The Grand Rapids, MI, native was born March 15, 1955, from the union of Robert and Etterlene DeBarge. Bunny was a founding member of the group Debarge, which was formed in 1978 as the Debarges and included her brothers James, Randy, Mark, and El Debarge. She stayed with the group until 1987. Motown Records was trying to fill the gap left by the departure of the Jackson 5. The Debarges seemed to be the perfect choice and was signed to the label in 1979. All of the group's releases were on the Motown subsidiary Gordy label. Bunny can be heard on the group's LPs: The Debarges (issued March 1981 and included the singles "I Like It," number two R&B for four weeks; "All This Love," number five R&B; and "I Like It," number two R&B for four weeks), In a Special Way (1983, included "Time Will Reveal," number one R&B for five weeks), and Rhythm of the Night (1985, included "Rhythm of the Night," which was written by Diane Warren and is from the movie soundtrack to Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon, and was number one R&B and number three pop in early 1985, and "Who's Holding Donna Now," number two R&B for four weeks, number six pop in summer 1985).

When the rest of DeBarge left Motown for Striped Horse Records, Bunny became a solo artist for Motown. Her debut album, In Love, yielded the single "Save the Best for Me (Best of Your Lovin')" produced by Jerry Knight and Aaron Zigman. ~ Ed Hogan