We may have been through this before but I can't recall.

http://youtu.be/Sb0ZzAgisng

Give it Half a Chance, from his 1979 album Keep the Fire has Kenny singing almost exactly like El. Did he influence young Eldra or was it the other way around? DeBarge's debut didnt't drop til '81 but El was in the industry at the time behind the scenes. What do y'all think?





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Marvin Gaye, Earth, Wind and fire, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder,Isley Brothers, Gospel music.

the only white act that i could hear on El and that would be on the harmony tip might be the carpenters with his lead and bunny's.

mistermaxxx R.Kelly, Michael Jackson,Stevie wonder,Rick James,Marvin Gaye,El Debarge, Barry WHite Lionel RIchie,Isleys EWF,Lady T.,Kid creole and coconuts,the crusaders,kc sunshine band,bee gees,jW,sd,NE,JB

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and if you want to point out a certain direction it went through Bobby.

El has pop arrangements and the harmony aspect, but then again he got that from Bobby and on purpose.

when him and Kenny Loggins sing together on "ill be there" El lights him up like he just put on his Jerri Juice activator.

Loggings is cool and I like his harmony and run, however Loggins ain't got the musical runs that El Debarge has and certainly not Bobby debarge.

mistermaxxx R.Kelly, Michael Jackson,Stevie wonder,Rick James,Marvin Gaye,El Debarge, Barry WHite Lionel RIchie,Isleys EWF,Lady T.,Kid creole and coconuts,the crusaders,kc sunshine band,bee gees,jW,sd,NE,JB

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I feel like Bobby had to have been a big influence on El and "There'll Never Be" was popping in 1978.

Bobby is truly unsung because that Brother could sing/sang and with ease.

everything El got he got from Bobby.

Bobby was scary talented

mistermaxxx R.Kelly, Michael Jackson,Stevie wonder,Rick James,Marvin Gaye,El Debarge, Barry WHite Lionel RIchie,Isleys EWF,Lady T.,Kid creole and coconuts,the crusaders,kc sunshine band,bee gees,jW,sd,NE,JB

Miami Heat, New York Yankees,buffalo bills

He sounds a lot like a DeBarge when he sings R&B. I almost wonder if he knew about Switch... since I really didn't hear him singing exactly like that until KEEP THE FIRE (excellent album BTW)

He even had the DeBarges on his VOX HUMANA album (both El and Bunny) so I know he recognized

Kenny loves R&B and he is about harmony with his own falsetto.

if we were talking about Darryl Hall, Gino Vanelli,Steve Perry, then this wouldn't get the Awe factor, however Loggins is very much into R&B and Harmony.

everything he did with Michael Mcdonald lends itself to this. however Bobby Debarge is truly Unsung. One of the baddest vocalists,etc.. that alot of folks ain't never heard of who knew how to sing/sang parts and play.

mistermaxxx R.Kelly, Michael Jackson,Stevie wonder,Rick James,Marvin Gaye,El Debarge, Barry WHite Lionel RIchie,Isleys EWF,Lady T.,Kid creole and coconuts,the crusaders,kc sunshine band,bee gees,jW,sd,NE,JB

Miami Heat, New York Yankees,buffalo bills

From 1971, Loggins & Messina's "Nobody But You" (he does background on this one)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfDrd0THOEE

From 1971, Loggins & Messina's "Peace Of Mind"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr3B2V1RC8M

From 1975, Loggins & Messina's "Wasting Our Time"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OolsEGWg2Ug

From 1975, Loggins & Messina's "Peacemaker"
http://youtu.be/YMqfxoHUz7c

========
A lot of people will listen to "Your Mama Don't Dance" or hear some of the more country influences of L&M, but don't know where to look. Boom. Kenny Loggins was someone who did his share of soulful singing even before Loggins & Messina, but it was a part of what he did. Plus, people will see his old photos of long hair, mustache, and a beard, and look at the fact he came from Everett, Washington: not exactly the first city you think of as being a soulful influence. It's rock, it's country, it's folk.

While Loggins & Messina are primarily known for "Your Mama Don't Dance", there was a time when people bought albums and absorbed them, which is why their albums are plentiful at thrift stores and garage sales. They fill the dollar bins because people loved their music, and L&M were incredibly funky when they wanted to be. Hell, go to 1973's FULL SAIL and "Pathway To Glory", a song I never knew was a stepping anthem. I grew up knowing that song as "the big 8 minute jam" with the guitar and fiddle duo, the EPIC L&M song.

My point is: I'd like to think Loggins *may* have been an influence, but Loggins was also influenced by a lot of singers. It's not a pissing contest, it's singing. Find a commonality, and keep on exploring.



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