Bobby DeBarge | |
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 DeBarge circa 1979 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Louis DeBarge Jr. |
| Born | March 5, 1956 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | August 16, 1995 (aged 39) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1975–1995 |
| 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]