Mark DeBarge
Encyclopedia
Mark "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
. He is best known for co-penning the group's popular album track, "Stay With Me
", later covered by the likes of The Notorious B.I.G.
, Ashanti
and Mariah Carey
.
and growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan
as the fifth of ten and the fourth of eight brothers to Robert DeBarge, Sr. and Etterlene "Mama D" DeBarge, he sang gospel with his family in the church choir and learned how to play saxophone
and trumpet
from music educator Ricky Callier. DeBarge and his brothers and sister was inspired by soul
singers such as Marvin Gaye
and brother Bobby DeBarge
, who was riding high as lead singer and pianist for the group, Switch
, in the late 1970s. In 1979, Motown signed DeBarge and his brothers, Randy and El and sister Bunny, as the DeBarges and trained them for two years before the group released The DeBarges in 1981.
, featured the group's hits "I Like It
" and "All This Love", which constantly featured Mark's flugelhorn playing. Throughout the 1980s, DeBarge rose to international fame with singles such as "Love Me in a Special Way
", "Time Will Reveal", "Rhythm of the Night
" and "Who's Holding Donna Now
". Mark remained in the group when brother El
and sister Bunny
left the group in 1986 and the following year, DeBarge released their final album, Bad Boys
, which tanked when released on the Striped Horse label. DeBarge formally split up in 1989 after the convictions of brothers Bobby
and Chico
though Mark, James, Randy, El, their mother Etterlene
, Bunny and youngest siblings Darryl and Carol got together as "The DeBarge Family
" in 1991 and released the gospel album Back on Track. It was the family's last collaboration as other members carried on solo careers.
and according to mother Etterlene in an article about his family in Jet
, suffers from chronic debilitation on his legs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B/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...
singer-songwriter, trumpeter and flugelhorn player best known for his work as member of 1980s Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
singing family group 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...
. He is best known for co-penning the group's popular album track, "Stay With Me
Stay with Me (DeBarge song)
"Stay With Me" is a song performed by popular Motown recording group DeBarge issued on their popular 1983 album, In a Special Way.-Song information:...
", later covered by the likes of The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
, Ashanti
Ashanti (singer)
Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer, actress, and model. She rose to fame in the early 2000s. Ashanti is most famous for her eponymous debut album, which featured the hit song "Foolish", and sold over 503,000 copies in its first week of release...
and Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
.
Early years
Born in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and growing up in 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...
as the fifth of ten and the fourth of eight brothers to Robert DeBarge, Sr. and Etterlene "Mama D" DeBarge, he sang gospel with his family in the church choir and learned how to play saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
from music educator Ricky Callier. DeBarge and his brothers and sister was inspired by 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...
singers such as Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and brother Bobby DeBarge
Bobby DeBarge
Robert 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...
, who was riding high as lead singer and pianist for the group, 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...
, in the late 1970s. In 1979, Motown signed DeBarge and his brothers, Randy and El and sister Bunny, as the DeBarges and trained them for two years before the group released The DeBarges in 1981.
DeBarge
In 1982, the group's second release, All This LoveAll This Love (album)
All This Love is the second studio album released by family singing group DeBarge on the Gordy records. The album was released on July of 1982.-Reception:...
, featured the group's hits "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", which constantly featured Mark's flugelhorn playing. Throughout the 1980s, DeBarge rose to international fame with singles such as "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:...
", "Time Will Reveal", "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:...
" and "Who's Holding Donna Now
Who's Holding Donna Now
"Who's Holding Donna Now" is a 1985 hit single recorded by DeBarge for the Gordy label. It was their second consecutive top ten U.S. hit after the release of "Rhythm of the Night"....
". Mark remained in the group when brother El
El DeBarge
Eldra 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....
and sister Bunny
Bunny Debarge
Etterlene "Bunny" DeBarge is an American soul singer-songwriter, best known as the lone female sibling of the Motown family group DeBarge...
left the group in 1986 and the following year, DeBarge released their final album, Bad Boys
Bad Boys (DeBarge album)
Bad Boys is the fifth studio album released by R&B group, DeBarge in 1987, after both El DeBarge and Bunny DeBarge had left the lineup.When El and Bunny DeBarge left the group, remaining members James, Mark and Randy left Motown Records after a seven-year tenure in 1986 and signed with the local...
, which tanked when released on the Striped Horse label. DeBarge formally split up in 1989 after the convictions of brothers Bobby
Bobby DeBarge
Robert 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...
and Chico
Chico DeBarge
Jonathan Arthur "Chico" DeBarge is an American R&B singer and a younger brother of the members of the Motown family act DeBarge...
though Mark, James, Randy, El, their mother Etterlene
Etterlene DeBarge
Etterlene "Mama" Abney DeBarge Rodriguez is a gospel singer, songwriter, and matriarch of the famous singing DeBarge family group...
, Bunny and youngest siblings Darryl and Carol got together as "The DeBarge Family
DeBarge family
The DeBarge family is a family of rhythm and blues artists from Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan.-Family members:Robert Louis DeBarge, Sr. was a soldier who served for the United States Armed forces and was of French Canadian descent. He met Etterlene Abney, who is African American, in Detroit,...
" in 1991 and released the gospel album Back on Track. It was the family's last collaboration as other members carried on solo careers.
Later years
He is the father of five. DeBarge lives in CaliforniaCalifornia
California 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...
and according to mother Etterlene in an article about his family in Jet
Jet (magazine)
Jet is an American weekly marketed toward African-American readers, founded in 1951 by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois...
, suffers from chronic debilitation on his legs.