New Edition
Pioneering R&B/pop group that defined the modern boy band.
via Wikipedia: New Edition · see source
New Edition is an American R&B/pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978. Their name is taken to mean a new edition of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 1980s and is considered the blueprint for what would become the modern boy band. The lineup originally consisted of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, and Ralph Tresvant. Brown departed the group in late 1985 to begin a successful solo career, and they continued as a quartet for one album, before adding Johnny Gill to the lineup in 1987.
Quick Facts
- Also known as
- RBRM, N.E.
- Origin
- Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Discography
- New Edition discography
- Genre
- R&B
- pop
- hip-hop
- new jack swing
- Years active
- 1978–1991; 1996–1997; 2002–present
- Label
- Streetwise
- MCA
- Bad Boy
- Geffen
- Spinoffs
- Bell Biv DeVoe, Heads of State
- Current members
- Ricky Bell
- Michael Bivins
- Ronnie DeVoe
- Bobby Brown
- Johnny Gill
- Ralph Tresvant
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- To buy themselves out of their production deal with Jump and Shoot, each of the five members borrowed $100,000 from MCA.
- Johnny Gill is the only non-Boston native among the group's six members; he is from Washington, D.C.
- New Edition received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 23, 2017.
- In 2026, the group was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Career
The group was formed by Bobby Brown and his childhood friends in the Orchard Park Projects of Roxbury, Boston. They scored their big break in 1982 at a talent night at Boston's Strand Theatre, where singer/producer Maurice Starr was impressed despite their second-place finish. Starr brought them to his studio to record their debut album, Candy Girl, released July 19, 1983 on Streetwise Records. The album included the hits "Is This the End", "Popcorn Love", and the title track, which reached number one on the American R&B singles chart and the UK singles chart. After their first major concert tour, each member received a check for $1.87, leading them to part with Starr in 1984. Starr then created New Kids on the Block, formatted after New Edition with white teenagers. The group sued Streetwise for release from their contract and secured a deal with MCA Records. Their self-titled second album, released the same year through MCA, produced the top five hit "Cool It Now" and the top twenty "Mr. Telephone Man", and was certified double platinum in the United States.
Band members
Official members include Ricky Bell (first tenor), Michael Bivins (low baritone), Bobby Brown (second tenor), Ralph Tresvant (melody), Ronnie DeVoe (second tenor), and Johnny Gill (high baritone). New Edition produced three spinoff groups, with Bell Biv DeVoe being the most notable and successful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is New Edition from?
New Edition originated in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
What genre of music does New Edition play?
New Edition's music is classified as R&B, pop, hip-hop and new jack swing.
Which record labels has New Edition released music on?
New Edition has released music on Streetwise, MCA, Bad Boy and Geffen.
More in New Jack Swing Music Groups
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