Switch (band)
Encyclopedia
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
.
and Tommy DeBarge and Greg Williams, all of whom hailed from Grand Rapids, Michigan along with Akron, Ohio natives Phillip Ingram
(brother of James Ingram
), Eddie Fluellen and Jody Sims. At the time, they called themselves First Class. They joined Barry White's background group 'White Heat' as background musicians and were let go shortly thereafter.
, former member of The Jackson 5
, who heard the group's demo tape and within days the group was promptly signed to the Motown Records
subsidiary label
, Gordy. There, they recorded
and released their self titled debut album in 1978. The album featured their first Top 10 R&B hit single
entitled "There'll Never Be". Depending on whom was singing lead on the songs, their song
s were written
by Williams, Ingram and Bobby DeBarge and often in collaboration with Jermaine Jackson, who continued to sponsor the band throughout their five years on the label. Though they never did manage to cross over into the pop
singles chart
, they were a consistent presence on the R&B charts through the late 1970s with albums such as Switch II from 1979 (their second release), This Is My Dream and Reaching For Tomorrow in 1980. Their final release on Gordy was Switch V which was released in 1981. Other than "There'll Never Be", songs such as "I Call Your Name" and "Best Beat in Town" also became hits for the group.
left to pursue a solo career, new musicians were added in the personage of percussionist and singer Joe Robinson, Gonzales Ozen and keyboardist
Attala Zane Giles. This configuration of Switch signed with Total Experience (well known home of their contemporaries The Gap Band) and recorded a final album Am I Still Your Boyfriend in 1984 breaking up later on that year. In 1991, Motown released a greatest hits compilation album
by the band, and a similar version on the 20th Century Masters series released more recently is all that remains in print of this band. Former lead singer Bobby DeBarge died of AIDS
-related complications in his home in Grand Rapids, Michigan
on August 16, 1995 at age 39. Switch has since reunited featuring original members founder/leader Gregory Williams, Eddie Fluellen, Phillip Ingram
, original sessions/on stage guitarist Michael McGloiry, and new members Akili Nickson and Michael Norfleet.
Rich Boy
sampled "I Call Your Name" in his song "Throw Some D's";
Ne-Yo
sampled "I Call Your Name" in his song "It Just Ain't Right"
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
/funk
Funk
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...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
that found fame recording for the Gordy
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...
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
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...
, which featured members 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 Tommy's siblings
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,...
.
Early years
Formed in Mansfield, Ohio in 1974 under the name First Class. Featuring brothers Bobby DeBargeBobby 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 Tommy DeBarge and Greg Williams, all of whom hailed from Grand Rapids, Michigan along with Akron, Ohio natives Phillip Ingram
Phillip Ingram
Phillip Ingram was raised in Akron, Ohio. He came from a musical family with six brothers and sisters who all sang and played instruments but only Phillip and his brother, James Ingram, pursued a musical career....
(brother of James Ingram
James Ingram
James Ingram is an American soul musician. He is best known as a vocalist. He is also a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards...
), Eddie Fluellen and Jody Sims. At the time, they called themselves First Class. They joined Barry White's background group 'White Heat' as background musicians and were let go shortly thereafter.
Success years
Eventually changing their name to Switch due to their ability to 'switch' to different instruments during a song, the group got the attention of Jermaine JacksonJermaine Jackson
Jermaine La Jaune Jackson is an American singer, bassist, composer, a member of The Jackson 5, older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and occasional film director...
, former member of The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
, who heard the group's demo tape and within days the group was promptly signed to the Motown Records
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...
subsidiary label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Gordy. There, they recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
and released their self titled debut album in 1978. The album featured their first Top 10 R&B hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
entitled "There'll Never Be". Depending on whom was singing lead on the songs, their song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s were written
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
by Williams, Ingram and Bobby DeBarge and often in collaboration with Jermaine Jackson, who continued to sponsor the band throughout their five years on the label. Though they never did manage to cross over into the pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singles chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
, they were a consistent presence on the R&B charts through the late 1970s with albums such as Switch II from 1979 (their second release), This Is My Dream and Reaching For Tomorrow in 1980. Their final release on Gordy was Switch V which was released in 1981. Other than "There'll Never Be", songs such as "I Call Your Name" and "Best Beat in Town" also became hits for the group.
Later years
Shortly after the DeBarge brothers left to mentor the group DeBarge with their siblings, and lead singer Phillip IngramPhillip Ingram
Phillip Ingram was raised in Akron, Ohio. He came from a musical family with six brothers and sisters who all sang and played instruments but only Phillip and his brother, James Ingram, pursued a musical career....
left to pursue a solo career, new musicians were added in the personage of percussionist and singer Joe Robinson, Gonzales Ozen and keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Attala Zane Giles. This configuration of Switch signed with Total Experience (well known home of their contemporaries The Gap Band) and recorded a final album Am I Still Your Boyfriend in 1984 breaking up later on that year. In 1991, Motown released a greatest hits compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by the band, and a similar version on the 20th Century Masters series released more recently is all that remains in print of this band. Former lead singer Bobby DeBarge died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
-related complications in his home 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...
on August 16, 1995 at age 39. Switch has since reunited featuring original members founder/leader Gregory Williams, Eddie Fluellen, Phillip Ingram
Phillip Ingram
Phillip Ingram was raised in Akron, Ohio. He came from a musical family with six brothers and sisters who all sang and played instruments but only Phillip and his brother, James Ingram, pursued a musical career....
