Jonathan Arthur "Chico" DeBarge (born June 23, 1966) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, keyboard player, and member of the DeBarge musical family. He emerged from the same Motown-connected environment as his older siblings, but established his own identity through a solo career that moved from polished 1980s contemporary R&B toward the more personal, adult-oriented soul associated with the neo-soul era.
DeBarge began recording for Motown in the mid-1980s. His self-titled debut album, released in 1986, introduced a youthful singer with a smooth tenor, a conversational delivery, and a style that balanced pop accessibility with soul phrasing. The album reached the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B Albums chart, while its lead single, "Talk to Me," became his signature recording. The song reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the R&B chart, giving DeBarge his most prominent mainstream success.
His second Motown album, *Kiss Serious*, followed in 1988. It continued the sophisticated dance-pop and contemporary soul approach of the debut, producing several R&B chart entries, including "Rainy Night," "I've Been Watching You," and the title track. Around this period, DeBarge was also connected with the performing activities of the DeBarge family, although his solo work remained the central focus of his professional profile.
A major interruption followed when DeBarge was imprisoned on a drug-related charge. The absence extended his distance from the recording industry, but it also became an important dividing line in his career. His return was marked by *Long Time No See*, released in 1997 through Kedar Entertainment and Universal. The album presented a more reflective and restrained artist, with understated production and songs concerned with relationships, regret, and personal renewal. Tracks such as "Iggin' Me," "Love Still Good," "Virgin," and "No Guarantee," the latter featuring Joe, helped reintroduce him to contemporary R&B audiences.
DeBarge followed with *The Game* in 1999. The album combined modern hip-hop-soul production with his established melodic style and became his highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, reaching No. 41. Its lead single, "Give You What You Want (Fa Sure)," reached the R&B Top 20, while "Listen to Your Man," another collaboration with Joe, further connected DeBarge to the late-1990s male R&B scene. The album's sound reflected the period's growing overlap between traditional soul singing, rap-influenced rhythms, and contemporary studio production.
In 2003, DeBarge issued *Free* on Koch Records, broadening his independent approach and taking greater control of his work as a producer and songwriter. He also contributed recordings to film and soundtrack projects, including *Beauty Shop*. His later album *Addiction*, released in 2009 on Kedar, was a notably candid project shaped by his experiences with substance dependence and recovery. The single "Oh No" returned him to the R&B chart.
Although his recording output became less frequent, DeBarge continued performing and making guest appearances. In 2017, he released "Feel Good," featuring Jim Jones and Capone Noel, and indicated that he was developing additional music. Across his career, Chico DeBarge has been defined less by a large volume of releases than by a distinctive voice, an ability to adapt to changing R&B trends, and a comeback narrative that gave his later work added emotional weight.