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Chico DeBarge Working On DeBarge Reunion
05/01/2002 7:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Brett Anderson
(5/1/02, 7 a.m. ET) -- DeBarge, one of the biggest R&B families of the '80s, is planning a reunion. Family member Chico DeBarge is spearheading the effort that he hopes to get in the works this summer.
Chico, who was recently in Los Angeles to host the album release party for the Roger Troutman tribute album An Evening Of "Still More Bounce" . . . The Celebration, told LAUNCH that getting everyone together will be the biggest obstacle of the reunion. "It's so many people in different areas," he said. "You know. El's up in the Bay Area now. James is here. And then my sister Bunny, she's in Michigan. Then Randy is in West Virginia. So it's kinda like, they want to do it. But then it's like, all about somebody making it happen. And doing the footwork. So, hopefully, I can be that."
Though Chico was not a member of the group, he enjoys a solo career that he launched with his 1986 album Talk To Me. His 1997 album, Long Time No See, was critically acclaimed in the neo-soul movement. He is expecting to release his latest album, Free, on Olive Entertainment this summer.
"I think a lot of music has a lot of DeBarge in it, so they've been a great influence on me," Chico added. "And I definitely think I can be instrumental in helping them put the group back together. I don't think anybody has really come and replaced that sound as a group."
Formed in 1978, DeBarge included family members El, Mark, Randy, Bunny, and James who were known for their hits "I Like It," "Love Me In A Special Way," "All This Love," and "A Dream." Tupac Shakur sampled "A Dream" in his song "I Ain't Mad At Cha."
DeBarge family members Bobby and Tommy were a part of the influential '70s R&B group Switch, which was discovered by Jermaine Jackson.
-- Billy Johnson Jr., Los Angeles
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