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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 |
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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. |
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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Johnny 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.”
| 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 - |
Bootcity
(Remix Album)” which went on to 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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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.
After a successful tour in 2005
New Edition are continuing their journey with
a new "Spending the Night with New
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Edition" tour in the spring
of 2006 see Tour
Dates page for updates and information.
~Biography
written by: Yvonne Spencer, member since March
2004
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New Edition Member Biographies
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