DeBarge, El Then: El DeBarge was born Eldra DeBarge on June 4th 1961. He became the lead singer of his family vocal group, DeBarge, from their start in 1978. He was featured in all the group's hits from 1982 til 1985 when he decided to pursue a solo career. His self-titled debut was musically-fashioned after Michael Jackson (no doubt a Barry Gordy concept being signed to Gordy Records at the time.) He scored a US #3 hit in 1986 with "Who's Johnny?" from the movie Short Circuit. Now: He was seen with a Quincy Jones project on the song "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)" in 1990. In 1994 he released Heart Mind & Soul which was produced by Babyface.