New Edition

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Template:Infobox band New Edition is an American R&B group formed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1980, that was most popular during the 1980s. Guided by producer Maurice Starr, New Edition was originally a Jackson 5-esque collection of five young African American teenage singers, including lead singers Ralph Tresvant and Bobby Brown, and vocalists Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. The group was notable for #1 singles such as "Cool It Now," "Candy Girl," and "Mr. Telephone Man" and their success led to the creation of late-1980s and 1990s boy bands like New Kids On The Block, The Backstreet Boys, and 'N Sync.

Like the Jackson 5 before them, New Edition became a pop phenomenon, and were big enough to have Madonna as an opening act during their early days.

The group parted company with Starr in 1984; Starr responded by promptly creating New Kids On The Block, essentially New Edition with Caucasian teenagers. Around 1986, Bobby Brown was voted out of the group, due to behavioral problems during concerts, and therefore went on to pursue a solo career in 1987; he did not find success in his solo ventures though, until 1988. Brown was replaced by former solo child star Johnny Gill who would become an official member that same year. The group's sound also evolved at this time from bubblegum pop-styled R&B to smoother, more adult music. The new material, primarily produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, had a strong new jack swing feel. The first album recorded with Gill, Heart Break, had numerous R&B hits, including "If It Isn't Love", "Can You Stand The Rain", "N.E. Heart Break", and "Boys To Men" (which later lent its name to the Philadelphia-based group Boyz II Men).

New Edition essentially broke up in 1989, with Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe forming the popular hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant beginning his solo career and Gill restarting his solo career, with more success this time. In 1996, all six former members reunited for the Home Again album. Although the album featured the hit singles, "Hit Me Off" and "I'm Still In Love With You", the ensuing tour would prove disastrous for the group. By the middle leg of the tour, Bobby Brown and Mike Bivins left due to egos clashing and a less-than-harmonious time with the other members. After yet another long hiatus, New Edition, minus Bobby Brown, starting touring clubs and casinos in 2003. It was then that they caught the attention of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, who was present at one of their shows. Soon afterwards, Diddy signed the group to Bad Boy Records. The group's return single, "Hot 2Nite", failed to make a dent on the charts, likely due to the fact that the track did not fit their grown-up image. In the fall of 2004, New Edition released their seventh studio album titled, One Love. But this time, the group's return would be largely ignored, and it would show on the charts. The group soon had a falling out with Diddy, likely due to inconsistency with the album's songs and the group's image. In an interview, Ricky Bell said that Diddy refused to pay Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for a track that the group wanted on the album. Reportedly, Diddy told the group they were over budget despite using Bad Boy's in-house team of producers. Ultimately, the group asked to be released from their Bad Boy contract. Despite the messy divorce with Diddy and Bad Boy, New Edition soldiered on, touring with other recently reunited groups like Guy, BLACKstreet and SWV throughout 2005.

In the fall of '05, New Edition performed at BET's 25th Anniversary Special. The group performed a medley of their greatest hits, and even brought Bobby Brown out onstage for a rendition of "Mr. Telephone Man". It was later announced on BET and Inside Hollywood that Bobby has rejoined the group and will be on the next group album. By January 2006, New Edition announced that the group would launch a new album and tour in 2008.

A native of Washington, DC, Gill is the only non-Boston native among the group's six members.