Chico DeBarge

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Chico at B.B. Kings in NY

Jonathan Arthur "Chico" DeBarge (born June 23, 1966 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American R&B singer and a younger brother of the members of the Motown family act DeBarge. Unlike the rest of his DeBarge siblings, Chico is the only male DeBarge that does not sing in the falsetto range that is well known in his family; he sings tenor.

Biography

Recording career

He began a musical career of his own with Motown Records in the mid-1980s. His debut self-titled album featured the hit single "Talk To Me." He released a sophomore album with Motown, Kiss Serious, but was imprisoned for drug charges not long after and served time in prison for drug trafficking. After his release in the mid-1990s, DeBarge returned to Motown to continue his musical career under the auspices of Kedar Massenberg and his neo-soul pioneering label imprint Kedar Entertainment.

He later moved to independent label Koch Records where he released 2003's Free. DeBarge also contributed a song to the Beauty Shop movie soundtrack courtesy of Alove Entertainment. Chico's most recent album Addiction was released July 14th, 2009 under Kedar Entertainment Group.

Personal life

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Chico in Concert in NY

He has five children and is currently divorcing Andrea Bordenave, who he married in 1996. He is also the ex-beau of singer/actress Nona Gaye.

Chico recently appeared in the video for Joe's single, "We're Family" off the Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins soundtrack.

In the fall of 2003, Chico DeBarge was stabbed outside a Philadelphia nightclub by South Philly Italian mafioso named John "Johnny Gongs" Casasanto after the two engaged in an argument in which John Casasanto called DeBarge a "titsune", the Italian equivalent to the "n" word.

Discography

Albums

• 1986: Chico DeBarge
• 1988: Kiss Serious
• 1997: Long Time No See
• 1999: The Game
• 2003: Free
• 2009: Addiction

Singles

• 1986: "Talk to Me" (US #21, R&B #7, UK #88)
• 1987: "The Girl Next Door"
• 1987: "Rainy Night" (R&B #18)
• 1997: "Iggin' Me" (UK #50)
• 1997: "Love Still Good"
• 1998: "No Guarantee" (featuring Joe)
• 1998: "Virgin" (R&B #97)
• 1999: "Soopaman Lover" (R&B #55)
• 1999: "Give You What You Want (Fa Sure)" (US #71, R&B #11)
• 1999: "Give You What You Want (South Central Remix)" (featuring Trina)
• 2000: "Listen to Your Man" (featuring Joe) (R&B #41)
• 2000: "Playa Hater"
• 2003: "Home Alone"
• 2009: "Oh No" (R&B #76)