarge.
Randy DeBarge was a member of the band Switch, along with Bobby, before joining DeBarge. James DeBarge was also a member of DeBarge and had a successful solo career.
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