El DeBarge

b. Eldra DeBarge, 4 June 1961, Grand Rapids, Michi

El DeBarge became the lead singer of the family vocal group DeBarge from their formation in 1978. He was featured on all the group's hits between 1982 and 1985, when he elected to pursue a solo career, leaving DeBarge the following year. His eponymous debut album was an attractive mixture of pop and soul, fashioned in the style of Michael Jackson, on whom DeBarge modelled his career. He achieved a US number 1 black music hit in 1986 with "Who's Johnny?", the theme song of the movie Short Circuit, and re-emerged after a two-year pause in his career with the single "Real Love" in 1989, which was soon followed by Gemini. In 1990, he co-wrote and sang lead on Quincy Jones' "The Secret Garden", before moving to Warner Brothers Records.

Discography: