Legends make their mark over and over throughout their lifetime. Legendary R&B crooner El DeBarge has been sharing his gift of songwriting, producing, performing and his beautiful and distinctive falsetto with the world for decades. El’s forty plus year career includes multiple Grammy nominations, worldwide tours, and chart-topping hits, including “All This Love,” “I Like it,” “Stay with Me,” and “Rhythm of the Night,” just to name a few. Artists from Beyonce to Ashanti to Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. have sampled his songs. El is considered one of the most important and talented artists of his generation.
2023 finds El back in the studio to record his first new solo album in over a decade. Working with renowned producer Cory Rooney and signed to Rooney’s record label TLR Music Group, El’s new album highlights his gift of songwriting and performing, crafting new songs for this decade while staying true to his art.
El grew up in Detroit and Grand Rapids Michigan with 10 siblings. A musical prodigy and the son of a gospel singer, El entertained and inspired his community as a member of the church choir. El rose to fame in the early ‘80s as part of his family group DeBarge, who were signed to Motown Records by Berry Gordy. DeBarge songs dominated both the R&B and pop charts for much of the 1980’s In 1986, El embarked on a solo career, continuing to dominate the charts and collaborating with other talented performers and legendary producers including Quincy Jones, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Babyface. The title track from his first solo album “Who’s Johnny” rose to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, #1 on the Hot R&B chart and was featured in the movie “Short Circuit”. In 2010, El released his album “Second Chance: which was nominated for multiple Grammy awards.
More recently, El has been collaborating with many well-known artists and friends, including PJ Morton and R&B superstars the Isley Brothers.
Look for El’s new album to be released in early 2024. You can follow him at @iameldebarge on Instagram and keep up with his tour dates and music at www.tlrmusicgroup.com/el-debarge.
