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Growing
up in the Orchard Park projects in the Roxbury neighborhood
of Boston, Massachusetts, five young men would begin an
incredible journey that would not only influence but transform
the American musical landscape. Located in the south end
of the city many miles away from city hall, Roxbury was
home to Ralph Tresvant, born |
May
16, 1968;
Robert (Bobby) Brown, born February 5, 1969; Michael
(Mike)
Bivins, born August 10, 1968; Ricardo (Ricky) Bell, born
September 18, 1967 and Ronald (Ronnie) DeVoe, born November
17, 1967. To learn more about the individual members of
New Edition click here.
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original version of New Edition, consisting of Ricky, Bobby
and Michael, had begun singing together in 1978 hoping to
perform for pocket cash. A twenty-year old Brooke Payne
recognized the potential for promoting a teen singing group,
comprised of teen members for a teen audience and in 1978
and 1979, Payne had the three friends performing around
Boston. Ralph, a friend of both Ricky and Bobby, later joined
the group as the fourth member. After winning a talent show
in 1980, Payne’s nephew, Ronnie DeVoe, was then recruited
into
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the group. Another neighbor from Orchard Park, Ronnie
had been in another local group called the Dramatics and
his joining New Edition now made them five strong. With
the aid of Payne and Travis Gresham, an 18-year old cousin
of Ronnie’s who would choreograph New Edition’s
steps, the group began working regularly around Boston.
They weren’t making much money, but they were making
a name for themselves and establishing a reputation in
the area.
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In
1984, New Edition released their MCA debut and scored their
biggest pop hit with the Top Five smash “Cool It Now”.
“Mr. Telephone Man”, written by Ray Parker Jr.,
soon became their third R&B hit and the group had become
full-fledged teen idols. 1985’s “All For Love”
album was their next release, followed later that year by
a holiday album, “Christmas All Over the World”.
Due to creative differences, Bobby Brown left the group
in 1986 to pursue a solo career and the group then recorded
the album “Under the Blue Moon” as a quartet.
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The album consisted of a set of vintage
doo wop and R&B numbers from the 50’s and 60’s
and produced a hit revival of the Penguins’ “Earth
Angel”.
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Gill, born May 22, 1967, joined the group as Bobby Brown’s
replacement, making his debut on the group’s 1988 “Heartbreak”
album which found New Edition collaborating heavily with
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The new changes, membership and
production-wise, paid off big for everyone involved. New
Edition scored several R&B hits from the album, including
the #1 hit ballad “Can You Stand The Rain”. Meanwhile,
Bobby Brown had become a bona-fide superstar with the release
of his second album, “Don’t Be Cruel”. Both
the |
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“Heartbreak” and “Don’t Be Cruel”
albums ushered in the era of music in the early 90’s
known as New Jack Swing. With the success of “Heartbreak”
vindicating both their talent and hard work, New Edition
split up to work on other projects. Johnny returned to his
solo career releasing his hugely successful self-titled
1990 album. “Rub You The Right Way” was the first
single from that |
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album which also included the hits,
“My, My, My”, “Wrap My Body Tight”,
and “Fairweather Friend”. Johnny’s second
solo project, “Provocative”, was released in 1993
and a third album, “Let’s Get The Mood Right”,
in 1996. In 1997, Johnny formed the group LSG with R&B
heavyweights Keith Sweat and Gerald Levert and the debut
album from the talented trio had hits such as “My Body”
and “Curious”.
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Ralph
Tresvant’s self-titled solo album was also
released in 1990. His first single, “Sensitivity”,
charted at #1 on the R&B charts and #4 on the
Pop charts. The album also featured the hits “Rated
R”, “Stone Cold Gentleman” and “Do
What I Gotta Do”. He also released another
solo album, “It’s Going Down”, in
1998.
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The
remaining members of the group, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins
and Ronnie DeVoe, teamed up as Bell Biv Devoe and released
their debut album “Poison” in 1990. Another New
Jack style-setter, Bell Biv Devoe wound up having greater
success than anyone in the group, except for Bobby Brown.
Selling over 4 million copies, “Poison” featured
not only the explosive title track, but also the hits, “Do
Me!”, “BBD (I Thought It Was Me)” and the
ballad, “When Will I See You Smile Again?”. In
1991, BBD followed up their debut with a re-mix album, “WBBD
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Bootcity (Remix Album)” which went onto
sell over 700,000 copies. In 1993, Bell Biv Devoe released
“Hootie Mack” which contained the hit ballad,
“Something In Your Eyes”. The album was certified
gold.
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the mid-90’s, interest in New Jack Swing music
was waning and the members of New Edition were finding
it increasingly difficult to maintain the earlier
success of their solo efforts and spin-off groups
with follow-up projects. Given their experience and
success collectively as well as individually, the
next logical course of action was to reunite as the
R&B super group they were. All six members of
New Edition announced their comeback plans and in
1996, the reunion album was released. “Home Again”
debuted at #1 and the first
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single, “Hit Me Off”
was another big hit on the R&B charts, heralding
the return of these entertainment veterans. The follow-up
single, “I’m Still In Love With You”
was another huge hit, even being recorded in Spanish.
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In
2002, New Edition signed with Sean “P.
Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment
label and their 20th anniversary album on
that label entitled “One Love” was
released in November 2004. The first single
“Hot2Nite” was released in June
of 2004 as the upcoming reunion album is eagerly
anticipated by New Edition fans everywhere.
~Biography
written by: Yvonne Spencer, member since March
2004
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Click
to view New Edition member biographies.
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