New Edition's early, Jackson 5-inspired material made them the forerunners of two generations of teen pop (most of which was geared to white audiences). As they matured and progressed, they laid much of the groundwork for the fusion of Hip-Hop and R&B known as New Jack Swing. In fact, after New Edition drifted apart, all of its members had at least some significant success outside the group as part of the new jack movement, which helped ensure that their original incarnation would be remembered for much more than the bubblegum urban soul that made their name.
New Edition was formed in the Roxbury section of Boston, MA, 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. More talent show victories followed, including a prestigious gig at the local Strand Theater, where they performed the Jackson 5's "The Love You Save." 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. Starr, however, wanted the group to remain with Streetwise; New Edition summarily fired him as their manager and signed with MCA. Starr attempted to sue the group for their name, unsuccessfully claiming that "New Edition" actually referred to a whole new style of pop music he'd created. Starr, of course, would go on to strike it rich with a similar concept, assembling a quintet of white teenagers he dubbed New Kids on the Block.
New Edition, meanwhile, released their eponymous 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. However, rumors of Brown's growing dissatisfaction proved true and he left for a solo career in 1986. 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, a deep-voiced friend of the group who'd been recording as a solo artist without much luck. 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 split up to work on other projects. Gill returned to his solo career, with considerably more success this time around, 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. Although their status as innovators was secure, many of the New Edition splinter acts had a hard time keeping up and maintaining their career momentum. 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 that, while popular, found relationships between some of the members fraying. After the tour, New Edition returned to their various prior projects, with the prospect of any future reunions looking dim. Those prospects increased significantly when it was learned that P. Diddy had signed the group to his Bad Boy label for the release of another comeback, 2004's One Love
Die erfolgreichste Gruppe in der schwarzen Musik-Geschichte bildete sich 1961 in Detroit - „THE TEMPTATIONS“. 1963 feierten die Formation mit David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams und Paul Williams ihren ersten #1 Erfolg, „The Way You Do The Things You Do“. Weltweit bekannt wurden „THE TEMPTATIONS“ mit Ihrem seidigen Gesang, ihren außergewöhnlichen Choreografien, Ihren unterschiedlichen Harmonien und Ihrem einzigartigen Stil. „THE TEMPTATIONS“ (auch genannt „Die Fünf Könige von Motown“) setzten Ihren Erfolg in den Top-Ten fort. Mit Erfolgen wie „Papa was a Rolling Stone“, „Get Ready“, „Just my Imagination“ „Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, „My Girl“, „The Girls Alright with Me“, „I Wish it Would Rain“ und „Beauty’s Only Skin Deep“. „THE TEMPTATIONS“ nahmen mehr als 50 Alben auf, davon 50 Pop- und 51 R&B-TOP-TEN-Singles! Sie wurden in die „HALL OF FAME“ des Rock 'n' Roll 1989 und 1990 aufgenommen. Vier der ursprünglichen Lead-Sänger die mit Nate Evans verbunden sind, zogen ebenfalls in die „Rock and Roll Hall of Fame“ mit mit „Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions“ ein. So bildeten sich „THE TEMPTATIONS - REVUE“ die jetzt durch die Welt reisen mit der gleichen Anerkennung wie sie es auf dem Höhepunkt der Gruppe taten. Heute performt Nate Evans mit Ritchie Stanley, Elmer Goodwin, Curtis Taylor und Reggie Reed um die Musik zu erhalten und Sie den Alten sowie den Neuen Fans näher zu bringen. Genießen Sie Nate, die ewigen Melodien der „TEMPTATIONS“ und
RALPH TRESVANT, RICKY BELL, JOHNNY GILL, RONNIE DEVOE and MICHAEL BIVINS.
NEW EDITION breaking the ground for 20 years
New Edition's early, Jackson 5-inspired material made them the forerunners of two generations of teen pop (most of which was geared to white audiences). As they matured and progressed, they laid much of the groundwork for the fusion of Hip-Hop and R&B known as New Jack Swing. In fact, after New Edition drifted apart, all of its members had at least some significant success outside the group as part of the new jack movement, which helped ensure that their original incarnation would be remembered for much more than the bubblegum urban soul that made their name.
