New Edition

New Edition
Members of New Edition at the 2024 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony. From left to right: Ricky Bell, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe.
Members of New Edition at the 2024 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony. From left to right: Ricky Bell, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe.
Background information
Also known asN.E.
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres
Years active1978–1991,[4][5] 1996–1997, 2002–present
Labels
Spinoffs
Members

New Edition is an American R&B/pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by singer/rapper Bobby Brown. 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 left 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. Early hits included "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now", and "Mr. Telephone Man".[6] Tresvant was the lead singer on most of the songs.[7] In 1990, both Gill and Tresvant released their own solo albums, while the remaining three members formed the trio Bell Biv DeVoe; the group ceased to work together for the first half of the 1990s.

All six members of New Edition reunited in 1996 to record the group's sixth studio album Home Again. During the ill-fated Home Again Tour, both Brown and Bivins quit the group, forcing the remainder of the tour to be canceled. Various reunions have occurred since, usually with the 1987–1990 lineup, though occasionally also including Brown. Their last studio album was 2004's One Love.

On May 3, 2011, New Edition issued a press release on their official website announcing that all six members were reuniting as New Edition to kick off the 30th anniversary celebration of Candy Girl with their fans. They received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 23, 2017. On January 24, 2017, a three-part docuseries, The New Edition Story, premiered on BET about the group's career and personal life. It was later announced that all six members will reunite to record another album and go on tour. On February 17, 2022, the group was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.[8]

On December 31, 2022, New Edition performed on Dick Clark's New Year's Rocking Eve with Ryan Seacrest. All six members were in attendance and performed various songs from both their group and solo careers. On September 24, 2023, in Farmington Hills, Michigan, New Edition was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

  1. ^ a b c Huey, Steve. "New Edition – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference MTV was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Carter, Kelley L. (10 August 2008). "5 Things You Can Learn About ... New jack swing". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  4. ^ "You Say It's Your Birthday, New Edition, and Bell Biv Devoes". MTV. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  5. ^ "'The New Edition Story' Part One: Humble Beginnings To Harsh Realities". Essence. 2017-01-25. Archived from the original on 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  6. ^ "New Edition Chart History". Billboard.com.
  7. ^ Williams, Stereo (23 June 2018). "Can Anyone Save the Baddest Boy Band Ever?". Daily Beast. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  8. ^ Nazareno, Mia (2021-12-17). "Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, Jr. & More to Be Inducted at 2022 Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-02-17.