DeBarge family
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UnclaimedThe DeBarge family is a multigenerational family of American rhythm-and-blues, soul, funk, gospel, and pop performers associated with Switch, DeBarge, and individual recording careers.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The DeBarge family is an extended family of American musicians and recording artists whose best-known members emerged from Grand Rapids, Michigan, after the family relocated there from Detroit in the early 1970s. The family’s public musical history began with Robert Louis DeBarge Jr., known professionally as Bobby DeBarge, who became a principal singer and songwriter in the funk and soul group Switch. Switch, initially associated with the name First Class, signed to Motown Records in the late 1970s. Its debut album and the single “There’ll Never Be” established Bobby as a significant R&B vocalist and helped create the commercial and professional foundation from which several younger DeBarge siblings later developed their careers. In 1979, Etterlene DeBarge’s children Bunny, Marty, Randy, and El DeBarge signed to Motown as the DeBarges. Bobby and Tommy DeBarge, who had been members of Switch, assisted with the younger siblings’ musical development after leaving Switch in 1981. The family ensemble spent an extended period developing its sound and performance identity before issuing its first album in 1981. James DeBarge joined before the second album, and the group adopted the shorter name DeBarge. The 1982 album All This Love brought the group broad recognition, with songs including “I Like It” and “All This Love.” DeBarge became one of Motown’s prominent R&B groups during the first half of the 1980s. Its subsequent recordings produced a sequence of popular singles, including “Time Will Reveal,” “Love Me in a Special Way,” and “Rhythm of the Night.” The group’s sound combined family harmonies, romantic songwriting, soul and funk arrangements, and crossover pop accessibility. Between 1982 and 1985, the group released three gold-certified albums and more than ten hit singles according to the family’s biographical record. The original lineup ended in 1986, although a later configuration involving Bobby and other members briefly continued under the DeBarge name before disbanding. Several family members established separate careers. El DeBarge became a solo singer and songwriter after leaving the group, scoring a notable success with “Who’s Johnny” and later appearing on recordings associated with Quincy Jones, Tone Loc, and Fourplay. His later album Second Chance marked a return to studio recording after a lengthy gap. Chico DeBarge developed a solo career with the 1980s single “Talk to Me” and subsequent R&B releases, including work connected with neo-soul label Kedar Records. Bunny DeBarge released the Motown solo album In Love in 1986 and later concentrated largely on independent gospel music. Bobby’s posthumous solo album It’s Not Over appeared in 1996 after his death in 1995. Tommy remained associated with Switch and family musical projects until his death in 2021. The family’s later generation has also included recording artists and performers. Kristinia DeBarge, James’s daughter, released the album Exposed through Island Records in 2009. Other descendants have pursued music, acting, production, or online entertainment. As a family identity, DeBarge is therefore not a conventional commercial brand or incorporated enterprise; it is a cultural and artistic lineage connected to American popular music, Motown’s R&B history, and the continuing work of multiple generations.
History
The DeBarge family’s history is rooted in the musical development of ten children born to Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. and Etterlene Abney DeBarge. Robert and Etterlene met in Detroit in the early 1950s, married in 1953, and later moved with their family to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1972. The move placed the family near Etterlene’s brother, Bishop William Charles Abney Jr., whose Pentecostal church became part of the family’s community background. Robert and Etterlene later divorced, while Etterlene subsequently remarried. The first major professional breakthrough came through Bobby DeBarge. Before forming Switch, Bobby had experience as a vocalist and musician, including work connected with White Heat. Switch, initially known as First Class, signed with Motown Records in 1978. The group’s debut album generated the R&B hit “There’ll Never Be,” and its first two albums achieved million-selling status according to the family’s published biographical account. Switch’s success also helped establish Bobby and Tommy DeBarge as experienced musicians who could support the careers of their younger siblings. In 1979, Bunny, Marty, Randy, and El DeBarge signed with Motown as the DeBarges. The siblings relocated to Los Angeles and underwent a period of musical preparation before releasing their debut album in 1981. Bobby and Tommy left Switch that year and became mentors to the younger group. James DeBarge joined before the second album, after which the group generally used the name DeBarge. All This Love, released in 1982, became the group’s first major commercial breakthrough. Its title track and “I Like It” introduced the group’s characteristic combination of close family vocals, romantic themes, and polished R&B production. The group continued with a series of successful recordings during the first half of the 1980s. Its catalog included “Time Will Reveal,” “Love Me in a Special Way,” and “Rhythm of the Night,” the latter helping broaden the group’s crossover profile. The family’s ensemble reportedly produced three gold-certified albums and more than ten hit singles from 1982 to 1985. The original group ended in 1986. A reconfigured group featuring Bobby and excluding El and Bunny made a later recording in 1988, but that formation ended in 1989. The family’s artistic activity continued through solo work. El DeBarge left the group in 1986 and achieved a notable solo result with “Who’s Johnny.” He also became a sought-after featured vocalist, appearing on projects linked to Quincy Jones, Tone Loc, and Fourplay. His album Second Chance, released in 2010, was his first studio album since 1994. Bunny issued the Motown album In Love in 1986, although the release did not achieve comparable commercial success, and later focused on independent gospel music. Chico DeBarge began a solo career with the 1985 album and the top-40 single “Talk to Me,” later recording neo-soul-oriented material and becoming the only family member identified in the reference material as having achieved certified gold album status as a solo artist. Bobby DeBarge’s career was affected by personal problems, and he died in 1995 at age 39. His only solo project, It’s Not Over, was released posthumously in 1996. Tommy DeBarge continued as a bassist and backing vocalist associated with Switch and died in 2021 from liver and kidney failure. James DeBarge remained known primarily for his work with the family group and for a short marriage to Janet Jackson in the 1980s. Younger relatives have extended the family’s entertainment presence, including Kristinia DeBarge, who released Exposed in 2009, and other descendants involved in music, acting, production, and digital media. The DeBarge family is best understood as an artistic lineage rather than a single operating company, with its influence expressed through recordings, songwriting, performance, and intergenerational participation in popular music.
