El DeBarge: The Velvet Voice of R&B and Soul

El DeBarge is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist celebrated for his distinctive high tenor and pivotal role in the family group DeBarge. Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, he led the group to massive success in the early 1980s with a string of platinum albums and timeless singles before launching a notable solo career.

Early career

Born Eldra Patrick DeBarge in 1961, he was raised in a large, musically gifted family. He began his professional journey with his siblings in the group DeBarge, signing to Motown's Gordy label in 1979 under the guidance of Berry Gordy and producer Jermaine Jackson.

Breakthrough

The group's commercial breakthrough arrived with their 1983 sophomore album, In a Special Way. This album, along with the 1985 follow-up Rhythm of the Night, achieved platinum status, cementing their place as hitmakers who bridged classic soul with the emerging synth-pop sound.

Key tracks

Rhythm of the Night — The title track from DeBarge's biggest album became a global smash, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and defining the mid-80s pop-soul era.

Who's Holding Donna Now — This 1985 ballad, co-written by David Foster and Jay Graydon, showcased El's emotive lead vocals and became a top 10 pop and R&B hit.

Love Me in a Special Way — A quintessential quiet storm ballad from the platinum album of the same name, highlighting El's smooth and vulnerable vocal delivery.

Time Will Reveal — A signature DeBarge ballad penned by El, it became a No. 1 R&B hit in 1983 and remains a staple of classic soul radio.

I Like It — El's debut solo single in 1986 was a major success, topping the R&B chart and reaching the pop top 40, proving his viability as a solo artist.

El DeBarge launched his solo career in 1986 with the self-titled album El DeBarge, which went gold and spawned the hit "Who's Johnny," theme to the film Short Circuit. Despite personal challenges, he returned to recording in the 1990s and 2000s, earning a Grammy nomination in 2010 for the album Second Chance and collaborating with artists like Chico DeBarge, Faith Evans, and Quincy Jones.

Artists with a similar sophisticated blend of R&B, soul, and pop include Luther Vandross for his mastery of romantic balladry and impeccable vocals. Anita Baker shares a commitment to elegant, jazz-inflected adult contemporary R&B. The smooth group harmonies and crossover appeal can be heard in The Stylistics. For a modern take on classic soul vocals, explore Raphael Saadiq.

El DeBarge's catalog remains a fixture on classic soul and quiet storm radio stations, as well as dedicated online R&B radio streams. His voice, both with DeBarge and as a solo act, continues to define an era of sophisticated pop-soul.

You can hear the timeless music of El DeBarge on the classic R&B and soul radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover his essential hits through the curated radio stations available on onairium.com.