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Family ties
Jonathan Debarge was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1966. He was the tenth of thirteen children and was raised by his mother and stepfather.
When he was a small boy he acquired the name 'Chico' from either his stepfather or uncle, and it has stayed with him ever since.
While his brothers and sisters went on to form the 80's groups' Switch and Debarge (the latter's biggest hit being Rhythm Of The Night), Chico had a brief stint with Motown Records as a solo artist.
His debut single Talk To Me was a major US hit, and he had four more black music chart entries up to 1988.
Life on the inside
In October 1988, Chico's career stalled somewhat when he and Brother Bobby - of the Motown group Switch - were arrested and convicted of drug charges. They were both sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.
Whilst in Prison, Chico began a journey which some would say determined the outcome of his present day success.
He began to grow and develop artistically as a musician, whiling away the long hours of solitude by writing and singing of his trials and tribulations. However, he often needed permission from the relevant authorities to do so.
Life on the out
In 1994 Chico Debarge was released from prison. He was amazed at how much the music business had evolved since his time incarcerated. Artists' had become more corporate and manufactured with their sounds, opposed to having their own distinction and creativity.
Fortunately, this didn't deter him from his passion and gift for singing, and just 4 months into his release he'd signed a deal with La'Face records.
However, he soon came to realise there was a problem with the musical direction in which the label wanted him to persue, and sadly, the indifferences led to Chico and La'Face parting company on mutual ground.
Chico releases album
In 1997 Chico's album, Long Time No See, was released. It sounded fresh and different from what the public had formerly perceived to be 'The Debarge Sound'. He had also distanced himself from the Debarge image, whose music had since gained a mixed reception.
Chico signs record deal
Chico finally discovered the artistic freedom he yearned for in Kedar Entertainment, where he could write, sing, and perform to his own acquired taste.