- 2021
Tommy DeBarge dies
[1]Tommy DeBarge, a Switch bassist and backing vocalist, died from liver and kidney failure.
- 2010
El DeBarge returns with Second Chance
[1]El DeBarge released Second Chance, his first studio album since 1994.
- 2009
Kristinia DeBarge releases Exposed
[1]The next generation entered the recorded-music market with Kristinia DeBarge’s debut album Exposed.
- 1995
Bobby DeBarge dies
[1]Bobby DeBarge died at the age of 39; his solo album It’s Not Over was issued posthumously the following year.
- 1986
The original group ends and solo careers expand
[1]DeBarge disbanded, while El and Bunny pursued solo releases and other family members continued separate musical activities.
- 1982
All This Love establishes DeBarge
[1]James joined the group before the release of All This Love, which produced “I Like It” and “All This Love.”
- 1981
The family group releases its debut
[1]The original family ensemble released its first album after a development period in Los Angeles.
- 1979
The DeBarges sign with Motown
[1]Bunny, Marty, Randy, and El DeBarge signed with Motown as the DeBarges.
- 1978
Switch signs with Motown
[1]Bobby and Tommy DeBarge’s group Switch signed with Motown and released the hit “There’ll Never Be.”
- 1972
The family relocates to Grand Rapids
[1]Robert and Etterlene DeBarge moved their family from Detroit to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the later musical careers developed.
Products and positioning
A multigenerational American R&B and soul music lineage recognized for family harmonies, Motown-associated recordings, songwriting, crossover singles, and individual careers spanning funk, pop, gospel, and contemporary R&B.
Funk and soul group recordings · 1978
Switch recordings
Switch was the first major professional platform for Bobby and Tommy DeBarge. The Motown-associated group combined funk, soul, dance-oriented arrangements, and vocal harmonies. Its debut album and the single “There’ll Never Be” provided the commercial breakthrough that preceded the formation of the younger siblings’ group and influenced later R&B ensembles.
R&B and pop group recordings · 1981
DeBarge group catalog
The DeBarge catalog is centered on the albums released during the group’s Motown period, especially All This Love and Rhythm of the Night. The music is associated with layered family harmonies, romantic songwriting, polished soul production, and crossover appeal. Key singles include “I Like It,” “All This Love,” “Time Will Reveal,” “Love Me in a Special Way,” and “Rhythm of the Night.”
Solo R&B recordings · 1986
El DeBarge solo recordings
El DeBarge’s solo work extended the family’s sound into adult R&B, pop, quiet storm, and collaborative vocal music. “Who’s Johnny” was his best-known solo hit, while later collaborations included projects associated with Quincy Jones, Tone Loc, and Fourplay. Second Chance represented his return to studio albums after a long interval.
R&B and neo-soul recordings · 1985
Chico DeBarge solo recordings
Chico DeBarge began his solo career as a teenager and achieved a top-40 result with “Talk to Me.” His later work included the album Long Time No See and recordings associated with the neo-soul-oriented Kedar Records. His solo catalog represents a more contemporary R&B direction within the wider family history.
Gospel recordings · 1986
Bunny DeBarge gospel recordings
Bunny DeBarge’s solo catalog began with the Motown album In Love in 1986. After that release, she became more strongly associated with independent gospel work, including recordings involving family members and material reflecting the family’s Pentecostal background.
Pop and R&B album · 2009
Exposed
Exposed was Kristinia DeBarge’s debut album, released through Island Records in 2009. It continued the family’s involvement in commercial recorded music through a younger generation and followed Kristinia’s earlier appearance on American Juniors.
Brand decisions
1986
Move from the family group toward solo careersStrategyBackground
Following several years of group success, individual members had distinct musical interests and opportunities.
Action taken
The original DeBarge lineup ended, while El and Bunny pursued solo recording projects and other members continued independent work.
Aftermath
The family’s public musical identity became distributed across solo catalogs, short-lived group reunions, gospel projects, and later-generation releases.
1982
Add James DeBarge and shorten the group nameGeneration changeBackground
The original group began with Bunny, Marty, Randy, and El. James joined before the second album.
Action taken
The ensemble added James and adopted the name DeBarge, then released All This Love.
Aftermath
The revised lineup produced the group’s major breakthrough singles and established its signature commercial identity.
1979
Develop a younger family ensemble under MotownStrategyBackground
After Switch’s success, Bunny, Marty, Randy, and El DeBarge entered Motown’s orbit as a separate family group. Bobby and Tommy later left Switch and helped mentor the younger siblings.
Action taken
The siblings relocated to Los Angeles, underwent an extended development period, and prepared for a formal recording career as the DeBarges.
Aftermath
The resulting group evolved into DeBarge after James joined and became one of Motown’s best-known 1980s R&B acts.
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