|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZDEBARGEUS soul family vocal group. After the Jackson Five grew up Motown searched for suitably wholesome replacements; Jermaine Jackson discovered them, a family of ten raised single-handed by a music-loving mother in Detroit, then Grand Rapids; she encouraged Bobby and Tommy to sing gospel on Detroit radio; they signed with Motown as members of disco group Switch. Mark DeBarge (vocals, trumpet) enlisted brothers Eldra and James (both vocals, keyboards), Randy (vocals, bass) and sister Bunny in a group to play around the neighbourhood. A chance visit to Motown led to a meeting with Jackson and an on- the-spot audition with Berry Gordy. Lead singer Eldra was a Michael Jackson figure, visually and vocally similar; James was briefly married to Janet Jackson '84. Their Christian stance did not restrict choice of material, mostly from Motown writers performed with backing by Motown musicians. First single '78, then four LPs: DeBarge '81 (without James), All This Love '82, In A Special Way '83, Rhythm Of The Night '85, candyfloss pop- soul gaining in confidence, though still dispensable (the last three albums all top 40 in the Billboard pop album chart). 'Rhythm Of The Night' title track was kept from no. 1 singles slot only by USA For Africa charity record and Madonna, made no. 4 UK: prod. by Richard Perry with Jeff Lorber (synthesiser) and Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); its jaunty Latin beat reminiscent of Lionel Richie also featured in Motown-backed film The Last Dragon '85. El (b 4 June '61) went solo; Brother Chico (Jonathan) DeBarge (b '66) was not a member of the group but signed with Motown as a solo; they had eponymous chart albums '86; Bunny (b 15 March '55) charted '87 with In Love; El came back '94 with Heart, Mind And Soul on Reprise, guests incl. Stevie Wonder. |