The Debarge family was poised to be the next big Motown group and follow in the footsteps of the great Jackson 5. As a family, they were all talented and each member contributed to overall group. While they reached chart-topping success, their dysfunctional childhood, which was tainted with drug use and physical abuse, surfaced in adulthood.
TV One plans to tackle the Debarge story in the original TV movie The Bobby Debarge Story, slated to premiere in June, 2019. The film stars Roshon Fegan (Greenleaf) as Bobby DeBarge, Tyra Ferrell (Boyz InThe Hood) as Etterlene DeBarge, Adrian Marcel as James DeBarge. Big Boi (Outkast) portrays Berry Gordy, while Lloyd appears as Switch member Gregory Williams.
According the official press release,
“The Bobby Debarge Story continues TV One’s tradition of telling the story of unsung music heroes. While our audience knows Bobby’s group, Switch, and his musically-gifted family, DeBarge, they may not know Bobby DeBarge’s contribution to creating the sound that changed the music landscape for decades to come. A falsetto master, Bobby DeBarge was a musical genius who battled demons of his own for many years. The Bobby Debarge Story is the quintessential story of sex, drugs and rock and roll,” stated Karen Peterkin, Director of Scripted Original Programming and Production, who serves as Executive in Charge of Production for TV One.”
They did a pretty good job casting people who sing and look like the Debarges. See the cast below:
LOS ANGELES – JANUARY 28: Singer Janet Jackson and husband James DeBarge attend the 12th Annual American Music Awards on January 28, 1985 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage) vertical,celebrities,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,adult,music,janet jackson,singer,california,city of los angeles,males,females,men,1980-1989,annual event,archival,shrine auditorium,husband,american music awards
5. Lloyd
Lloyd will star as Lloyd appears as Switch member Gregory Williams
6. DeBarge Portrait Session
Source: Getty
LOS ANGELES – CIRCA 1982: members of the R&B/soul group DeBarge pose for a portrait circa 1982 in Los Angeles, California (Photo by Bobby Holland/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) arts culture and entertainment,music,1980-1989,archival,generic location
7. Big Boi
Source: Getty
Rapper Big Boi will star as Berry Gordy
8. Berry Gordy
Source: Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 19: Berry Gordy attends the 2017 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 19, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/AMA2017/FilmMagic for dcp) vertical,photography,celebrities,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,music,california,city of los angeles,fashion,award,awards ceremony,american music awards,2017 american music awards,microsoft theater – los angeles
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