Switch (band)

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Switch is an R&B/funk band formed in Mansfield, OH in 1975. At the time, they called themselves First Class. Jermaine Jackson, former member of the Jackson 5, discovered the band shortly thereafter and they were promply signed to the Motown Records subsidiary Gordy. There, they recorded and released their self titled debut in 1978. The album featured their first Top 10 R&B hit entitled "There'll Never Be".

The band consisted of Bobby and Tommy DeBarge of Grand Rapids, MI (whose brothers and sister made up the group DeBarge in the 1980s), vocalist Philip Ingram, Greg Williams, Eddie Fluellen and Jody Simms. Their songs were written by Williams, Ingram and Bobby DeBarge (depending on who was singing the songs) and often in collaboration with Jermaine Jackson, who continued to sponsor the band throughout their three years on the label. Switch never did manage to cross over into the pop singles chart but were a consistent presence on the R&B charts through the late 70's with albums such as "Switch II" from 1979 (their sophomore release),"Switch V" and "This Is My Dream" in 1980. Their final release on Gordy was "Reaching For Tomorrow", also released in 1980. Shortly after the DeBarge brothers left to form the group DeBarge with their siblings, and lead singer Philip Ingram left to pursue a solo career, new musicians were added in the personage of percussionist and singer Joe Robinson, Gonzales Ozen and keyboardist Attala Zane Giles. This configuration of Switch signed with Total Experience (well known home of their contemporaries The Gap Band) and recorded a final album "Am I Still Your Boyfriend" in 1984.

Later that year Switch broke up. In 1991, Motown released a greatest hits album by the band and a similar version on the 20th Century Masters series released recently is all that remains in print of this band to date.