Randy DeBarge

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Randy DeBarge
Birth nameWilliam Randall DeBarge
Also known asRandy DeBarge
Born (1958-08-06) August 6, 1958 (age 65)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
OriginGrand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • guitarist
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • bass guitar
Years active1979–present
Labels
Motown

William Randall DeBarge (born August 6, 1958) is an American

Motown singing family group DeBarge.[1] Randy is also known for singing co-lead and penning lyrics with brother El on the group's first hit, "I Like It
" (1982).

Biography

Early years

Born in

Motown
in 1977. Three years later, Motown signed Randy, El, Bunny and Mark DeBarge to Motown where they had formed the DeBarges shortening it to DeBarge following the release of their first album in 1981.

DeBarge

Main article: DeBarge

After their 1981 debut, The DeBarges failed to garner any interest, the group decided to write and produce themselves with some help from Berry Gordy's niece Iris, the group released their sophomore release All This Love. After the modest success of the group's funk single, "Stop! Don't Tease Me", the second single, "I Like It" became their first hit reaching number two on the R&B charts and crossing over to number 31. It was co-led by Randy and El, whose higher vocals carried the rest of the group's releases from then on. Within a year, DeBarge was one of the hottest-selling R&B groups in the world scoring hits such as "All This Love", "Love Me in a Special Way", and "Rhythm of the Night". After both El and sister Bunny left for solo careers in 1986, Randy and his brothers recruited oldest brother Bobby to record the group's fifth release, Bad Boys, but due to the record's limited production on the independent Striped Horse label, the record tanked. After a drug conviction befell Bobby and the group's younger brother Chico, the rest of DeBarge disbanded at the end of the eighties.

Later years

A father of five, Randy DeBarge reportedly suffered drug and alcohol addiction but was able to find partial sobriety in the mid-1990s. According to a recent

The CW Television Network
. Dr. Drew recommended rehab for drug addiction. Randy entered the rehabilitation program. Randy left 33 days later, against the rehab's and Dr. Drew's recommendation. [3]

Discography

Main article:
DeBarges discography
with DeBarges

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-06-181644-4
    . Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  2. ^ Christian, Margena A. (3 March 2008). "Matriarch Of DeBarge Family Tells Story of Fame, Loss And Perseverance in Book 'Other Side Of The Pain'". Jet. p. 39. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  3. ^ "DeBarge family featured today on 'Dr. Drew's Lifechangers'". MLive.com. 2011-09-21. Retrieved 2014-04-26.
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