New Edition was formed in 1978 by Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Bobby Brown. As residents of the Orchard Park Projects in the Roxbury district of Boston, Mass., the guys would meet on the basketball court, shoot some hoops, practice dance moves, and blend vocal harmonies. A local manager/choreographer named Brooke Payne discovered them and gave them the name, New Edition. Later on, Ricky would get his best friend, Ralph Tresvant in on the act, after which, Brooke got his nephew, Ronnie Devoe to round out the lineup.
Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike, and Ralph went all around Massachusetts performing in clubs, schools, and talent shows. The group caught the eye of a local Boston producer named Maurice Starr and he signed them to his label, Streetwise Records in 1981. The group released their debut album, Candy Girl in 1983 which featured "Popcorn Love," "Is This The End," "Jealous Girl," and the title track which shot to #1 like a bullet. Then, NE and Starr parted ways due financial reasons and the group signed with MCA. In 1984, MCA released New Edition's now classic self-titled album featuring the hits "Cool It Now," "Mr. Telephone Man" (written by Ray Parker Jr.), "Lost In Love," and "Kinda Girls We Like." In 1985, NE was touring non-stop when MCA released their third album, All For Love featuring "Count Me Out," "A Little Bit Of Love (Is All It Takes)," "With You All The Way," and "School" (a song written by the group themselves. As 1985 came to an end, Bobby Brown was growing tired of the group's image and sound and parted ways the guys after a concert and signed a solo deal with MCA.
After a Christmas LP was released in 1985 (amid Bobby's departure), the remaining NE members kept a low profile but managed to release an album of doo-wop covers entitled Under The Blue Moon. The most notable single from that release was "Earth Angel", which was originally featured on the Karate Kid Part II soundtrack. The group also landed a single entitled "Once In A Lifetime Groove" for the film Running Scared; it was produced by Rod Temperton, who (along with Quincy Jones) was largely responsible for Michael Jackson's Off The Wall and Thriller hits.
NE got a chance to work with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis on the single "Helplessly In Love" for the Dragnet soundtrack. NE was then ready to add a new element to their previously bubblegum sound, and that element came from their long-time friend, Washington D.C. crooner, Johnny Gill. When Heart Break was released in 1988, it became one of their biggest albums to date, selling over 4 million copies. In `88 thru 89, Ralph, Ricky,Ronnie, Mike,and Johnny hit the road for their "Heart Break" tour w/opening acts Al B. Sure! and ex-NE member Bobby Brown, who's second album Don't Be Cruel had went "diamond" (sold 10 million) worldwide.
Seeing how successful Bobby's career had become, Ralph and Johnny decided to try it on their own, leaving Ricky, Mike, and Ronnie with uncertain futures until Jam & Lewis offered them the idea to do their thing as a trio and Bell Biv Devoe was born. In 1990, Johnny Gill and BBD dominated the charts while Bobby laid low. In September of that year, Bobby rejoined New Edition for a performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, which along with Janet Jackson's "Black Cat" proved to be a highlight of that ceremony. By early 1991, Ralph Tresvant finally emerged with his solo project and like Johnny and BBD scored platinum success with his #1 hit, "Sensitivity." By the fall of 1991, all six members of New Edition reunited for the "Word To The Mutha" single, which can be found on BBD's remix LP WBBD: Bootcity.
As the New Jack Era came to an end, so the careers of all six New Edition alumni slowed considerably. Bobby's Bobby [1992] album was not nearly successful as Don't Be Cruel was, BBD's Hootiemack [1993] album was virtually ignored (with the exception of the "Something In Your Eyes" single), Johnny Gill's Provacative [1993] album failed to approach the success of his earlier album, and Ralph Tresvant's It's Goin' Down [1994] fell on largely deaf ears.
In 1996, New Edition reunited for the Home Again album and hit the road, but due to members losing family members, missing concert dates, and financial situations, the reunion eventually fell apart. Notable singles from Home Again include "Hit Me Off," "I'm Still In Love With You," "You Don't Have To Worry" and "One More Day."
In the summer of 2002, the Heart Break lineup of New Edition completed a successful reunion tour and signed with Bad Boy Records that fall. On 11/9/04, the group released One Love and are planning a tour with fellow New Jack alums Guy and Jodeci. VH1 has already confirmed a "Behind The Music" episode for the group. New Edition has paved the way for groups like the New Kids On The Block, TROOP, Hi-Five, Backstreet Boys, 'NSync etc. So they *should* be getting their props for what they've done in this business anytime now.
Bio written for NJS 4-Ever by Jabar Robbins and Andrew Knyte.
New Edition: Heart Break
New Edition: Past & Present (VHS)
New Edition: All The Number Ones
New Edition: One Love
