Bobby Brown

For other people named Bobby Brown, see Bobby Brown (disambiguation).

Bobby Brown
Brown in 2018
Born
Robert Barisford Brown

(1969-02-05) February 5, 1969 (age 55)
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
  • dancer
Years active1978–present[1][2]
TelevisionBeing Bobby Brown
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1992; div. 2007)​
Alicia Etheredge
​
(m. 2012)​
Children7, including Bobbi Kristina
AwardsFull list
Musical career
Genres
Labels
Member of

Robert Barisford Brown Sr. (born February 5, 1969)[4] is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer. Brown, alongside frequent collaborator Teddy Riley, is noted as one of the pioneers of new jack swing: a fusion of hip hop and R&B. Brown started his career in the R&B and pop group New Edition, from its inception in 1978[2] until his exit from the group in December 1985.[5]

Once he started a solo career, Brown enjoyed commercial and critical success with his second album Don't Be Cruel (1988) which spawned five Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles, including the number one hit "My Prerogative", and the Grammy Award–winning "Every Little Step".[6] In 1989, Brown contributed two songs to the soundtrack of Ghostbusters II. Brown's next album Bobby (1992) spawned several singles including "Humpin' Around", "Get Away", and "Good Enough". However, despite going 3× Platinum, sales of Bobby did not reach the level of its predecessor. In 1992, Brown married Whitney Houston, with whom he later had a daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. The couple's drug issues and domestic disputes made them tabloid fodder.[7]

Brown also appeared in the films A Thin Line Between Love and Hate and Two Can Play That Game. He returned to New Edition for a reunion album and tour from 1996 to 1997, and returned with all six members for another stint in 2005. Brown and Houston starred in the 2005 reality show Being Bobby Brown. Houston, who filed for divorce in 2007, died in 2012. Their daughter died in 2015.

  1. ^ "You Say It's Your Birthday, New Edition, and Bell Biv Devoes". MTV. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "'The New Edition Story' Part One: Humble Beginnings To Harsh Realities". Essence. January 25, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "Bobby Brown Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic.
  4. ^ Huey, Steve. "[Bobby Brown] Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  5. ^ Caramanica, Jon (February 13, 2009). "The Newest New Edition: Three Singers, Trading Styles with Equanimity". The New York Times. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  6. ^ "Bobby Brown Chart History". Billboard.
  7. ^ Rubenstein, Janine (July 17, 2018). "Inside Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown's Rocky Marriage: 'It Was More of a Codependency'". MSN.