Etterlene DeBarge
Encyclopedia
Etterlene "Mama" Abney DeBarge Rodriguez (born October 13, 1935) is a gospel
singer, songwriter, and matriarch of the famous singing DeBarge
family group. She is also the author of Other Side of the Pain, which talked about her struggles in her marriage to her children's father and also documented her children's rise to fame and their struggles under the glare of the spotlight.
, she was one of twelve children, has a twin sister and is of African-American and Native American
ancestry. When she was a kid, her family moved to the Brewster-Douglass housing projects, located in the east side of Detroit. In 1952, she met a former Army veteran named Robert DeBarge Sr., a man of French-Canadian and English
descent from Cicero, Illinois
. The couple married in 1953 settling in a predominantly black section of Detroit where they had ten children. In 1972, the DeBarges moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan
where Etterlene's brother owned a Pentacostal church. Etterlene divorced Robert DeBarge sometime in 1974. Etterlene later married a second time to George Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican
, leading to the rumor that the DeBarge family was half-Hispanic
. However, contrary to popular belief, they are not of Latino descent.
-soul
band, Switch
(Tommy later joined the band), who first went by the moniker, First Class. Eventually signing with Motown Records in 1978, the group's debut album, yielding the hits "There'll Never Be", sold over one million copies starting the DeBarge musical dynasty. In 1979, Bunny, Marty, Randy and El signed with Motown as the DeBarges and released their debut album two years later under the guidance of Bobby and Tommy, who left Switch that year to begin mentoring their siblings. A year later, in 1982, the group, now known as DeBarge, found fame with the singles, "I Like It
" and "All This Love". They would go on to have several more hit singles such as "Time Will Reveal", "Love Me in a Special Way
" and "Rhythm of the Night
", reaching R&B superstardom by the mid-1980s. Younger brother Chico became a solo success first with his 1986 dance-pop
single, "Talk to Me", and then after a stint in prison, with more soulful singles such as "Iggin' Me" and "No Guarantees". El DeBarge also found solo fame in the 1980s with singles such as "Who's Johnny" and "Love Always" and collaborating on hits by Quincy Jones
, Tone Loc
and Fourplay
. Etterlene's youngest son Darryl released his first solo album last year continuing on the DeBarge name as various members continue solo careers.
.
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
singer, songwriter, and matriarch of the famous singing DeBarge
DeBarge
DeBarge was a sibling music group of American origin whose repertoire included R&B, soul, funk, and later gospel. Active as a professional recording group from 1979 and 1989, the group was one of the few recording acts to bring success to the Motown label during the 1980s.-Background:Hailing from...
family group. She is also the author of Other Side of the Pain, which talked about her struggles in her marriage to her children's father and also documented her children's rise to fame and their struggles under the glare of the spotlight.
Early years
Born Etterlene Abney on October 13, 1935 in Royal Oak, MichiganRoyal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
, she was one of twelve children, has a twin sister and is of African-American and Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
ancestry. When she was a kid, her family moved to the Brewster-Douglass housing projects, located in the east side of Detroit. In 1952, she met a former Army veteran named Robert DeBarge Sr., a man of French-Canadian and English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
descent from Cicero, Illinois
Cicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
. The couple married in 1953 settling in a predominantly black section of Detroit where they had ten children. In 1972, the DeBarges moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
where Etterlene's brother owned a Pentacostal church. Etterlene divorced Robert DeBarge sometime in 1974. Etterlene later married a second time to George Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
, leading to the rumor that the DeBarge family was half-Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
. However, contrary to popular belief, they are not of Latino descent.
Children
- Robert and Etterlene DeBarge had ten children during their 18-year marriage:
- Daughter Etterlene DeBargeBunny DebargeEtterlene "Bunny" DeBarge is an American soul singer-songwriter, best known as the lone female sibling of the Motown family group DeBarge...
, better known as Bunny, was born on March 15, 1955. - Son Robert "Bobby" DeBarge, Jr.Bobby DeBargeRobert Louis "Bobby" DeBarge Jr. was an American musician and the lead singer of the 1970s Motown R&B group Switch. He was also the mentor behind his younger siblings who formed the musical group DeBarge and was the biggest influence among its members, most prominently El DeBarge...
, was born on March 5, 1956 and died on August 16, 1995 of AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
complications. - Son Thomas DeBarge was born on September 6, 1957.
- Son William DeBargeRandy DeBargeWilliam Randall "Randy" DeBarge is an American R&B/soul singer and bass guitarist, best known for being one of the original members of the popular Motown singing family group DeBarge...
, better known as Randy, was born on August 6, 1958. - Son Mark DeBargeMark DeBargeMark "Marty" DeBarge is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter, trumpeter and flugelhorn player best known for his work as member of 1980s Motown singing family group DeBarge...
, better known as Marty, was born on June 19, 1959. - Son Eldra DeBargeEl DeBargeEldra Patrick "El" DeBarge is an American R&B/pop falsetto singer and was the focal point and lead singer of the family group DeBarge throughout the early to mid-1980s....
