El DeBarge is a member of one of the great dynasties in contemporary music. On par with the Braxtons, the Simmonses, and the Nevilles, the musical family’s legacy is solidified with El and his impressive body of work — both with his siblings and as solo act. El DeBarge found personal fame in the 1980s with singles such as “Who’s Johnny” and “Love Always,” and collaborations with Quincy Jones, Tone Loc and Fourplay.
Having signed with the legendary Berry Gordy and Motown in 1978, DeBarge’s discography of hit songs stems back almost three decades and still serves as the musical soundtrack to a generation of music lovers with classics like “Love Me in a Special Way,” “Time Will Reveal” and the record-breaking single, “I Like It.”
Rolling out chatted with El DeBarge in Los Angeles amid his return to the stage for a two-year national tour. During our conversation with the famous R&B crooner, it was clear that of all his talented siblings — Bobby and Tommy of the group Switch, along with Chico, James, Kristinia and Bunny — he is the most likely and the most determined to carry the torch and uphold the family’s claim to musical greatness.
You are a five-time Grammy nominee. In 1984, you were nominated for your first Grammy, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for In a Special Way (Album). Did you have any idea it would reach those heights?
We did not have any idea we would get nominated. You know Motown had a thing that they never really let you know how famous you were. Being at Mr. Gordy’s house and in the studio day after day, we really didn’t know the difference. We were shocked with the audience’s response [to] everything.
Seven years later you were nominated again.
Seven is a good number. I hope it doesn’t take another seven years. It’s a good feeling. You get acceptance from your family and friends when the world accepts you and loves your music. I don’t necessarily feel like awards are the best way to get acceptance, but it looks good to have something on the wall.
In the span of 11 years, you were the only DeBarge to receive a Grammy nomination thanks to your hit EP Second Chance. Is that when you were back in the studio solo or were you still with the group?
I was solo when I did the Second Chance project. A lot happened with the group and the whole industry was just changed. Nobody sells CDs anymore [and] there were personal problems with getting the family together. This brother has problems with his family and this brother has a situation. The best thing for me to do was to go solo. With Second Chance, God was telling me to believe in myself. It was really my second chance to be here for myself. That’s the message she was telling me.
Often artists are their own worst critics. Were you excited you were nominated for two singles on the Second Chance album?
I’m laughing because I am my worst critic. Actually, I’m my best critic. If it was up to me I would probably still be up in the studio perfecting “All This Love.” I need someone standing on my shoulders saying, “El, that’s enough.”
There were a lot of legendary performers on the Motown label. Who was the one person you admired most? Who kept you focused?
[I admired] my brother Bobby — rest in peace — and my brother Chico. These are the people who had the same ideas as me. … In the early part of my career, it was Berry Gordy for the most part [that I admired most], he took me under his wings and showed me the ropes. He was always hands-on in the studio.
But without my brother Chico, I probably would have never recorded the song “Time Will Reveal.” Bobby is who I always looked up to as a child. He was six years older than me. These are the people I can go to who have the same musical critique, not that I always listened to them.
How did Bobby have an impact?
Bobby was the reason I came to LA. My brother Tommy passed recently. Tommy and Bobby have passed away. They were both singing in the group Switch. Now they are both singing and making music in heaven.
Everyone is still talking about DeBarge singing “Ooh and I like it,” and, in fact, we loved it. But when Motown was suddenly sold, it seemed to have impacted the entire family. How did it impact you?
I can tell you how it impacted me. I should write a book about it one day. There’s a lot to be said about that. I felt like I was in my prime, my fan base was growing and I felt very confident. I was making hit after hit and more music was getting played. Then one day I get a call from Mr. Gordy’s assistant Edna to say Mr. Gordy was going to be on vacation for about a month and nobody would be able to reach him. At the time Motown was handling my money and my checks weren’t coming in.
I wasn’t getting checks anymore. I got ahold of one of the executives at Motown who told me Mr. Gordy was thinking of selling Motown. So I asked, “What’s happening with my money? How will I pay my bills?” He said,”‘I can’t answer that. You will have to wait until Mr. Gordy gets back.” You can probably imagine how that ended. No more albums, no more going to the studio. You can imagine how that impacted me … all of a sudden, nothing. My mother always said, “If you depend on them, whatever they give to you they can take away.”
Editor’s note: DeBarge sighed and asked for his mic to be removed. Then the interview resumed.
Are you OK, El?
I’m cool. That was a real moment for me. I hadn’t thought about that situation in a long time. It was a rough time for me. I had to pretend everything was all right and it wasn’t.
Images by Larry Wright Photography
