Mark DeBarge

Mark DeBarge
Birth name	Mark DeBarge
Also known as	Marty
Born	(1959-06-19) June 19, 1959 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Origin	Grand Rapids, Michigan
Genres	R&B soul gospel
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals trumpet flugelhorn
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Motown

Mark "Marty" DeBarge (born June 19, 1959) is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter, drummer, percussionist, and plays a variety of wind instruments such as the saxophone, trumpet, flugelhorn, and flute. He is best known for being an original member of 1980s Motown singing family group DeBarge. He also wrote the group's popular album track, "Stay With Me", which was later covered by The Notorious B.I.G., Ashanti, and Mariah Carey.

Biography

Early years

Mark DeBarge was born in Detroit, the fifth of ten children to Robert Louis DeBarge, Sr. (1932-2009) and Etterlene (née Abney) DeBarge (1935-2024). His father, Robert DeBarge, is of French descent, while his mother, Etterlene, was of African American and American Indian descent. Mark sang in his local church choir as a child. After his family later moved to Grand Rapids, he and his family began performing at Bethel Pentecostal church; his uncle William Charles Abney, Jr. was the pastor there. His father Robert was reportedly physically and sexually abusive towards his children leading to his and Etterlene’s divorce in 1974.

Mark and his brothers and sister were inspired by soul singers such as Marvin Gaye and brother Bobby DeBarge, who was the writer, lead singer, and pianist for the group Switch in the late 1970s. In 1980, Motown Records signed Mark and his brothers El and Randy and sister Bunny to a recording contract; the group was known as DeBarge. The group released their debut album, The DeBarges on April 6, 1981.

DeBarge

Main article: DeBarge

By the time the group's second album, 1982's All This Love was released, brother James had joined the group. The second album was the group's first album to score hits and included songs such as "I Like It" and "All This Love", which featured Mark on backing vocals as well as playing the flugelhorn. Throughout the 1980s, other DeBarge hits included "Love Me in a Special Way", "Time Will Reveal", "Rhythm of the Night", and "Who's Holding Donna Now".

Mark stayed in the group when brother El and sister Bunny left in 1986 for solo careers. Brother Bobby joined the group. DeBarge was released from Motown following the departure of El and Bunny and the group signed with the independent Striped Horse Records. Soon after that, the new DeBarge line-up released the album Bad Boys, but it had no hit singles. DeBarge split up in 1989 after the convictions of brothers Bobby and Chico on drug trafficking charges. Mark, El, James, Randy, Bunny, twins Darryl and Carol, and all the siblings' mother Etterlene got together as The DeBarge Family and released the 1991 gospel album Back on Track.

Later years

Mark has six children including four boys. His children are Lakeysha, a girl; Mark Jr., Devyn, Piper, Michael, and Giovanni Debarge. Mark lives in California according to a Jet interview with his mother, Etterlene.

Discography

Main article: DeBarges discography

with DeBarges

• The DeBarges (1981)
• All This Love (1982)
• In a Special Way (1983)
• Rhythm of the Night (1985)
• Bad Boys (1987)
• Back on Track (1991)