El DeBarge | |
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| Birth name | Eldra Patrick DeBarge |
| Also known as | El DeBarge |
| Born | June 4, 1961 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Origin | Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1979–present |
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Eldra "El" Patrick DeBarge (born June 4, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He was the focal point and primary lead singer of the family group DeBarge. Popular songs led by El DeBarge include "Time Will Reveal", "Who's Holding Donna Now", "Stay with Me", "All This Love", and "Rhythm of the Night". As a solo artist, he is best known for his unique high tenor register, strong falsetto and hits like "Who's Johnny" and "Love Always". He has also collaborated with artists such as Dionne Warwick, Al Green, Lalah Hathaway, Tone Loc, Babyface, Faith Evans, Quincy Jones, Fourplay, and DJ Quik.[1]
DeBarge is a five-time Grammy Award nominee.[2] Eldra remains the only member of the DeBarges to have Grammy nominations both outside of the group and in the family. In 2023, Rolling Stone included Eldra on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. It described his voice as "lean and elastic, zooming into falsetto with apparent breath-taking ease. The ribbons of notes he lets loose during the finish of the group's 'All This Love' are like caramel; nearly three decades later, he sang the solo 'Second Chance' with such lithe grace that when his voice broke a little at the end, it took the listener with it."[3]