Switch is an American R&B/funk band that found fame recording for the Gordylabel in the late 1970s, releasing hit 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.
The new group would become Switch due to their ability to switch to different lead vocalist and instruments during a song. After a demo was recorded by the newly formed, unnamed band, Williams and Sims flew to LA and by sheer coincidence got the attention of Jermaine Jackson, former member of the Jackson 5, and Hazel Gordy Jackson, 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 BillboardHot 100, where it was a Top 40 hit, peaking at #36. 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, 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.
Later years
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 and recorded a final album Am I Still Your Boyfriend in 1984, breaking up later that year. 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 age 39. Switch has since reunited, featuring original members founder/leader Williams, Fluellen, Ingram, original sessions/on stage guitarist Michael McGloiry, and new lead vocalist Akili Nickson.
