New Edition

R&B Group This teenage singing outfit was seen as the ’80’s answer to the Jackson 5 when their 1983 single “Candy Girl” took over the airwaves (and the hearts of many young girls). Formed in Boston and guided by producer Maurice Starr, New Edition (Ronnie DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, Michael Bivins and Ricky Bell) released double platinum LP’s like Heart Break and love tunes like “Telephone Man” and “Cool It Now.” In 1985, Bobby Brown left the group for a superstar solo career and was replaced by Johnny Gill. Most of the group’s members have produced hit music outside of NE, especially Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins and Ricky Bell, who scored major hits as the group Bell Biv Devoe. New Edition was at the forefront of the boy band craze that would take over the ’90s with groups like Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and ’N Sync.