Switch (band)

Switch was an R&B/funk band that found fame recording for the Gordy label in the late 1970s releasing hit songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name" and "The Best Beat in Town" and influenced bands such as DeBarge, which featured members Bobby and Tommy's siblings.

Biography

Early years

Formed in Mansfield, Ohio in 1974 under the name First Class. Featuring brothers Bobby and Tommy DeBarge and Greg Williams, all of whom hailed from Grand Rapids, Michigan along with Akron, Ohio natives Phillip Ingram (brother of James Ingram), Eddie Fluellen and Jody Sims. At the time, they called themselves First Class. They joined Barry White's background group 'White Heat' as background musicians and were let go shortly thereafter.

uccess years

Eventually changing their name to Switch, the group got the attention of Jermaine Jackson, former member of The Jackson 5, who heard the group's demo tape and within days the group was promply signed to the Motown Records subsidiary label, Gordy. There, they recorded and released their self titled debut album in 1978. The album featured their first Top 10 R&B hit single entitled "There'll Never Be". Depending on whom was singing lead on the songs, their songs were written by Williams, Ingram and Bobby DeBarge and often in collaboration with Jermaine Jackson, who continued to sponsor the band throughout their five years on the label. Though they never did manage to cross over into the pop singles chart, they were a consistent presence on the R&B charts through the late 1970s with albums such as "Switch II" from 1979 (their second release), "This Is My Dream" and "Reaching For Tomorrow" in 1980. Their final release on Gordy was "Switch V" which was released in 1981. Other than "There'll Never Be", songs such as "I Call Your Name" and "The Best Beat in Town" also became hits for the group.

Later years

Shortly after the DeBarge brothers left to form the group DeBarge with their siblings, and lead singer Philip Ingram left to pursue a solo career, new musicians were added in the personage of percussionist and singer Joe Robinson, Gonzales Ozen and keyboardist Attala Zane Giles. This configuration of Switch signed with Total Experience (well known home of their contemporaries The Gap Band) and recorded a final album "Am I Still Your Boyfriend" in 1984 breaking up later on that year. In 1991, Motown released a greatest hits compilation album by the band, and a similar version on the 20th Century Masters series released more recently is all that remains in print of this band. Former lead singer Bobby DeBarge died of AIDS-related complications in his home in Milan, Michigan on August 16, 1995 at 39.

Personnel

*Bobby DeBarge (1975-1982): vocals, piano/keyboards
*Tommy DeBarge (1975-1982): vocals, bass guitar
*Gregory Williams (1975-1984): vocals, keyboards
*Jody Sims (1975-1984): drums
*Eddie Fluellen (1975-1984): keyboards, trombone, vocals
*Phillip Ingram (1975-1982): vocals
*Renard Gallo (1982-1984): vocals, percussion
*Gonzales Olen (1982-1984): vocals, percussion
*Attala Giles (1982-1984): keyboards

Discography

Albums

*1978: "Switch" (Gordy) - U.S. #37, R&B #6
*1979: "Switch II" (Gordy) - U.S. #37, R&B #8
*1980: "This Is My Dream" (Gordy) - U.S. #85, R&B #21
*1980: "Reaching For Tomorrow" (Gordy) - U.S. #57, R&B #23
*1981: "Switch V" (Gordy) - U.S. #174, R&B #48
*1984: "Am I Still Your Boyfriend " (Total Experience)
*1991: "The Best of Switch" (Motown)
*2001: "20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Switch" (Motown)

ingles

*1978: "There'll Never Be" - U.S. #36, R&B #6
*1979: "Best Beat In Town" - U.S. #69, R&B #16
*1979: "I Call Your Name" - U.S. #83, R&B #10
*1979: "I Wanna Be Closer" - R&B #22
*1980: "Don't Take My Love Away" - R&B #41
*1981: "I Do Love You" - R&B #73
*1981: "Love Over And Over Again" - R&B #9
*1981: "You And I" - R&B #57
*1982: "Call On Me" - R&B #70

Rich Boy samples "I Call Your Name" in his song "Throw Some D's"NE-YO samples "I Call Your Name" in his song "It Just Ain't Right"

References