Switch is an American
R&B/
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...
band that recorded for the
Gordy label in the late 1970s, releasing songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name", and "Love Over & Over Again". Switch influenced bands such as
DeBarge
DeBarge was an American musical recording group composed of several members of the DeBarge family. In addition to various solo projects completed by members of the family, DeBarge was active between 1979 and 1989. The group originally consiste ...
, which featured the
siblings
A sibling is a relative that shares at least one parent with the other person. A male sibling is a brother, and a female sibling is a sister. A person with no siblings is an only child.
While some circumstances can cause siblings to be raised ...
of Switch band members
Bobby and Tommy DeBarge.
Biography
Early years
The group was formed in
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in Richland County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 47,534 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located approximately from Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, Columbus via Interstate 71, it i ...
, in December 1976 by Gregory Williams. They recorded a demo tape in
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...
, with the financial assistance of Bernd Lichters. Switch included Gregory Williams, brothers Tommy DeBarge and
Bobby DeBarge
Robert Louis DeBarge, Jr. (March 5, 1956 – August 16, 1995) was an American singer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of the R&B group Switch, releasing hit records on the Motown label from 1977 to 1980. He has been noted for his fal ...
, all from
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...
, along with
Akron, Ohio
Akron () is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, fifth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 190,469 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Akron metr ...
natives
Phillip Ingram
Phillip Ingram (born 1958) is an American musician. He is perhaps best known as one of the founding members of the Motown Group Switch and is the younger brother of James Ingram.
Biography
Ingram was raised in Akron, Ohio. He came from a musica ...
(brother of
James Ingram
James Edward Ingram (February 16, 1952 – January 29, 2019) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He was a two-time Grammy Award-winner and a two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song. After beginning his career ...
), Eddie Fluellen, and Jody Sims (originally from
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville ( ) is a city in Jefferson County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Located along the Ohio River west of Pittsburgh, it had a population of 18,161 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Weirton–Steubenville m ...
). Williams, Bobby DeBarge, and Sims had been members of White Heat, which released a self-titled album on RCA in 1975, but the band's producer,
Barry White
Barry Eugene White (né Carter; September 12, 1944 – July 4, 2003) was an American singer and songwriter. A two-time Grammy Award winner known for his bass voice and romantic image, his greatest success came in the 1970s as a solo singer and ...
, soon shuttered his Soul Unlimited production company and dropped all the acts on the roster.
Williams, then living in Akron, decided to form his own band.
Success years
The new group would become Switch due to their ability to switch to different lead vocalists and instruments during a song. After a demo was recorded by the newly formed, unnamed band, Williams and Sims flew to
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
and by sheer coincidence got the attention of
Jermaine Jackson
Jermaine LaJuane Jacksun (né Jackson; born December 11, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter and bassist. He is known for being a member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of the ...
, former member of
the Jackson 5
The Jackson 5, later known as the Jacksons, are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was formed in Gary, Indiana in 1964, and originally consisted of brothers Jackie, Ti ...
, and Hazel Gordy Jackson (Jermaine's then-wife and daughter of Motown chief
Berry Gordy Jr.), who heard the group's demo tape. Within weeks, the group was signed to the
Motown Records
Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...
Gordy subsidiary
label
A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product. Labels are most often affixed to packaging and containers using an adhesive, or sewing when affix ...
. They recorded and released their
self-titled debut album some 18 months later in 1978, which featured their first
Top 10 R&B
hit single
A hit song, also known as a hit record, hit single, or simply hit, is a recorded song or instrumental that becomes broadly popular or well-known. Although ''hit song'' means any widely played or big-selling song, the specific term ''hit record'' ...
, entitled "There'll Never Be". The song also proved to be their biggest success on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100, where it was a Top 40 hit (their only one), peaking at number 36.
Their songs were written by Williams, Bobby DeBarge and Sims, sometimes in collaboration with Jermaine Jackson. Though they never managed to achieve significant crossover success into the
pop singles
chart
A chart (sometimes known as a graph) is a graphics, graphical representation for data visualization, in which "the data is represented by symbols, such as bars in a bar chart, lines in a line chart, or slices in a pie chart". A chart can repres ...
, 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
''Reaching for Tomorrow'' is the third album by R&B/funk band Switch (band), Switch, released in 1980 by Gordy Records. The album reached No. 23 on the ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Top Soul Albums chart.
Overview
...
'' in 1980. Their final release on Gordy was ''Switch V'', released in 1981. Songs such as "I Wanna Be Closer", "We Like to Party", "I Call Your Name", "Best Beat in Town", and "Love Over and Over Again" also became hits for the group.
