Switch (band)

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]

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.

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]

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]

• 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

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

• 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.

• Official website
• Switch at AllMusic
• Switch discography at Discogs
• Switch on ReverbNation
• Scott Goldfine, "TIR 62: Gregory Williams Tells How Switch Turned On Millions of Fans", Truth In Rhythm, FunknStuff, August 18, 2022.