Chico Debarge looking to make a strong comeback

Since stepping on the music scene more than two decades ago, Jonathan “Chico” Debarge has shown his fans that no matter what setbacks he’s faced, he’s here to stay. His upcoming album Addiction is a testament.

The Detroit native is a younger brother of the R&B music family Debarge and carved his own following after the 1986 debut release of his self-titled CD and a second album two years later that included hits such as "Talk to Me," "The Girl Next Door" and "Rainy Night."

But shortly after heating up the charts, Debarge was imprisoned for drug charges. After his release in the late 1990s, he was back in the studio. Three albums followed and then he was faced with another hindrance.

In 2003, he was stabbed outside a nightclub in Philadelphia. As a result, he developed a dependency on prescription painkillers.

During his recovery, he penned many songs about his experiences that loyal fans will hear on his new CD and on his current tour.

“I can’t say any one thing inspired me to do this album. It is a collection of songs I’ve written while I was absent from the music industry. It tells about part of my experience – a very dramatic and drastic one,” Debarge told the Defender, referring to "Addiction."

Debarge said the album possesses the same “spirit and personality” as his previous releases, but just chronicles another chapter in his life. It brings to the forefront the message of a full recovery and how he picked himself up.

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Photo courtesy of Kedar Entertainment