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 4 - the conclusion.
Much was expected of Eldra. Like Bobby, El simply had it. Aside from his vocal talents, El was also a keyboardist and producer who seemed destined to run in the same company as Michael Jackson and Prince. But at his core, El was more tortured balladeer than mammoth pop star.
"I've seen him get to a special place while performing, and he'd just start crying on stage," says friend/collaborator David "DJ Quik" Blake from his Southern California home. "That's how powerful his music is."
Legendary producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, who did some production work on El's Heart, Mind and Soul, fondly remembers the days when his old group the Deele - which included drummer-turned-Island-Def-Jam-chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid - and DeBarge opened for Luther Vandross. "I was in awe of El back then," says Babyface, "and learned much about songwriting and performance from studying him."
El's solo track record is frustratingly short. Motown released his self-titled solo debut in 1986, featuring the lighthearted pop hit "Who's Johnny." A second solo album Gemini, was dropped (to moderate fanfare) in 1989. In 1992, he laced Quincy Jones' majestic "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)." El's first post-Motown disc, In the Storm (Warner Brothers, 1992), featured underrated collaborations with Earth, Wind & Fire leader Maurice White, a duet with Chante Moore ("You Know What I Like") and a chilling remake of Marvin Gaye's "After the Dance" with Fourplay. And while that stellar track was a hit on urban radio, the disc was a commercial disappointment. In 1995, Warner Bros. dropped El from the label. With the exception of supplying keyboards and background vocals on Chico's strong post-prison disc, Long Time No See (1997), and DJ Quik's 1999 Rhythm-Al-Ism, El hasn't recorded anything for public consumption in more than a decade.
So, what happened?
"Drugs happened," blurts Etterlene. "It's painful to talk about, but when El got into drugs, it just paralyzed him." The drug abuse masked deeper scars. "El was lonely without his brother [Bobby]," his mother continues. "He just couldn't deal with all the people in the music industry. He couldn't deal with their fakeness and people ripping him off. Motown had taken all his publishing, and they're still making money from those songs." His own financial needs were just the tip of the iceberg. According to Bunny, El sired as many as 10 children, starting from the time he was 14. He could do little more than to put all this stress into his music, but then one day the music stopped.
"Is this going to be a cover story?" El asked in measured tones the one time VIBE spoke to him for this article, in April 2007. The most accessible DeBarge brother, Chico, who was recording new material in a Times Square studio, had gotten him to the phone, if only for a minute.
"Not my decision," this writer replied.
"Well, call me on Monday," El said. "We can talk then."
After weeks of repeated phone calls that seemed to be ringing inside a black hole, it was obvious that El had no intention of talking to anyone. But there may yet be another chapter to El's story. The reclusive soul man has recently been spending time in a California recording studio with Babyface. Williams holds out hope for El's redemption, but a full-length interview is another matter. "Most of the time I can't even get a hold of him," says Williams, CEO of Switch Entertainment, who is also acting as El's manager. "But the voice is still there. El still has that gift."
Along with older brothers Bobby and El, the suffering "soul man" strain can still be heard in Chico's music as well. While Switch, DeBarge, and El may enjoy top billing in the DeBarge family's musical hierarchy, Chico's Long Time No See is a conceptual gem that recalls Marvin Gaye's 1978 Here, My Dear (Motown). When he signed to Kedar Entertainment, home of songbird Erykah Badu, Chico wasn't aware that he was creating such a memorable project. "Coming out of prison," he says, sipping a Grey Goose and cranberry in a Brooklyn restaurant, "my goal was to make music that would get me to the other side of the pain."
After the release of Chico's 1999 follow-up album, The Game, he and Massenberg parted company. "We both have very strong opinions," says Massenberg. "His ideas for The Game were corny; Chico wanted to be more bling and mainstream. We did manage to make one classic album, but sometimes Chico can be his own worst enemy."
It's 2 a.m. one Saturday in Times Square, and perfectionist Chico has spent the night working at Quad Recording Studios. Dressed in a fly sweatsuit and sneakers, he's just finished recording a new track called "Make You Feel Good" featuring rappers Jim Jones and Young Nic, which he plans to release on his own Innovator label as part of his new album, Lessons.
