Teri DeBarge is best known as the wife of the late singer Bobby DeBarge. Bobby was famous for his high singing voice and his work with the R&B group Switch. But behind his music was a family with its own story.
Teri and Bobby married in 1990. They had two sons together. Sadly, Bobby died in 1995, leaving Teri and their children behind. She has kept much of her life private since then.
So, who is Teri DeBarge? In this article, we will look at her early life, her love story with Bobby, their wedding, and their two sons. We will also learn about Bobby’s music and the hard times their family faced.
Who Is Teri DeBarge?
Teri DeBarge is the widow of Bobby DeBarge. Her birth name is listed as Teri Lee Gayle. She became known to music fans through her marriage to the former lead singer of Switch.
Teri and Bobby had two sons, Bobby DeBarge Jr. and Christian DeBarge. Although Bobby was famous, Teri did not share much about her own life with the public. Many parts of her story remain private.
She also has a link to film and TV. In 2019, Teri helped make The Bobby DeBarge Story, a film about her late husband. Her work on the film gave fans another way to learn about Bobby’s life.
Teri DeBarge’s Early Life
Not much is known about Teri DeBarge’s childhood. Her birth name is listed as Teri Lee Gayle, but her exact birthday has not been made clear in trusted public records.
This means her exact age in 2026 is not known. Some websites give an age or a birth year, but these details are not well confirmed. It is better to leave her age open than give readers a number that may be wrong.
Teri is American, but little is known about her parents or school years. She has not shared many stories about growing up. Most people first learned about her through Bobby and his well-known music family.
Teri DeBarge profile summary and bio
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Full Name |
Teri Lee Gayle (reported) |
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Known As |
Teri DeBarge |
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Birthday |
Not publicly confirmed |
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Age |
Not publicly confirmed |
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Nationality |
American |
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Height |
5 ft 8 in (reported) |
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Husband |
Bobby DeBarge (late) |
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Married |
December 10, 1990 (reported) |
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Children |
Bobby Jr. and Christian |
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Number of Kids |
2 |
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Work |
Film and TV producer |
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Known Film |
The Bobby DeBarge Story (2019) |
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Net Worth |
Not publicly confirmed |
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Current Home |
Not publicly confirmed |
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Known For |
Bobby DeBarge’s wife |
How Teri DeBarge Met Bobby DeBarge
Teri DeBarge and Bobby are reported to have met in the 1980s. Some online stories say Teri was 15 and Bobby was in his early 30s when they first met. However, there is not enough strong proof to confirm those ages.
Bobby was already known for his music by that time. He had helped make Switch a popular R&B group. Fans loved his high voice, and his songs reached many people.
The couple later began a relationship and went on to marry in 1990. Much of their early love story has stayed private. There are few clear public details about their first dates or how Bobby asked Teri to marry him.
Teri DeBarge and Bobby’s Wedding
Teri DeBarge and Bobby got married on December 10, 1990. Their marriage ended when Bobby died on August 16, 1995. They were married for less than five years.
Their married life came during a hard time for Bobby. He had faced drug problems and had spent time in prison. His health also became a serious concern. These were difficult parts of his life, even though many fans still loved his music.
Still, their marriage brought two sons into the world. Bobby’s death came far too soon, and Teri was left to face life without her husband. Their children became an important part of the family story.
Teri DeBarge’s Two Sons
Teri and Bobby had two sons named Bobby DeBarge Jr. and Christian DeBarge. Both boys were still young when their father died in 1995.
Some online reports say Bobby Jr. has followed the family’s love of music. They also share details about Christian’s family life. However, much of this news has not been well confirmed, so it should be treated with care.
What we do know is that the two sons are part of a famous music family. Their father’s songs are still heard today. They also share a family name that many R&B fans know and love.
Who Was Bobby DeBarge?
Bobby DeBarge was born on March 5, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan. His full name was Robert Louis DeBarge Jr. He became famous as the lead singer of Switch, a group known for its smooth R&B songs.
