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New Edition Information
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'New Edition' is an American R&B and pop boy band, formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1978, that was most popular during the 1980s. Guided by producer Maurice Starr, New Edition was originally a Jackson 5-esque collection of five young African American teenage singers, including lead singers Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown, and vocalists Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. The group was notable for #1 singles such as "Cool It Now," "Candy Girl," and "Mr. Telephone Man" and their success led to the creation of late-1980s and 1990s boy bands like New Kids On The Block, The Backstreet Boys, and *NSYNC.
Like the Jackson 5 before them, New Edition became a pop phenomenon, and were big enough to have Madonna as an opening act during their early days.
The group parted company with Starr in 1984; Starr responded by promptly creating New Kids on the Block, essentially New Edition with Caucasian teenagers. Around 1986, Bobby Brown was voted out of the group, due to behavioral problems during concerts, and therefore went on to pursue a solo career in 1987; he did not find success in his solo ventures though, until 1988. Brown was replaced by former solo child star Johnny Gill who would become an official member that same year. The group's sound also evolved at this time from bubblegum pop-syled R&B to smoother, more adult music. The new material, primarily produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, had a strong new jack swing feel. The first album recorded with Gill, Heart Break, had numerous R&B hits, including "If It Isn't Love", "Can You Stand The Rain", "N.E. Heart Break", and "Boys To Men" (which later lent its name to the Philadelphia-based group Boyz II Men).
New Edition essentially broke up in 1989, with Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe forming the popular hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant beginning his solo career and Gill restarting his solo career, with more success this time. In 1996, all six former members reunited for the Home Again album, although Bobby Brown opted out of the second half of the Home Again tour. New Edition, minus Bobby Brown, is currently signed to Bad Boy Records, and released the One Love album in 2004.
A native of Washington, D.C., Gill is the only non-Boston native among the group's six members.
Personnel
* Michael Bivins (1978-1989, 1996-1997, 2003- )
* Ricky Bell (1978-1989, 1996-1997, 2003- )
* Bobby Brown (1978-1986, 1996)
* Ralph Tresvant (1979-1989, 1996-1997, 2003 - )
* Ronnie DeVoe (1980-1989, 1996-1997, 2003- )
* Johnny Gill (1986-1989, 1996-1997, 2003- )
Discography
* 1983: Candy Girl
* 1984: New Edition
* 1985: All for Love
* 1985: Christmas All Over the World
* 1986: Under the Blue Moon (doo-wop covers album, recorded as a quartet after Bobby Brown left)
* 1988: Heart Break
* 1996: Home Again
* 2004: One Love
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