The heartbreak in Bobby, El, and Chico's music may have many sources, but part of it stems from having to always prove themselves worthy. The Jacksons are constantly namechecked as the first family of R&B. But when it comes time to define the canon, the artistry and rich contributions of the DeBarge family has been unfairly kicked to the curb.
Slightly buzzed from a vodka cocktail, Chico glances out of the studio window and watches a taxi zoom down Broadway. "You know what us being in the studio tonight means?" he asks of no one in particular. "It means that the DeBarge story is not over. What my brothers and sister gave me was a beautiful musical legacy that has already been written in stone," he says. "Honestly, nobody can change that history." And that's a story, no matter how painful, that Chico intends to carry on.
But his mother takes a very different view of this latest DeBarge comeback attempt. "If I had to do it again, I would never allow my kids to be in the music industry," says a somber Mama DeBarge, who recently put a bunch of Chico's keyboards and recording equipment up for sale on eBay. "There are a lot of snakes out there," she observes. "And they bite real hard."
Comments
1.
forgiveme says:
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First I want to say that I know this article is old. However, since the Unsung episode of Debarge aired, I find their story to be one of the saddest I have ever heard. I really have a hard time not only the father of DeBarge but their mom as well. Mama D as you call yourself, you seem to blame everyone for your children's failures, but the real people that had an enormous part of their failures you seem to make excuses for them. Most of your kids have been drug abusers. That is just amazing and horrible. But sad to say that is how they dealt with their childhood pain and then once again as you said the destruction that Motown dished out to them. Please they were well on their road to destruction before they ever signed with Motown. I agree with another comment that was made, DeBarge was and still is the bomb! Their music is fabulous, but get real they cannot touch the Jacksons. Maybe that is why they did not become the success that they should have. Do your own thing stop comparing yourself to someone else. I can go on and on. But, there is not enough time for me to really go off the way I want to. By the way this question I have to ask. Mama D you said in your book how abusive their father was. Why do you still call yourself Mama D? That is your children's name not yours. One more thing your ex which is their father should have been arrested a long time ago for the rape of your daughter. I think he is garbage and you are rediculous for not believing your baby when she told you! I am sorry no more sugarcoating! Everytime Unsung airs I get mad as hell, not to mention when I read Bunny's book! DeBarge I hope you all heal from your past!
April 11, 2009 at 4:41 pm
2.
Reets53 says:
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Mama Debarge first I want to tell you that your husband was what destroyed your family not Motown, the abuse that they suffered at his hands sent them on this path not the successes they had. Second as a people we need to stop comparing and competing with each other but keeping it real very few artists have reached the heights of Michael Jackson and no one on earth makes him look sad. There is no competition between them because there is no comparison. But your kids were the bomb! This is slave mentality to keep pushing us against one another. I pray for your children, and for you, because you are still in denial of their pain and are placing it everywhere but where it belongs at your husbands hands.
January 26, 2009 at 10:08 pm
3.
allsmiles says:
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Just finished reading this article after watching T.V. 1's unsung.Wow. I pray for Eldra and Chico who last I heard may be in jail again.
I am 37 years old Bobby and Thomas Debarge along with switch helped me to form my musical taste and style.I went to a preforming arts school and sang their songs not realizing that they were no longer together.I searched through the records of friends and family (keeping some of them) and played their stuff over and over.I even sang I call your your name to my first boyfriend everynight before we said goodbye.Bobby died too young and I know that there is peace for him now.God bless him and keep him.
This article talked about the fall of a family but it needs to be said that they are survivors.What struck me most about the T.V. one show is how they love eachother through it all. How they could still speak the truth about their father without contempt. That's God working to heal and I pray that they continue to heal.
El and Chico I especially hope that you become whole again.I cried when I used to hear the purity of El's voice singing "Love me in a special way" I cry out now to God Almighty to restore these brothers and uplift all fo them.
Much love and respect to the Debarge family.
