New Edition were formed by Maurice Starr in 1978 in Boston.
Modelled on the The Jackson 5, the group comprised of:
Bobby Brown (b. 5th February 1969, Roxbury, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)
Ralph Tresvant (b. 16th May 1968, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)
Michael Bivins (b. 10th August 1968, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)
Ricky Bell (b. 18th September 1967, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)
and
Ronnie DeVoe (b. 17th November 1967, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)
later
Johnny Gill (b. 22nd May 1966, Washingon D.C., U.S.A.)
New Edition’s heyday came during the Eighties, realizing a format, which later was to become the ‘boy band’.
Other similar groups, who followed in their wake include, New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync.
During the early Eighties, the line-up featured Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ronnie DeVoe, and Ralph Tresvant.
They achieved early success with the ‘Jacksons-esque’, ‘Candy Girl’, along with some other similar singles, ‘Cool It Now’ and ‘Mr. Telephone Man’.
candy girl - 1983 / new edition - 1984 / all for love - 1985 / blue moon - 1986
An album, entitled ‘Candy Girl’ was released in 1983, followed a year later by a self titled album release.
New Edition's third album, ‘All for Love’, was released in 1985.
Bobby Brown left the group the same year, embarking on a successful solo career.
The group continued as a quartet, becoming a quintet with the addition of Johnny Gill at a later stage.
Johnny is the only non-Boston native among the group's six members.
heart break - 1988 / home again - 1996
New Edition's fifth studio release, ‘Heart Break’ was released in 1988, and featured production and writing input from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis.
‘Heart Break’ became New Edition's most commercially successful album.
New Edition took time out from recording and performing, at various times, whilst group members took time to work on extra curricular activities.
Some members sang in the band, Bell Biv Devoe, whilst Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant took time to release successful solo albums.
New Edition regrouped again in 1996, recording a sixth studio album called ‘Home Again’.
Bobby Brown and Michael Bivins left during an album promotional tour.
one love - 2004
New Editions final studio album was 2004's ‘One Love’.
In 2011 a further reunification of New Edition was announced, some 30 years after the release of their debut 45 ‘Candy Girl’.
In 2012, New Edition received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Soul Train Awards ceremony that year.
Albums:
Candy Girl (Streetwise Records 1983)
New Edition (MCA Records 1984)
An For Love (MCA Records 1985)
Christmas All Over The World (MCA Records 1985)
Under The Blue Moon (MCA Records 1986)
Heart Break (MCA Records 1988)
Home Again (MCA Records 1996)