Later years
Shortly after the DeBarge brothers left Switch to mentor their younger siblings in the group DeBarge, and lead singer Ingram left to pursue a solo career, Switch took on new vocalists and musicians: singer Renard Gallo, Gonzales Ozen, and
bassist
A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), keyboard bass (synth bass) or a low br ...
Phil Upchurch Jr. This configuration of Switch signed with Total Experience (home of their contemporaries
the Gap Band
The Gap Band was an American Contemporary R&B, R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie Wilson (musician), Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members; it wa ...
) and recorded a final album ''Am I Still Your Boyfriend'' in 1984, breaking up later that year.
In 1985, Switch reformed with Williams and all new members, getting little traction.
In 1991, Motown released a greatest hits
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...
by the band. 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
The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
-related complications in
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is the largest city and county seat of Kent County, Michigan, United States. With a population of 198,917 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 200,117 in 2024, Grand Rapids is the List of municipalities ...
on August 16, 1995, at the age of 39.
Switch has since reunited, featuring original members founder/leader Williams, Fluellen, Ingram, original sessions/on-stage guitarist Michael McGloiry, new lead vocalist Akili Nickson and drummer Tefere Hazy.
Former bass guitar player and backup singer Tommy DeBarge died on October 21, 2021, at age 64.
On April 14, 2025, it was announced on the official Stone City Band Facebook page that Eddie Fluellen had died. At one point in his career Fluellen served as the musical director for the Stone City Band.
Personnel
*Gregory Williams (1976–present): vocals, keyboards, trumpet
*Eddie Fluellen (1977–2025; his death): keyboards,
trombone
The trombone (, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's lips vibrate inside a mouthpiece, causing the Standing wave, air c ...
, vocals
*
Phillip Ingram
Phillip Ingram (born 1958) is an American musician. He is perhaps best known as one of the founding members of the Motown Group Switch and is the younger brother of James Ingram.
Biography
Ingram was raised in Akron, Ohio. He came from a musica ...
(1976–1984; present): vocals, keyboards, percussion
*
Bobby DeBarge
Robert Louis DeBarge, Jr. (March 5, 1956 – August 16, 1995) was an American singer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of the R&B group Switch, releasing hit records on the Motown label from 1977 to 1980. He has been noted for his fal ...
(1977–1984): vocals,
piano
A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...
/
keyboards, drums
*Tommy DeBarge (1976–1984): vocals,
bass guitar
The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...
*Jody Sims (1976–1984): vocals, drums
*Michael McGloiry (original session guitarist) (1978–present): guitar
*Attala Giles (1981–1984): guitar, bass, keyboards
*Renard Gallo (1982–1984): vocals,
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...
*Gonzales Ozen (1982–1984): vocals, percussion
*Akili Nickson (2003–present): lead vocals
*Christopher Hawkins (1985–1987): lead vocals
*Anthony Watters (1985–1987): Guitar, vocals
*Howie Carbaugh (1985–1987): Drums
*Charles Meyers (1985–1987): Bass, vocals
Discography
Studio albums
Compilations
*''The Best of Switch'' (1991,
Motown
Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...
)
*''20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Switch'' (2001, Motown)
Singles
References
Further reading
*
External links
*
*
*
*
*Scott Goldfine
"TIR 62: Gregory Williams Tells How Switch Turned On Millions of Fans" ''Truth In Rhythm'', FunknStuff, August 18, 2022.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Switch
1975 establishments in Ohio
1984 disestablishments in Ohio
DeBarge family
Switch (band)
Switch is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B/funk musical ensemble, band that recorded for the Motown, Gordy label in the late 1970s, releasing songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name", and "Love Over & Over Again". Switch influenced ...
Switch (band)
Switch is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B/funk musical ensemble, band that recorded for the Motown, Gordy label in the late 1970s, releasing songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name", and "Love Over & Over Again". Switch influenced ...
Switch (band)
Switch is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B/funk musical ensemble, band that recorded for the Motown, Gordy label in the late 1970s, releasing songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name", and "Love Over & Over Again". Switch influenced ...
Switch (band)
Switch is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B/funk musical ensemble, band that recorded for the Motown, Gordy label in the late 1970s, releasing songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name", and "Love Over & Over Again". Switch influenced ...
Switch (band)
Switch is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B/funk musical ensemble, band that recorded for the Motown, Gordy label in the late 1970s, releasing songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name", and "Love Over & Over Again". Switch influenced ...
Switch (band)
Switch is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B/funk musical ensemble, band that recorded for the Motown, Gordy label in the late 1970s, releasing songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name", and "Love Over & Over Again". Switch influenced ...
Switch (band)
Switch is an American Rhythm and blues, R&B/funk musical ensemble, band that recorded for the Motown, Gordy label in the late 1970s, releasing songs such as "There'll Never Be", "I Call Your Name", and "Love Over & Over Again". Switch influenced ...