December 6, 2008 at 4:12 am
4.
muziklzodyak says:
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Only god & the family know the truth about what went on in the Debarge home, so it's not for me to judge anybody. I can speak on family & drugs & how hard it is seeing your family mem on drugs & it's nothing you can do about it, untill their ready them selves. As a female of course my heart aches for the whole family,especially the men of the family. (I had a cruuussshhhh on bobby! when i was in high school, hell all us girls were in love with him & other certain members of switch & Debarge! (yeeaahhh big-daddy). I was so heart broken when i found out my honey had passed away at such a young age. Then when i heard a song a few years later i could have sworn somebody lied to me when they said bobby was dead, because the song I heard sounded just like him, thats when i found out about the other brothers & sisters. (Now i have a crush on El! yyeeaahh big-daddy, sing to me please. Any way I so hope that the debarges can work their problems out atleast to a point where they can atleast communicate with each other when needed. Theirs not enough people that can actually "sang" so i'm really hoping Debarge & or El Debarge make a come back & soon. Most of our serious sangers have passed away. I put Debarge up their with: marvin gaye,luther bandross,al jerohe,jeffrey osborne,barry white,silk,mint condition, prince,rick james,tina marie,smokey robinson, gearld & eddy lavert, vanessa williams,al green, baby face, H-town, toni braxton,toni tony tone, cristopher williams, the whole motown era & up to the new-jack era. you have to come back & sing to us. we know have: Joe,maxwell,musiq sole child, jill scott,elisabet withers & other new artists thats tryin to keep muzik alive & well & meanningful. Theirs not enought baby makin muzik anymore, the new guyz that can sing their assess off haven a hard time gettin a deal. I'm a women who LOVES old skool muzik. You cant count on R'Kelly shit he keeps gettin introuble with "jail-bait", K-C & jo-jo dont know what happened to them! So see El & Debarges yawl have to come back we need real good lovn muzik,sexy muzik, baby makin muzik, the type of songs yawl & they (old school sung back then) I can hear any old school song now & I can name the artists & the song (especially if i hear the muzik being sampled on a rap son) I allways correct my 4 boyz ages 24-12 as to the original song & the artists so they know who gets the credit for the muzik, I let them know which rapper samples of which old school artist, to give credit where credit is due. I wished i knew you back then, I'd take care of you, especially when you needed it the most. Every man needs a good women & i love takin care of men, I dont like to see anybody men or women being hurt & or lonely. El! I really hope this email make you feel just a little bit better. Dont worry bout what people say about your drug thingy.( theirs one in ev-bodys family, yawl wont be the 1st & yawl wont be the last. Sorry for talking to you like your my man, but as i said as a women I just naturally feel this way about people in general especially men, i guess since we are loosing so many black men to other things I dont care to speak on. But yawl's muzik is really NEDED & WANTED. Thats all I listen to in my home, all old school, unforgettable muzik. The gap band,slave, confunction (thighs-high) check that song out.New Birth(been such a long time) sorry flash backn to basement party days,red light, momma would come & get you if you was late commin from the party! (although it was right around the corner! Those were the dayz! Take care family & I'll be waiting to hearing some sounds from yawl, PLEASE dont change to much from back when. Love Allways, sharon from philly. luvs me some muzikkk!
December 6, 2007 at 1:51 am
5.
StephieM says:
I had the pleasure of meeting them years ago (1984) when they were in concert in Detroit to give them a present I had made for them. They were all so kind - especially their mother. It's a shame that Motown helped to destroy them as a group as they have so many others in the past. With their talent, they could have had longevity in this business had not been working for vultures!
November 4, 2007 at 8:02 pm
6.
Younis says:
I liked the team as we grew up with them. Now i talk to my children about every time i go through my old records. What a shame!
October 26, 2007 at 9:26 am
7.
george says:
high school musical
October 25, 2007 at 7:19 am
8.
Bea says:
every family must go through storms to get the sunny days. Yes it's what happen but they need to ask them selves how will we dwell on the past. God don't put no more on us than what we can handle.
October 9, 2007 at 3:01 pm
9.
Kim says:
It is very sad, so no one should be bashing any of them. El still has it, an better than most of these lip singers we call artist. He's having problems right now, I know I would to going through all the hell he's went through along with people making up lies on him. He will come back after he clears up his situation.
