Tag Archives: Throwback Clip

Many of us can probably thank the music of old-school R&B group DeBarge that we’re here; back in the 1980s, the family group was the then-modern version of The Jacksons, turning out soulful pop hits like they were cotton candy.

Matter of fact, a big reason the group was discovered was in large part due to Jermaine Jackson. But making it big proved to be an Achilles Heel for the group, as success turned to bitter drug addiction and the eventual disintegration of the extremely gifted band.

The group exploded onto the scene in the early part of the 80s but by the end of the decade were musical toast. Drug use ran through the talented family and left carnage in its wake. By the time the new century arrived one of the famous siblings was dead–Bobby DeBarge, of an AIDS related condition which came as a result of his addiction, and the other family members were all addicts. Its one of the most tragic stories ever told in Urban music.

Up until I saw the TV One Unsung documentary about the group last night, I had no idea the entire singing clan at one point or another was hooked on drugs–very bad drugs, like heroin.

The late Bobby DeBarge’s wife even admitted she was shocked back then by the whole family’s extreme addiction, saying she’d never been exposed to anything like that ever before in her life.

Years later, the group’s most famous member, El DeBarge, is still grappling with a long standing abuse problem. he made a well-received comeback last year but ultimately ended up back in rehab. Nevertheless, the group’s enormous talent and the timelessness of their hits are undeniable all these years later.

Even if you weren’t born until way after this group made an impact, “The DeBarge Sound” is unmistakable.

According to their “UnSung” feature, the family still records and has a tight bond. And several of the children of the famous siblings are also stepping out in the music scene on their own. But its hard to fill these extra- large shoes.