Tommy DeBarge of R&B band Switch passes away at age 64 following struggles with liver and kidney failure

Tommy DeBarge, best known as a member of the R&B group Switch, has died at the age of 64.

DeBarge passed in the hospital on Thursday October 21, weeks after his initial hospitalization.

DeBarge grappled with liver and kidney failure over the years, but his health took a turn for the worse recently, a family member told TMZ. 

His daughter Marina DeBarge revealed her father had battled COVID-19 earlier this year in addition to kidney and liver disease. He recovered from COVID, and never complained about the pain.   

DeBarge’s sister Etterline “Bunny” DeBarge remembered her late brother with a Facebook post of him playing the guitar in the clouds.

“Tommy has gained his wings,” she wrote. The singer also shared the post on her professional Facebook page.

A second post soon followed: “Rest peacefully in Heaven, Dearest Thomas DeBarge.”

The R&B and funk band achieved fame following its formation in the late 1970s and went on to release the hit tracks I Call Your Name, Love Over & Over Again, and There’ll Never Be under their belt.  

Switch was founded by Tommy and his brother Bobby and consisted of band members Tommy, Bobby, Gregory Williams, Phillip Ingram, Eddie Fluellen, and Jody Sims.