, original sessions/on stage guitarist Michael McGloiry, and new members Akili Nickson and Michael Norfleet.
Personnel
- Gregory Williams (1975-present): vocals, keyboards, trumpet
- Eddie Fluellen (1978-present): keyboards, tromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, vocals - Phillip IngramPhillip IngramPhillip Ingram was raised in Akron, Ohio. He came from a musical family with six brothers and sisters who all sang and played instruments but only Phillip and his brother, James Ingram, pursued a musical career....
(1977-1982; present): vocals, keyboards, percussion - Michael McGloiry (original session guitarist) (1978-??; present): guitar
- Bobby DeBargeBobby 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...
(1975-1981): vocals, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
/keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Tommy DeBarge (1976-1981): vocals, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Jody Sims (1975-1984): drums
- Attala Giles (1981-1984): guitar, bass, keyboards
- Renard Gallo (1982-1984): vocals, percussion
- Gonzales Ozen (1982-1984): vocals, percussion
- Christopher Hawkins (1985-1987): lead vocals
- Anthony Watters (1985-1987): guitar, vocals
- Howie Carbaugh (1985-1987): drums
- Akili Nickson (present): vocals
- Michael Norfleet (present): vocals
Albums (as Hot Ice)
- 1977: Pall Mall GroovePall Mall GroovePall Mall Groove is an album released by Switch, under the name of Hot Ice. After the White Heat fiasco, the band recorded this album for Bernd Lichters. It was initially released only in Germany, Bernd's home country, in 1977. It was eventually released in the US in 1979, now re-named Smash...
(Released in Germany) (Polydor) (NOTE: Was released in the US as Smash in 1979 on the MCA-distributed Source label)
Albums
- 1978: SwitchSwitch (Switch album)Switch is the first album by R&B band, Switch, released in 1978. It is also their first on the Motown subsidiary Gordy. After recording as White Heat and Hot Ice, this gave them the commercial breakthrough they desired with hits like "There'll Never Be" and "I Wanna Be Closer".-Track listing:#I...
(Gordy)U.S.Billboard 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
#37, R&B #6 - 1979: Switch IISwitch II-Track listing:#You're the One For Me - 4:29#Next To You - 4:11#Best Beat In Town - 4:48#Calling On All Girls - 4:34...
(Gordy) - U.S. #37, R&B #8 - 1980: This Is My DreamThis Is My DreamThis Is My Dream is the third album by R&B group, Switch. It was released in 1980.-Track listing:#Believe In Yourself#Love Over And Over Again#Just Imagine#All I Need Is You#You And I#What A Feeling#Without You In My Life#Why'd You Let Love Fall...
(Gordy) - U.S. #85, R&B #21 - 1980: Reaching For TomorrowReaching for TomorrowReaching for Tomorrow is the fourth album by Switch. It was the second album that they released in 1980. It was recorded at Motown's own studio and partly at James William Guercio's Caribou Ranch studio.-Track listing:#Power To Dance#My Friend In The Sky...
(Gordy) - U.S. #57, R&B #23 - 1981: Switch VSwitch V-Personnel:*Terrance Gaines: vocals*Bobby DeBarge: vocals *Gregory Williams: trumpet, keyboards, synthesizers, vocals*Phillip Ingram: percussion, keyboards, vocals*Eddie Fluellen: keyboards, trombone, backing vocals...
(Gordy) - U.S. #174, R&B #48 - 1984: Am I Still Your Boyfriend?Am I Still Your Boyfriend?Am I Still Your Boyfriend? is the sixth album from R&B band, Switch, and their last album. Released in 1984, this album includes new band members Renard Gallo and Gonzales Ozen.-Side A:#"I'm So Satisfied" #"Switch It Baby"...
(Total Experience)
Compilations
- 1991: The Best of Switch (Motown)
- 2001: 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Switch (Motown)
Singles
- 1978: "There'll Never Be" - U.S.Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#36, R&B #6 - 1978: "I Wanna Be Closer" - R&B #22
- 1979: "Calling On All Girls"
- 1979: "Best Beat In Town" - U.S. #69, R&B #16
- 1979: "I Call Your Name" - U.S. #83, R&B #8
- 1980: "Love Over And Over Again" - R&B #9
- 1980: "Don't Take My Love Away" - R&B #41
- 1981: "I Do Love You" - R&B #73
- 1981: "You And I" - R&B #57
- 1982: "Call On Me" - R&B #70
Rich Boy
Rich Boy
Marece Richards , better known by his stage name Rich Boy, is an American rapper from Mobile, Alabama. He is best known for the hit single "Throw Some D's". His self-titled debut album was released in early 2007.- Early career :...
sampled "I Call Your Name" in his song "Throw Some D's";
Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
sampled "I Call Your Name" in his song "It Just Ain't Right"