One of the things fans loved most was Bobby’s high singing voice. Songs such as I Call Your Name helped make him well known. He also came from a family filled with singers, including El, Bunny, and James DeBarge.
Bobby had great success in music, but his personal life was not easy. He faced drug problems, time in prison, and serious illness. His story is an important part of Teri DeBarge’s life because they shared a marriage and two children.
Teri DeBarge and Bobby’s Final Years
Bobby DeBarge faced many hard times near the end of his life. He had struggled with drug use for years. He also spent time in prison after a drug case. These problems took him away from his music and family.
Bobby later became very ill. He had HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS. His health grew worse, and he died on August 16, 1995, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was just 39 years old.
His death left Teri DeBarge a widow with two young sons. Bobby’s fans lost a singer they loved. For Teri and her children, the loss was much more personal. They had to find a way to move forward without him.
Teri DeBarge’s Life After Bobby’s Death
After Bobby died, Teri kept much of her life away from the public eye. There are few clear reports about her daily life during those years. She did not become a regular face on TV or in the news.
Teri was also a mother to Bobby DeBarge Jr. and Christian DeBarge. Both boys were young when they lost their dad. Little has been shared about how the family spent those early years after his death.
Fans still ask what happened to Teri DeBarge. The simple answer is that she has lived a mostly private life. We should not guess about her personal choices or claim to know what she went through behind closed doors.
Teri DeBarge and The Bobby DeBarge Story
In 2019, Bobby’s life became the subject of a TV film called The Bobby DeBarge Story. The film told viewers about his music, family, and personal struggles. It also showed the hard parts of his life.
Teri DeBarge was credited as an executive producer on the film. This gave her a role in bringing her late husband’s story to the screen. Actress Laila Odom played Teri in the movie.
The film brought new attention to Bobby’s life. It also gave younger viewers a chance to learn about his music. For people who knew him through Switch, the movie offered another look at the man behind the songs.
Teri DeBarge and the DeBarge Family
Bobby came from a family with a long history in music. His parents were Robert DeBarge Sr. and Etterlene DeBarge. Several of their children went on to become well-known singers.
Bobby’s siblings included El, Bunny, James, and Chico DeBarge. Some found fame as part of the group DeBarge. Their songs helped make the family name well known to R&B fans.
Teri DeBarge became part of this music family through her marriage to Bobby. Their two sons also share that family name. Still, Teri has kept many of her own family ties private, so not every online claim about her relatives can be confirmed.
Where Is Teri DeBarge Today in 2026?
Teri DeBarge has stayed out of the spotlight in recent years. There is little confirmed public news about her daily life in 2026. Her exact current home is not known from reliable public reports.
Some websites say she lives in Los Angeles. Others share claims about her love life. But there is not enough clear proof to say where she lives now or whether she has married again.
What is clear is that people still want to know about Teri. Bobby’s music continues to reach fans, and the film about his life brought fresh interest in their family. Teri remains part of that story while keeping much of her life to herself.
(FAQs)
How old is Teri DeBarge, and when is her birthday?
Teri DeBarge’s exact birthday and age are not publicly confirmed.
What is Teri DeBarge’s net worth?
Her personal net worth is not publicly known. Online estimates have no clear proof.
Does Teri DeBarge have children?
Yes! She has two sons with Bobby DeBarge: Bobby DeBarge Jr. and Christian DeBarge.
Where is Teri DeBarge today?
As of 2026, Teri keeps a private life. Her current home and daily life are not publicly confirmed.
What is Teri DeBarge’s nationality?
Teri DeBarge is American.
Final Thoughts
Teri DeBarge’s story is about love, family, and life after loss. She married Bobby DeBarge in 1990, and they had two sons. Sadly, Bobby died in 1995, less than five years after their wedding.
Years later, Teri helped bring Bobby’s story to TV. Her work on The Bobby DeBarge Story gave fans another way to learn about his life and music.
Today, Teri DeBarge keeps a quiet life. We may not know every detail about her, but her place in the DeBarge family’s story is clear. She is Bobby’s widow, the mother of their two sons, and part of the story behind his music.
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