Mark DeBarge
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Mark "Marty" DeBarge (born June 19, 1959) is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter, trumpeter and flugelhorn player best known for his work as member of the popular eighties Motown singing family group DeBarge. He's best known for co-penning the group's popular album track, "Stay With Me", later covered by the likes of The Notorious B.I.G. and Ashanti.
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Early years
Growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan as the fifth of ten and the fourth of eight brothers to Robert DeBarge, Sr. and Etterlene "Mama D" DeBarge, Mark sang gospel with his family in the church choir and learned how to play saxophone and trumpet. Mark and his brothers and sister was inspired by soul singers such as Marvin Gaye and brother Bobby DeBarge, who was riding high as lead singer and pianist for the group, Switch, in the late 1970s. In 1979, Motown signed Mark, Randy, El and Bunny DeBarge as the DeBarges and trained them for two years before the group released The DeBarges in 1981.
[edit] DeBarge
In 1982, the group's second release, All This Love, featured the group's hits "I Like It" and "All This Love", which constantly featured Marcus' flugelhorn playing. Throughout the 1980s, DeBarge rose to international fame with singles such as "Love Me In a Special Way", "Time Will Reveal", "Rhythm of the Night" and "Who's Holding Donna Now". Mark remained in the group when brother El and sister Bunny left the group in 1986 and the following year, DeBarge released their final album, Bad Boys, which tanked when released on the Striped Horse label. DeBarge formally split up in 1989 after the convictions of brothers Bobby and Chico though Mark, James, Randy, El, their mother Etterlene, Bunny and youngest siblings Darryl and Carol got together as "The DeBarge Family" in 1991 and released the gospel album, Back on Track. It was the family's last collaboration as other members carried on solo careers.
[edit] Later years
A father of five, Mark lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan and according to mother Etterlene during a recent article on his family on Jet, suffers from chronic debilitation on his legs and walks with a crutch/cane.
