Bobby DeBarge

Bobby DeBarge
DeBarge circa 1979
DeBarge circa 1979
Background information
Birth nameRobert Louis DeBarge Jr.
Born(1956-03-05)March 5, 1956
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedAugust 16, 1995(1995-08-16) (aged 39)
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • musician
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • piano
  • percussion
Years active1975–1995
Formerly of

Robert Louis DeBarge Jr. (March 5, 1956 – August 16, 1995) was an American musician. He was the lead singer of the Motown R&B/soul vocal group Switch and was noted for his falsetto vocals. Later on, he served as both mentor and a co-producer of his siblings' band, DeBarge, eventually joining them to fill in for departing members El and Bunny. Personal problems, including substance abuse which eventually led to drug trafficking charges in 1988, plagued DeBarge in later years, taking focus away from his musical career. He contracted HIV in the 1980s, and died of AIDS complications in 1995 at age 39.[1][2]

  1. ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. March 3, 2008.
  2. ^ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. September 2, 1995.