New Edition
New Edition was made up of Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie Devoe, Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill, who joined after Bobby left the group.
The group was formed in the Roxbury section of Boston, by Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Bobby Brown, who began singing together in 1978 while still in elementary school, hoping to perform for pocket cash. They eventually recruited friend Ralph Tresvant as a fourth member, and after winning a talent show in 1980, also added Ronnie DeVoe.
They were discovered by writer/producer/impresario Maurice Starr, who signed the group to his small Streetwise label in hopes of launching a Jackson 5 phenomenon for the '80s. "Candy Girl," a song Starr co-wrote for the group, was released as their first single in 1983, when the members ranged in age from 13 to 15. Despite a lack of major-label interest in the group, "Candy Girl" was a smash, topping the R&B charts. Their debut album, also titled Candy Girl, spawned two more R&B hits in "Popcorn Love" and "Is This the End?," and MCA offered the group a deal.
New Edition released their MCA debut in 1984 and scored their biggest pop hit with the Top Five smash "Cool It Now," which ended with a short rap section. The Ray Parker Jr.-penned "Mr. Telephone Man" soon became their third R&B chart-topper, and the group had reached full-fledged teen idol status. Yet they were growing up fast, as demonstrated on their next album, 1985's All for Love. Not only were their voices changing, but their material was becoming more adult, with harder-edged funk and more mature romantic ballads. Later that year, they also released a holiday album, Christmas All Over the World, and struck an endorsement deal with Coke.
In 1986, Brown left for a solo career. Temporarily down to a quartet, the rest of the group recorded the covers album Under the Blue Moon, a set of vintage doo-wop and R&B numbers from the '50s and '60s; it produced a hit revival of the Penguins' "Earth Angel." Brown's replacement came in the form of Johnny Gill. Gill made his debut on the 1989 album Heart Break, which found New Edition working with star producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. The move paid immediate dividends, as they scored several R&B hits from the album, including the number one "Can You Stand the Rain." Meanwhile, Brown had become a superstar with his second album, the new jack swing landmark Don't Be Cruel. Feeling vindicated by Heart Break, New Edition began to work on other projects. Gill successfully returned to his solo career and Tresvant also went solo. The remainder of the group teamed as Bell Biv DeVoe and wound up having greater success than anyone save Brown; their debut album, Poison, was another new jack style-setter and Bivins' interest in developing new talent gave Boyz II Men their big break.
By the mid-'90s, new jack swing was giving way to new fusions of hip-hop and soul that were alternately more organic or aggressive. Thus, given their individually positive reputations, it made sense for the group to announce its triumphant reunion, with all six members participating in what was essentially an R&B supergroup. The public loved the idea; when the comeback album Home Again was finally released in 1996, it debuted at number one, and the first single, "Hit Me Off," was a smash, hitting number one on the R&B charts. The follow-up, "I'm Still in Love With You," was another big hit, and the group embarked on a blockbuster tour. After the tour, New Edition returned to their various prior projects.
Latest on New Edition
New Edition recently signed with BadBoy Entertainment and are currently in the process of completing and releasing their newest album minus Bobby Brown
Albums
Candy girl (1983)
New Edition (1984)
All For Love (1985)
Christmas All Over the World (1985)
Under The Blue Moon (1986)
Heart Break (1988)
Home Again (1996)
Tracks currently playing/played on the station
Candy girl (Album: Candy girl)
Popcorn love (Album: Candy girl)
My secret (Album: New Edition)
Cool it now (Album: New Edition)
Mr Telephone man (Album: New Edition)
I'm leaving you again (Album: New Edition)
Count me out (Album: All for love)
A little bit of love (Album: All for love)
Lets be friends (Album: All for love)
If it isn't love (Album: Heart break)
Can you stand the rain (Album: Heart break)
You're not my kind of girl (Album: Heart break)
Crucial (Album:Heart break)
Boys To Men (Album: Heart break)
N.E. Heart break (Album: Heart break)
New Edition Album info
More info on New Edition