KEEP IT OLDSKOOL ARTIST PROFILE

 

 

 

A song comes on the radio with a voice that is very familiar to you. The chorus is “ You… I call your name girl” You first thought is “I know that song that’s the jawn” (if you live in Philadelphia Pa, you would use that word Jawn)  The name of the group is Switch. The group was started by Greg Williams and Debarge family members Tommy and Bobby. Also Phillip Ingram, Eddie Fluellen and Jody Sims in 1977. The name Switch was defined by the fact that group could interchange vocalists or instruments during a performance.

 

 

 

The group was brought to the attention of Jermaine Jackson and they were quickly signed to the Gordy label. The debut album Switch which  included one of their most famous songs “There’ll Never Be” was released in 1978. The group which never really “crossed over” into the pop charts still had a large following in the R&B world. Most of the songs were composed by Jody  Sims, Bobby Debarge and Greg Williams. The follow up album Switch II included their second most famous song they are known for that was written by Bobby Debarge “ I Call Your name” was released in 1979. Addiction problems plagued Bobby  easily one of the most distinguishing voices in their songs.  In 1980 Switch released Reaching for Tomorrow which would be the last one to feature Phillip Ingram and Bobby/Tommy Debarge as full time members. Phillip and Bobby  both got solo deals and Tommy left to join siblings El, Bunny, Randy and Mark in their group named Debarge . Switch never won a grammy award  and never really achieved the mainstream success that they should have. That doesn’t change that if you hear either of the groups most famous songs you will know that you have just heard R&B at it’s best

 

 

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