The remaining members, Mark, Randy and James, now augmented by their eldest brother, Bobby, signed with Stripe Horse Records, an independent label, in 1987, which released their final studio album, Bad Boys.

Legal issues and personal problems, compounded with the changing musical tastes of the public, led to the group's dispersion in 1989, ten years after its inception.

[1][2] They married when Etterlene was 17, a year after the death of her father James Abney, a church choir leader and peanut retailer.

[2][3] Etterlene remembers Robert DeBarge, Sr. as physically and emotionally abusive to her and the children, and said he used her youth, the absence of her father, and continuous pregnancy to control her.

[4] The group hailed from the East Side of Detroit, where the siblings were born and raised; they later relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Members included sister Etterlene ("Bunny") and brothers Mark ("Marty"), William ("Randy"), Eldra ("El"), and James.

[7] When the tour ended in late 1984, the group recorded the Diane Warren composition, "Rhythm of the Night", for the soundtrack to the Motown-produced film, Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon from 1985.

[5] Following the end of its successful promotion, however, both El and Bunny departed from the group after Motown offered them lucrative solo deals.

DeBarge continued their career in 1988, even bringing along younger brother Chico (who had a successful hit "Talk to Me") with them as their opening act.

The narrative charted the siblings' success from their humble roots in Grand Rapids, Michigan, detailing the highs and lows along their journey.

El DeBarge was most vocal, posting on social media that the books written by Bunny were works of fiction filled with lies.

In 2011, James, Randy and Bunny appeared on Dr. Drew's Lifechangers to discuss their troubles with drug addiction, later agreeing to attend a rehabilitation facility.

While Randy and James left the facility on a follow-up episode, Bunny still attended and told Dr. Drew of her recovery, even performing a gospel song on the show.

[9] The group's musical genre covers soul, boogie, and R&B, drawing inspiration from the family's initial roots in Detroit.