In Michigan, James DeBarge took his first breath on August 22, 1963. James is widely known as a popular American singer. He is fortunate to be born into a singing family.  

He belongs to the DeBarge singing family that earned huge success and reputation in the late 80s.

The name of his father is Robert DeBarge Sr., and his mother’s name is Etterlene Abney DeBarge. He comes on the seventh number in his siblings. James is also known and recognized for his father’s fame and popularity.  

In the 1980s, some of the hit songs were, All This Love, Love Me in a Special Way, Rhythm of the Night,  and Who’s Holding Donna Now. He earned a huge success in these songs and gained a huge fan following and stardom.

James DeBarge Early Life

As mentioned earlier, James is the seventh child born to Robert DeBarge Sr. and Etterlene Abney DeBarge. 

His parents were singers and musicians by profession. James was raised on the East Side of Detroit, Michigan, like his all siblings. James and his siblings were completely raised and brought up by his parent together. 

In 2000, James DeBarge started working with DJ Quik. With DJ Quik, he worked on a track of  “Tha Divorce Song”, and “Get Nekkid”.

In 2004, DeBarge created a song with “Haitian Sensation” Won-G for a remix named Nothing’s Wrong. 

Till 2004, James DeBarge earned a successive approach in his career. And in 2006, he was being called as a guest on the album 818 Antics by the rapper J-Ro. 

Janet Jackson: Being James DeBarge Ex-Wife

Janet Jackson is a renowned singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer of the Unites States. She is widely known for her enthusiastic, socially conscious, and innovative performance records.

She has earned immense success throughout her life and career. Janet belongs to a well-known singing pop family, and her parents are famous artists of the USA. The name of the parents is Joe Jackson and Katherine Jackson.

It is stated that Janet has been married three times. In 1982, she married James DeBarge, and then she married René Elizondo Jr., in 1991 and later on, in 2012, she married Wissam Al Mana.

Unfortunately, her first marriage is considered to be the shortest marriage that she lived only for two years with James DeBarge.

They said in an interview that they broke the relationship after two years of marriage because of their unmet differences and nature.

Their relationship continued to make headlines decades after their split due to rumors the pair had a secret child together, which the singer flatly denies.

How James DeBarge Met Janet Jackson?

James DeBarge was a shy person at an early age. He met in a club with Janet Jackson, a renowned pop American singer.  They extended their friendship and started dating.  After two years of dating, they decided to officially engage in a relationship. 

Jackson and DeBarge married in 1984 but soon got divorced in1985. They both married at an early age, and DeBarge was 21, and Jackson was just 18 at her wedding. 

In some of the reports of Hollywood Life, it is stated the marriage acted as a rebellion for the controlling father of Jackson named Joe Jackson.

Presently, James DeBarge has three children, two daughters, and one son. The daughter’s name is Kristinia, who was born on March 8, 1990. The son’s name is James Jr.,  born in 1998. And the youngest, daughter Tori, who was born in 2001. 

In 2003, Kristinia visualized in American Idol spin-off American Juniors.

Why Did James DeBarge Fail Relationship?

The couple happily married in 1984 after knowing each other. After one year, their marriage was annulled.

It is stated in some of the interviews that they decided to get separated after revealing the news of James’s Drug Addiction.

In one of the documentaries, it was also revealed that James had bad language and ill behavior. It is also said that after the marriage of Jackson and James, she was left alone at a hotel for three hours.

In the documentary, Jackson revealed: “He said, ‘Okay, I’ll be right back.’

“And I’m sitting in a hotel room in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by myself, just 18. And for three hours, he never came back.”

She further said, while entering the room, DeBarge said: “I don’t know why anyone would trust me. “I just had to be with her all the time. I think we were just so both in love with each other that we just needed to block everyone else out.”

Why Was James DeBarge Imprisoned?

James DeBarge was arrested in 2012 due to victimization of drug charges and assaulted with a deadly weapon. After three years of his imprisonment, he was released in 2015. 

It is stated that after going through the bars trial, he lost enormous publicity and reputation and that resultantly affected his career and stardom throughout his life.

James DeBarge Controversy Of A Secret Child

Janet Jackson revealed in an interview that she welcomed the first child with James DeBarge, which they kept secret and private.

“Back in the day, they were saying that she had a child, and she kept it secret,” Jackson further said. “she could never keep a child away from James. How could she keeps a child away from their father? she could never do that, that’s not right.”. She exclaimed.

Therefore, it is not revealed yet whether Janet Jackson is correct in her claim or not. While on the other hand, James DeBarge has no idea about his secret child, and Jackson says that the child is being raised and brought up by her sister.