For those of you who might not know how he started and did not live through his tumultuous rise and fall, we help fill in some of the gaps for you. Bobby DeBarge was the oldest male of the DeBarge children, born to Robert and Etterlene DeBarge over the course of their marriage, which lasted 21 years. Etterlene Louise was a gospel singer who really pushed her children and helped them hone their talent.
She is also the author of Other Side of the Pain, which highlighted many of the family issues and put a spotlight on the abuse. Robert Sr. It is reported that Robert Sr. When Barry broke the group up, some of the members reemerged to form a group named Hot Ice and they released an album in The group connected with Jermaine Jackson and signed to Motown Records.
It is believed that Bobby was already addicted to heroin and other drugs well before Switch became the official group. His battle with drugs would continue for years to come. Counting the two albums they released under different names, Bobby DeBarge released 6 albums with Greg Williams and the Switch members. The last Switch album was released in Bobby DeBarge ended up being sentenced to 5 years on drug trafficking charges for his role in trying to smuggle drugs across the country. He was arrested in Grand Rapids Michigan in and served time until in a Wisconsin prison until Bobby physically and sexually abused his brother.
James admitted to such on an episode of Lifechangers with Dr. Bobby was physically and sexually abused by his father and in turn Bobby did the same to James. No surprise this James DeBarge abuse and torment led to some troubling times for James as well. Yes, he did marry Janet Jackson, becoming her first husband, but that was his height of good times and it was short lived. The couple eloped back in , but the marriage was over less than a year later and they divorced in El DeBarge has 12 children. Despite solo success he has also battled addiction and has been in and out of prison for cocaine and heroin possession.
He was first arrested in and in and out of jail until , when he wrapped up his longest sentence of 13 months. He returned to music in with his comeback album, Second Chance. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award. Bunny DeBarge is the only family member we see Robert Sr. She dropped out of school at 17, had her first child and a short time later married her first husband, Tony Jordan aka Muttley from White Heat. They quickly had their first child, but she was still able to work as a part of DeBarge. She went on to have another child before she divorced Tony.
She remarried, after meeting Stephen Knight. She has also dealed with heroin addiction throughout her adult life. Chico DeBarge was never a member of DeBarge or Switch, but started his career as a solo artist in He had to serve 6 years on drug trafficking charges, which derailed his career.
Tommy DeBarge stopped making music after Switch and focused instead on mentoring the DeBarge members. He also served as a paid consultant for Motown. He too fell victim to drug addiction and battled it for years. He was married 2 times and has 9 children from 3 known women. The movie overlooks this completely. Officially, Bobby contracted HIV from intravenous needles from his drug use, but rumors have long swirled that he contracted that virus from sexual relations with men.
Bobby and Teri DeBarge were married on December 10, Bobby DeBarge Jr. Only the wigs were beyond horrid. James wig on him looked the best, when he had long hair, james debarge.
BUNNY also was portrayed nicely in the movie. He was clearly IN love wit her. He was always my fave. Glad they are part of my generation, for which in late 80s 90s high school i love them, and still do.
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