, better known as El, was born on June 4, 1961. - Son James DeBargeJames DeBargeJames Curtis DeBarge is an American R&B and soul singer. He was one of the members of the singing family group DeBarge, who became stars with their 1980s songs "All This Love", "In a Special Way", "Rhythm of the Night", and "Who's Holding Donna Now?".DeBarge is also known for his 1984 marriage to...
was born on August 22, 1963. - Son Jonathan Arthur DeBargeChico DeBargeJonathan Arthur "Chico" DeBarge is an American R&B singer and a younger brother of the members of the Motown family act DeBarge...
, better known as Chico, was born on June 23, 1966. - Fraternal twin daughter Carol "Peaches" DeBarge, was born on June 5, 1970.
- Fraternal twin son Darryl "Young" DeBarge, was born on June 5, 1970.
Grandchildren
She has dozens of grandchildren, several of which are involved in the entertainment industry. They include the following:- Adris DeBarge, daughter of El DeBargeEl DeBargeEldra Patrick "El" DeBarge is an American R&B/pop falsetto singer and was the focal point and lead singer of the family group DeBarge throughout the early to mid-1980s....
. She is an executive assistant for producer Tracey EdmondsTracey EdmondsTracey Edmonds is the CEO of Edmonds Entertainment Group Inc and COO of Our Stories Films.- Education :...
. - Andrew DeBarge, son of Tommy DeBarge, was born on September 28, 1989 in Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. His debut album, "Your Place," was released in 2008.
- Cheyanne DeBarge, daughter of Chico DeBargeChico DeBargeJonathan Arthur "Chico" DeBarge is an American R&B singer and a younger brother of the members of the Motown family act DeBarge...
, is an aspiring actress. - Kristinia DeBargeKristinia DeBargeKristinia DeBarge is an American singer-songwriter. She first appeared on national television in 2003 as a contestant on the American Idol spin-off, American Juniors. In 2009, DeBarge signed a contract with the Island Records department Sodapop, releasing her debut album Exposed in July of the...
, daughter of James DeBargeJames DeBargeJames Curtis DeBarge is an American R&B and soul singer. He was one of the members of the singing family group DeBarge, who became stars with their 1980s songs "All This Love", "In a Special Way", "Rhythm of the Night", and "Who's Holding Donna Now?".DeBarge is also known for his 1984 marriage to...
, was born on March 8, 1990 in CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She appeared on 2003's American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
spin-off American Juniors.
Switch and DeBarge
In 1975, Bobby and Greg Williams left Grand Rapids to start the funkFunk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
-soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
band, Switch
Switch (band)
Switch was an R&B/funk band that found fame recording for the Gordy label in the late 1970s releasing hit songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name" and "The Best Beat in Town" and influenced bands such as DeBarge, which featured members Bobby and Tommy's siblings.-Early years:Formed in...
(Tommy later joined the band), who first went by the moniker, First Class. Eventually signing with Motown Records in 1978, the group's debut album, yielding the hits "There'll Never Be", sold over one million copies starting the DeBarge musical dynasty. In 1979, Bunny, Marty, Randy and El signed with Motown as the DeBarges and released their debut album two years later under the guidance of Bobby and Tommy, who left Switch that year to begin mentoring their siblings. A year later, in 1982, the group, now known as DeBarge, found fame with the singles, "I Like It
I Like It (DeBarge song)
"I Like It" is a late 1982 hit single composed by Randy, Bunny and El DeBarge and released as a single by the family singing quintet, DeBarge, for Motown's Gordy imprint. It was the second single from their second studio album All This Love.-History:...
" and "All This Love". They would go on to have several more hit singles such as "Time Will Reveal", "Love Me in a Special Way
Love Me In a Special Way
"Love Me in a Special Way" is a song written and produced by El DeBarge and recorded by R&B family group DeBarge, released on the Gordy label. It was the second single from their third studio album In a Special Way.-Overview:...
" and "Rhythm of the Night
Rhythm of the Night (song)
"Rhythm of the Night" is a 1985 hit single by the American R&B band DeBarge. The song is said to have been what jump started the career of songwriter Diane Warren and was the biggest hit recorded by the Motown family singing group.-History:...
", reaching R&B superstardom by the mid-1980s. Younger brother Chico became a solo success first with his 1986 dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
single, "Talk to Me", and then after a stint in prison, with more soulful singles such as "Iggin' Me" and "No Guarantees". El DeBarge also found solo fame in the 1980s with singles such as "Who's Johnny" and "Love Always" and collaborating on hits by Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, Tone Loc
Tone Loc
Anthony Terrell Smith , better known by his stage name Tone Lōc, is an American rapper and actor.-Early life and career:...
and Fourplay
Fourplay
Fourplay is a contemporary jazz quartet in the United States. The original members of the group were Bob James , Lee Ritenour , Nathan East , and Harvey Mason . In 1997, Lee Ritenour left the group and Fourplay chose Larry Carlton as his replacement...
. Etterlene's youngest son Darryl released his first solo album last year continuing on the DeBarge name as various members continue solo careers.
Career
In 1991, with the help of her famous children, Etterlene, a religious woman, released a gospel album, Back on Track, under the DeBarge Family moniker. In 2005, she released a gospel album, A City Called Heaven. She is known affectionately by her grandchildren as "Mama D". She currently enjoys her grandchildren and lives in Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
.