Tommy DeBarge, original member of the popular 1970s R&B group Switch, reportedly passed away on Oct. 21. He was 64 years old. His brother, El DeBarge, confirmed the news on social media.
“I had to say farewell to one of the greatest bass guitarists this world has ever known, and I am grieved as I confirm to you that my brother, Thomas Keith DeBarge, passed away,” DeBarge posted. “My dear brother Tommy finally made his transition after a lengthy illness. Tommy was a loving, gentle soul and a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and one of the best brothers anyone could ever ask for. His legacy will live on in the hearts of all those who love him so much and in the beautiful music he created with our brother Bobby, as well as that of his musical peers in the famous R&B group Switch! Both my brothers Bobby and Tommy DeBarge are together now safely in the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ, though our hearts are still heavy as it will require some time to deal with the fact that he is gone and just missing him so much.”
Tommy DeBarge quietly battled liver and kidney failure and was recently admitted to a hospital. His ascension in the music industry began in the 1970s when he would form the band Switch with his brother Bobby DeBarge, and fellow band members Gregory Williams, Phillip Ingram, Jody Sims, and Eddie Fluellen.
Formed December 1976 in Mansfield, Ohio, the R&B band produced charting songs, such as “I Call Your Name,” ” There’ll Never Be,” and “Best Beat in Town.” In the early 1980s, Tommy and Bobby would leave Switch to develop R&B and soul group DeBarge, which included their younger siblings Bunny, James, Randy, Marty, and El DeBarge.
Following in the footsteps of the Jackson 5, the family, signed under the Motown subsidiary Gordy Records, would become a huge hit-making staple in the music world, known for the albums All This Love (1982), Grammy-nominated album In a Special Way (1983), and Rhythm of the Night (1985). El DeBarge would branch off on his own and also build a stellar discography. Later, Chico DeBarge would make his own name in the music industry in the 1990s, continuing the legacy of his musical family.
Bobby DeBarge proceeded Tommy’s death when he died of AIDS complications at the age of 39 on Aug. 16, 1995.
Although Tommy and the DeBarge family have clearly been a cultural phenomenon and musical tastemakers that have been sampled continuously, the DeBarges have not received any Grammy awards throughout their storied careers. Despite this, the Debarge family is held in high esteem among music listeners around the world.
Rest in peace, Tommy and Bobby.
