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Switch (band)

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Switch
Also known asWhite Heat, Hot Ice
OriginMansfield, Ohio, United States
GenresR&B, funk
Years active1975–present
LabelsRCA, Polydor, Gordy (Motown), Total Experience
MembersGregory Williams
Eddie Fluellen
Phillip Ingram
Michael McGloiry
Akili Nickson
Tefere Hazy
Past membersBobby DeBarge
Tommy DeBarge
Jody Sims
Attala Giles
Renard Gallo
Gonzales Ozen
Christopher Hawkins
Anthony Watters
Howie Carbaugh
Charles Meyers

Switch is an American R&B/funk 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, which featured the siblings of Switch band members Bobby and Tommy DeBarge.[1][2][3]

Biography

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Early years

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The group was formed in Mansfield, Ohio, in December 1976 by Gregory Williams. They recorded a demo tape in Columbus, Ohio, with the financial assistance of Bernd Lichters. Switch included Gregory Williams, brothers Tommy DeBarge and Bobby DeBarge, all from Grand Rapids, Michigan, along with Akron, Ohio natives Phillip Ingram (brother of James Ingram), Eddie Fluellen, and Jody Sims (originally from Steubenville, Ohio). 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, soon shuttered his Soul Unlimited production company and dropped all the acts on the roster.[4] Williams, then living in Akron, decided to form his own band.

Success years

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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 and by sheer coincidence got the attention of Jermaine Jackson, former member of the Jackson 5,[5] 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 Gordy subsidiary label. 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, 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.[6]

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, 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, 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.[4]

Later years

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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 Phil Upchurch Jr. This configuration of Switch signed with Total Experience (home of their contemporaries the Gap Band) 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 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-related complications in Grand Rapids, Michigan 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.[7]

Personnel

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  • Gregory Williams (1976–present): vocals, keyboards, trumpet
  • Eddie Fluellen (1977–present): keyboards, trombone, vocals
  • Phillip Ingram (1976–1984; present): vocals, keyboards, percussion
  • Bobby DeBarge (1977–1984): vocals, piano/keyboards, drums
  • Tommy DeBarge (1976–1984): vocals, bass guitar
  • 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
  • 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

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Studio albums

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Year Album Peak chart positions Record label
US
[8] 		US
R&B
[8] 		CAN
[9]
1978 Switch 37 6 72 Gordy
1979 Switch II 37 8 84
1980 Reaching for Tomorrow 57 23 —
This Is My Dream 85 21 —
1981 Switch V 174 38 —
1984 Am I Still Your Boyfriend? — 63 — Total Experience
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilations

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  • The Best of Switch (1991, Motown)
  • 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Switch (2001, Motown)

Singles

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Year Title Peak chart positions Album
US
[8] 		US
R&B
[8] 		US
Dan
[8] 		CAN UK
[10]
1978 "There'll Never Be" 36 6 — 60 [11] — Switch
1979 "I Wanna Be Closer" — 22 — — —
"Best Beat in Town" 69 16 65 — — Switch II
"I Call Your Name" 83 8 — — —
1980 "Don't Take My Love Away" — 41 — — — Reaching for Tomorrow
"Love Over and Over Again" — 9 — — — This Is My Dream
1981 "You and I" — 57 — — —
"I Do Love You" — 73 — — — Switch V
1982 "Call on Me" — 70 — — —
1984 "Switch It Baby" — 55 — — — Am I Still Your Boyfriend?
"Keeping Secrets" — 28 — — 61
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

References

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  1. ^ Gonzales, Michael A. (October 2007). "Switch - Broken Dreams". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. pp. 109–115. ISSN 1070-4701.
  2. ^ Bogdanov, Vladimir (2003). All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 660. ISBN 9780879307448.
  3. ^ "The DeBarge Family". Unsung. TV One. 2008. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  5. ^ Kelp, Larry (February 23, 1981). "Motown's Switch steals show from the Bar-Kays". Oakland Tribune. p. 30.
  6. ^ "Hot 100 Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "Tommy DeBarge from R&B Band Switch Dead at 64". Tmz.com. October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e "US Charts > Switch". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  9. ^ "CAN Charts > Switch". RPM. Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  10. ^ "UK Charts > Switch". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  11. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles" (PDF). December 30, 1978. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2012.

Further reading

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  • Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (August 1, 2003). All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-0-87930-744-8.
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