Most people who search for Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. already know the DeBarge name from the music. Songs like “I Like It” and El DeBarge’s solo hit “Who’s Johnny” have kept that surname in R&B history for decades. But Robert Sr. himself sits quietly in the background of that story — not as a performer or industry figure, but as the family patriarch whose name appears in genealogy records and biographical footnotes.
This article covers who Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. was, his marriage to Etterlene Abney, their ten children, where the family lived, his reported military background, and how all of it connects to one of R&B’s most recognized family groups.
Who Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. Was
Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. is identified in genealogy databases and secondary biographical sources as the father of singer El DeBarge and the other DeBarge siblings. According to records from MyHeritage, he was born in 1932 and died in 2009. He is also associated with Cicero, Illinois, based on available family-history data.
He was not a public figure in his own right. His name surfaces in public records primarily because of his children’s fame, particularly El DeBarge’s. That is an important distinction to keep in mind throughout his story.
It is also worth clarifying some naming confusion. Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. is a separate person from Bobby DeBarge, who was one of his sons. The “Sr.” designation helps distinguish the father from any descendants who may share a similar name in family records.
Most available details about Robert Sr. come from genealogy databases and secondary biographical sources rather than primary public records. That limits how much can be stated with full confidence, and this article treats those details accordingly.
His Marriage to Etterlene Abney
Robert married Etterlene Abney in 1953. She is generally described as African American with reported Native American ancestry, while Robert is generally described as being of European American background. Their marriage in 1953 was an interracial one, which carried distinct social significance depending on where a couple lived at that time — laws and social attitudes on interracial marriage varied considerably by state and era.
Etterlene became known publicly as Etterlene DeBarge. She was associated with gospel music, and that influence shaped the household her children grew up in. Several biographical accounts describe her as the spiritual and musical anchor of the family’s early life.
Etterlene DeBarge passed away in February 2024, according to family biographical summaries. Her death marked the end of the generation that had started the DeBarge story.
Their Ten Children and the Family Structure
Robert and Etterlene are consistently reported to have had ten children together. The names most commonly listed across sources are Bobby, Tommy, Mark, Randy, Bunny, Chico, James, El, Carol, and Marty DeBarge. Minor variations in ordering or spelling do appear across different records, so these names reflect the most consistently reported versions.
El DeBarge — full name Eldra Patrick DeBarge, born in 1961 — became the most publicly recognized of the ten siblings. He was known both as part of the family group and later as a solo artist.
Robert Sr. sat at the head of a large family unit. His role was that of a father and household figure, not a music manager or industry contact. The children’s paths into music developed from their own talent, their upbringing, and the opportunities that came later through Motown Records.
The Siblings Who Became Musicians
Several of Robert and Etterlene’s children went on to professional music careers. Bobby and Tommy DeBarge were among the older siblings and became associated with the R&B and funk group Switch in the late 1970s. Their early experience in the industry helped open doors within that world.
The younger siblings — Bunny, Marty, Randy, and El — formed the core of the Motown group DeBarge, which rose to prominence in the early 1980s. Their gospel-rooted upbringing is frequently cited as a foundation for their vocal style and the warm, family-harmony sound the group became known for.
It is important to be clear here: Robert Sr. was not a manager, producer, or promoter. He did not launch the DeBarge group or guide their careers. The siblings’ success belongs to them, to their mother’s musical household, and to the mentors and label relationships they developed along the way. Robert’s place in the story is that of a family patriarch — present at the beginning, but not directing the musical chapters that followed.
Where the Family Lived and How They Got There
Robert Sr. is associated with Cicero, Illinois, based on genealogy records. However, the DeBarge family story is most closely tied to Michigan, specifically Detroit and Grand Rapids.
According to Wikipedia’s DeBarge family overview and reporting by The Root, the family reportedly moved from Detroit to Grand Rapids in 1972. That move is connected to a maternal relative, Bishop William Charles Abney Jr., who pastored Bethel Pentecostal Church in Grand Rapids. The church environment reinforced the gospel and spiritual influence that Etterlene was already bringing into the home.
Grand Rapids became the city most associated with the DeBarge children’s formative years. It is where several of them developed their musical abilities before eventually attracting attention that led to their Motown deal.
Robert’s Reported Military Service
Multiple sources, including Wikipedia’s DeBarge family article and a secondary biographical source from Briefly, describe Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. as having served in the U.S. Armed Forces. He is referred to in some accounts as an Army veteran.
Beyond that general reference, the specifics of his service — branch, dates, rank, or duties — are not documented in the publicly available sources reviewed for this article. Those details should not be assumed or filled in. What can be said is that military service is a consistent part of how he is described across several independent accounts.
The Harder Parts of the Family Story
The DeBarge family’s story has been covered not only for its musical achievements but also for the hardships that accompanied their rise. Some published accounts, including reporting based on family testimony and a feature by The Root, describe domestic difficulties within the household during the children’s upbringing.
These accounts are attributed to family members and published reporting rather than court records or independently verified findings. They are part of the documented public conversation about the DeBarge family, particularly in the context of El DeBarge’s later interviews and biographical coverage. But they should be understood as reported allegations and personal testimony, not established legal facts.
The DeBarge siblings have spoken openly about their childhood in various interviews over the years, and those accounts form part of the public record. If you want a deeper understanding of that side of the story, features from outlets like The Root and biographical segments tied to El DeBarge’s public profile offer more detail in that context.
Why Robert Sr. Matters to the DeBarge Story
Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. is not famous on his own terms. He did not record music, give interviews, or seek the spotlight. His significance is relational — he is the father at the root of a family tree that produced one of the more distinctive sounds in 1980s R&B.
For people researching the DeBarge family history, understanding who Robert Sr. was helps fill in the first generation of a story that most people encounter through the music. He and Etterlene built a large family, moved through Illinois and Michigan, and raised ten children — several of whom went on to careers that millions of people still remember.
If you are exploring stories like this one — where a famous name leads back to quieter family histories — Honest Business Tips covers topics that connect personal background to broader public legacies in a straightforward way.
A Brief Timeline
- 1932: Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. is reportedly born, according to genealogy records.
- 1953: Robert marries Etterlene Abney.
- 1960s–early 1970s: The couple raises their ten children, primarily in the Detroit area.
- 1972: The family reportedly relocates to Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- Late 1970s: Bobby and Tommy DeBarge gain recognition through the group Switch.
- Early 1980s: Bunny, Marty, Randy, and El DeBarge rise to prominence through the Motown group DeBarge.
- 2009: Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. dies, according to genealogy and biographical records.
- February 2024: Etterlene DeBarge passes away.
Final Thoughts
Robert Louis DeBarge Sr. lived most of his life outside the public eye. What is known about him comes from genealogy databases, family accounts, and secondary biographical sources — not from interviews, public statements, or personal records he left behind. That makes him a figure who is best understood through context rather than detail.
His importance to the DeBarge story is real, even if it is quiet. He married Etterlene Abney in 1953, helped raise ten children, and lived long enough to see several of them become part of American music history. That is the shape of his story, and it is worth telling accurately.
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