October 6, 2007 at 12:09 am
10.
chanel says:
I hope the best for the debarge family. I know El still has what it takes and still sounds so beautiful. It is so sad to see how drugs took over such a beautiful person. El has a wonderful spirit in him and you can't help but to smile when he's in your presence. El you are in our prayers as well as James and Cbico and the rest of the family. El whenever you come back to Northern Cali you always have a home. We miss u and wish you the best in all your future endeavors. Love the Jones Family!!!
October 4, 2007 at 12:08 am
11.
ERIKA says:
This 4-part series of articles was great. I'm only 26, but i know good music. This article was really overdue. The talents of the Debarge family have gone unnoticed , but also copied for years, i.e. Justine Timberlake and Robin Thicke This story needs to be told in a movie
October 3, 2007 at 2:21 pm
12.
shell says:
this was a fascinating article and sad at the same time. after i read the debarge article, i read a similar article on the osmonds. they has difficulties as well only theirs was sicknesses...physical and mental.
still, they are still together and have a pbs special for their anniversary.
EVERY family has problems but is it
over?? not by a long shot. as long as
a body draws breath, you can always come back. i pray for their healing so
that they can live their best lives.
what would be great is a rock doc on family groups and their special dynamic.
i have enjoyed this family since switch days and look forward to
their reunion.
October 3, 2007 at 1:14 pm
13.
Link says:
mama Debarge is a good woman - there is no book of rules that comes when u have children - but by still being involved and supporting them she shows shes is a good mother and that u cant question her faith in family or God , cause shes still there - most pearents now days just give up
October 3, 2007 at 12:39 am
14.
Michael Childrey says:
Great story about a great musical family. I grew up with them from elementary thru. high school. They really did a lot to bring pride and recognition to the talent present in GRMI.
October 2, 2007 at 4:15 pm
15.
Michael Childrey says:
Great story about a great musical family. I grew up with them from elementary thru. high school. They really did a lot to bring pride and recognition to the talent present in GRMI.
October 2, 2007 at 4:15 pm
16.
Kanuri says:
I've just finished reading all 4 parts of the DeBarge article and felt sadness through out it ! I grew up listening to DeBarge and remember me and my girls back in junior high "trying" to harmonize to "I Like" when it first came out. The article was very good, however it was not long enough and I felt like more of their story hadn't even surfaced! Never-the-less this was a good read. I pray for healing for this very talented family.
October 2, 2007 at 2:35 pm
17.
Chilly D says:
1st. I think this story is wonderful. It pulls together all the questions I had about this talented family. I love them in the 80s and I love them now.
2nd. I'd rather NOT judge their mother. For she too was abused. It's easy to say what someone should have done when it's NOT you going threw. I'll just say God Bless them all.
It's not easy to air past hurt and pain and mistakes knowing (especially in the day of the internet) that people hide behind their words and sling shit at what you SHOULD have done. I'll just say God Bless all of them, and God Bless anyone who'd like to form judgement of this family.
Say what you want I bet no one can say they don't have a favorite Switch,Debarge or Chico Debarge song.
October 1, 2007 at 12:08 pm
18.
Truth07 says:
This is what happens when you stray from the Lord and play with the Devil. It is clear that the family already had issues before entering the music business. What kind of mother allows her husband to sexually abuse her children. Talking about snakes maybe she needs to look in the mirror. It is evident that her relationship with the Lord is questionable as well.
September 30, 2007 at 10:59 am
19.
chica says:
IS MAMA DEBARGE TRYING TO BLAME THE MUSIC INDUSTRY FOR HER CHILDRENS DRUG ABUSE AND OTHE R PROBLEMS? ACCORDING TO BUNNYS BOOK THEY ALL WERE DOING THE DRUG THING WHEN THEY WERE LIKE 15 YEARS OLD. WHERE WAS MAMA WHEN HER YOUNG TEENAGERS WERE DRUGGING AND SEXING AND ABUSING? AND WHEN HER HUSBABAND WAS RAPING THEM? SHE NEEDS TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR WHY HER CHILDREN HAVE THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE TODAY.
September 27, 2007 at 9:57 am
20.
FunkDaddy says:
Great musical family. Too bad they all got sucked in by drugs. Mother DeBarge is right, the music business aint no joke
September 25, 2007 at 6:06 pm