 The group was formed in Mansfield, Ohio, in December 1976 by Gregory Williams.They recorded a demo tape in Columbus, Ohio with the financial assistance of Bernd Lichters.Switch included Gregory Williams, brothers Tommy DeBarge and Bobby DeBarge, all from Grand Rapids, Michigan, along with Akron, Ohio natives Phillip Ingram (brother of James Ingram), Eddie Fluellen, and Jody Sims (originally from Steubenville, Ohio).