DeBarge, groomed to be the heirs to the Jackson 5 throne in the early ’80s, mirrored the Jacksons’ early success with a string of hits before the mid-’80s. The Grand Rapids, Michigan quintet, formed in 1978, consisted of four brothers and one sister: Eldra, Mark, James, Randy, and Bunny. The group signed with Motown (via the Gordy subsidiary), led by the soft and sweet vocals of Eldra (or El, for short), and released their debut album in 1981. Their sophomore effort in 1982, All This Love, became DeBarge’s first gold-certified success, featuring hit singles like “I Like It,” “Time Will Reveal,” and the title track.
In a Special Way in 1983 was another gold-certified smash for DeBarge, leading to a U.S. tour with Luther Vandross. Their fourth release in 1985, Rhythm of the Night, resulted in the group’s third gold album in a row with the biggest hit single of their career, the uptempo title track. Despite success, internal issues led to El DeBarge’s exit in 1986, followed by the band’s eventual split in 1989. El pursued a solo career while the group released one more album before disbanding. Several DeBarge compilations were released over the years, showcasing their musical legacy.