Hopefully, the third time will be the charm for El DeBarge.
Just days before Debarge’s actual second chance could get fully under way with a major tour, he checked himself into a drug rehabilitation center to deal with complications from years of drug abuse.
The man who has penned and sung a long list of R&B classics from the ’80s, including “I Like It,” “Time Will Reveal,” and “The Rhythm of the Night,” has cancelled his tour with Kem and Ledisi. The highly anticipated tour was scheduled to start in Houston on Thursday, Feb. 17. Musiq will replace DeBarge on the bill.
“I hate to disappoint my fans,” DeBarge explained, “but it is necessary for me to take the time to work on me, so that I may continue to share my music and my story with everyone.”
DeBarge, 49, had just released the critically acclaimed album, Second Chance, last November, his first in 16 years. His comeback was fully embraced by the public, particularly his old-school fans who stayed in his corner through the years.
We can only hope that DeBarge has not exhausted all of the capital that was invested in his comeback, especially the love he got from Babyface, who was a major part of the beloved singer’s return to prominence. And we will see if the fans are willing to give him a third chance.
–terry shropshire
