El DeBarge

Eldra Patrick DeBarge ( born 4 June, 1961 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American R&B and soul falsetto singer, the focal point and lead singer of the DeBarge family group throughout the early 1980s.

Career

After founding the group in 1978, the family was discovered by Jermaine Jackson, who signed them and El's older brothers' group, Switch, to Motown. While Switch went on to some success during the late 1970s, it took DeBarge three years before their debut album, The DeBarges was released. El took more of a lead role vocally, and also as a songwriter and record producer with the release of DeBarge's breakthrough LP, All This Love, which featured the hit title track and "I Like It."

On 1983's In a Special Way album, El wrote and sang most of the songs, including hits like the title track and "Time Will Reveal."

After the commercial pop success of their 1985 album, Rhythm of the Night, El left the group in 1986 to begin a solo career. He has had modest hits including his collaboration with Quincy Jones on the 1990 Quiet Storm R&B classic, "Secret Garden," and his cover version of the 1976 Marvin Gaye ballad, "After the Dance," which he recorded with jazz group, Fourplay in 1992.

El DeBarge has since withdrawn from public view following the 1995 death of his brother Bobby from an AIDS-related illness, although he has worked with artists such as DJ Quik and Warren G since then.

Trivia

• DeBarge's "Stay With Me" is sampled on The Notorious B.I.G.'s "One More Chance" remix (feat. Biggie's eventual wife Faith Evans), and Ashanti's song "Foolish".
• In the Ying Yang Twins' "Bedroom Boom" (which featured Avant), his song "All This Love" is referenced: All this love is waiting for you, like I'm El DeBarge
• DeBarge had a hit with "Who's Johnny?", the main theme of the film, Short Circuit. The music video for the song reflected its use in the movie, depicting a mock trial for Stephanie Speck and Newton Crosby for the theft of the movie's main character, Johnny 5, with scenes from the movie being shown as evidence.

Solo albums

(1986) El DeBarge
(1989) Gemini
(1992) In The Storm
(1994) Heart, Mind and Soul
(2003) Ultimate Collection

Songs

El DeBarge: 1. "Who's Johnny" 2. "Secrets Of The Night" 3. "I Wanna Hear It From My Heart" 4. "Someone" 5. "When Love Has Gone Away" 6. "Private Line" 7. "Love Always" 8. "Lost Without Her Love" 9. "Thrill Of The Chase" 10. "Don't Say It's Over"

Gemini: 1. "Real Love" 2. "Cross My Heart" 3. "Somebody Loves You" 4. "Broken Dreams" 5. "Broken Dreams (reprise)" 6. "Turn The Page" 7. "After You" 8. "Love Life" 9. "Broken Dreams (Think About It)" 10. "Make You Mine"

In The Storm: 1. "Elmo Funk (prelude)" 2. "Fast Lane" 3. "After The Dance" 4. "My Heart Belongs To You" 5. "Cry (interlude)" 6. "Love Me Tonight" 7. "Sincerely Yours(interlude)" 8. "You Know What I Like" 9. "Tip O My Tongue" 10. "Soul Searchin' (prelude)" 11. "In The Storm" 12. "And Then I Wrote(interlude)" 13. "Thick" 14. "Another Chance" 15. "Leggs" 16. "Elmo Funk (interlude)" 17. "You Turn Me On" 18. "Prelude To Midnight" 19. "Special"

Heart, Mind and Soul: 1. "Where You Are" 2. "Can't Get Enough" 3. "Where Is My Love" 4. "You Got The Love I Want" 5. "Its Got To Be Real" 6. "Slide" 7. "I'll Be There" 8. "Special Lady" 9. "Starlight, Moonlight, Candlelight" 10. "You Are My Dream" 11. "Heart, Mind and Soul"

Ultimate Collection 1. "All This Love" 2. "Love Me In A Special Way" 3. "Stay With Me" 4. "Who's Johny" 5. "Love Always" 6. "Lost Without Her Love" 7. "Somebody Loves You" 8. "Broken Dreams" 9. "Turn The Page" 10. "You know What I like" 11. "Side" 12. "Heart, Mind + Soul" 13. "I'm Yours" 14. "After The Dance" 15. "Dindi" 16. "Reach Out For Me"

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart