Biography

Robert Louis DeBarge, Jr. (born 5 March 1956), addressed as Bobby DeBarge, was a renowned singer, musician and songwriter from the United States.

Some singers are known as much for their scandals as they are for their musical ability. Bobby DeBarge, a well-known vocalist who was born in the 1950s and died in 1995, was an example of this. 

Bobby DeBarge rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the Motown group Switch. Along with producing music, he also mentored the other DeBarge brothers and sang. 

Numerous personal issues, such as drug trafficking accusations and substance misuse, ruined his musical career.

Bobby DeBarge
Bobby DeBarge: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Robert Louis DeBarge, Jr.
Stage Name:	Bobby DeBarge
Born:	5 March 1956 (age 39 years old)
Place of Birth:	Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died:	16 August 1995, Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Nationality:	American
Height:	1.70 m
Parents:	Etterlene DeBarge, Robert Louis DeBarge Sr
Siblings:	Bunny DeBarge, El DeBarge, James DeBarge, Tommy DeBarge, Chico DeBarge, Randy DeBarge, Mark DeBarge, Carol “Peaches” DeBarge, Darryl DeBarge
Wife • Spouse:	Teri DeBarge (m. 1990–1995)
Girlfriend • Partner:	La Toya Jackson
Children:	Christian DeBarge, Bobby DeBarge Jr
Occupation:	Singer • Songwriter
Net Worth:	$15 million

Early Life

The singer Bobby DeBarge passed away on August 16, 1995. He was born on March 5, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan. Robert DeBarge Sr. and Etterlene DeBarge were his parents. 

After the DeBarge family moved to Grand Rapids in the 1970s, he started playing in a number of the city’s bands. Later, he teamed up with a couple of his buddies to create White Heat, Barry White‘s backing band. 

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Bobby DeBarge was the oldest of the DeBarge family’s male children, born over the period of Robert DeBarge Sr. and Etterlene DeBarge‘s 21-year marriage. Gospel singer Etterlene DeBarge gave her kids a lot of encouragement and helped them develop their skills.

Bobby DeBarge‘s siblings are Bunny DeBarge, El DeBarge, James DeBarge, Tommy DeBarge, Chico DeBarge, Randy DeBarge, Mark DeBarge, Carol “Peaches” DeBarge, and Darryl DeBarge.

Career

Bobby DeBarge and his younger brother Tommy DeBarge both started playing in local bands. Later, in 1975, he formed a group with Gregory Williams, another singer. The duo and several other musicians were accepted after a successful audition for the renowned Barry White backing band, White Heat. 

Due to tax-related concerns, Barry White fired all but one of the White Heat singers in 1976. After that, Bobby DeBarge joined forces with more than ten additional singers to form the band Hot Ice. The quartet issued an album called Pall Mall Groove in 1977. When he arrived back in Grand Rapids, she*in addiction sadly took hold of her. He later came back to the group, promising to kick his addiction.

Because they could “switch” between musical instruments, the ensemble members at the time went by the name Switch. Switch, the group’s debut album was released in 1978. In 1979, they published Switch II, and in 1980, they put out This Is My Dream, their third gold-selling album. By then, Bobby DeBarge had switched back to coc*ine use and stopped using her*in. His addiction led to conflict with the other group members. After the group’s fifth album, Switch V, was released in 1981, he abruptly quit. 

Following Bobby DeBarge‘s departure from Switch, his siblings started a band called the DeBarges. After El and Bunny left, Bobby joined his siblings’ group. He helped the group get back together, which led to the Bad being released later.

Personal Life

Bobby DeBarge‘s late wife, Teri DeBarge, also goes by the name Teri Lee Gayle. After her marriage to the late American singer Teri DeBarge—then Teri Lee Gayle—became well-known. 

Before his passing in 1995, she was with the famous artist for six years. After dating for a while, the two married on December 10, 1990. They had first met in the middle of the 1980s. When they first met, Teri DeBarge was only 15 years old, and Bobby DeBarge was already in his early 30s.

There are speculations that El DeBarge‘s ex-wife, Monique DeBarge, facilitated Teri DeBarge and Bobby DeBarge‘s relationship. He is blessed with two children; Christian DeBarge, Bobby DeBarge Jr and Bobby DeBarge Jr. He once dated La Toya Jackson.

The Bobby DeBarge Story, a TV One original film created by Swirl Films, was released in 2019. The 90-minute biopic was a part of the UNSUNG series on the network. The primary character in the film, played by Roshon Fegan, is Bobby. 

Cause Of Death 

The well-known artist told his family he had HIV/AIDS before going to prison. He returned to the music business after being released from prison in 1993. 

Bobby DeBarge has been battling AIDS-related issues for years since getting sick with the illness in the late 1980s. 

The singer was gravely ill in 1995. His family placed him in a Grand Rapids, Michigan, hospice, where he passed away on August 16, 1995. 

Net Worth

Being one of the iconic music stars worldwide, Bobby DeBarge is estimated at $15 million at the time of his death.

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Social Media

• Instagram: @ Bobbydebarge
• Twitter: @bobbydebargejr