Boyz II Men
Formed at the Creative and Performing Arts High School of Philadelphia in 1988, Nathan “Alex Vanderpool” Morris, Wanya “Squirt” Morris (no relation), Shawn “Slim” Stockman, and Michael “Bass” McCary performed together as Unique Attraction, along with a fifth member named Marc Nelson. Around 1990, the group performed an a capella version of New Edition’s “Can You Stand The Rain” backstage at a Club MTV concert for Michael Bivins, Paula Abdul, Keith Sweat, Cherelle, and Kid’N’Play.
Michael Bivins in particular was impressed with what he heard; he gave Unique Attraction his phone number, and three months later finally returned their calls to set the project in motion. It is not clear when Marc Nelson left Unique Attraction, but by the time they had transformed into Boyz II Men and released ‘Cooleyhighharmony’ in the spring of 1991, there were only four.
(Marc Nelson would later join Az Yet from 96-97 before embarking on a modest solo career)
Boyz II Men practically ruled the Pop and R&B charts during 1991 and 1992 with the songs “Motownphilly”, “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye (To Yesterday)”, “Uhh Ahh”, “Please Don’t Go”, and especially “End Of The Road” from the “Boomerang” soundtrack. “End Of The Road” was the first single to break Elvis Presley’s record of weeks at #1; it remained in the top spot for #13 weeks.
Editor’s Note: Although Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” would top Boyz II Men with a #14 week stay atop the charts months later, Boyz II Men would reclaim their throne along with Mariah Carey. Their 1995 duet “One Sweet Day” would top the Billboard Hot 100 for 16 weeks, and still holds the record.
By 1993, Boyz II Men had released their ‘Christmas Interpretations’ album, as well as a hit remake of “In The Still Of The Night” by the Five Satins. Then in the summer/fall of 1994, Boyz II Men returned with “I’ll Make Love To You” which tied Whitney Houston’s #14 chart-topping record. Boyz II Men hit their commercial peak with ‘II’, which also featured the hits “On Bended Knee” and “Water Runs Dry”.
In 1996, Boyz II Men began to have disputes with Motown when they released a remix album without the group's consent. In '97 they released 'Evolution', their final album with Motown. In 2000, Boyz II Men signed with Universal Records and released, 'Nathan, Michael, Shawn, Wayna', which didn't do very well at all*.
By the start of the new millennium (two albums since 'II'), the popularity of Boyz II Men had diminished substantially in the wake of the groups like the Backstreet Boys and *Nsync, but perhaps with a little dose of re-invention, Boyz II Men may be able to stage a comeback. Boyz II Men will always be able to rest knowing that they were the most legendary Pop/R&B group of the 1990s; besides Elvis Presley and the Beatles, they are the only musical act to have two back-to-back #1 singles (“I’ll Make Love To You” & “On Bended Knee”).
Update: Boyz II Men have a new album out (8/02) entitled 'Full Circle' which was released on the Arista label.
*Additional reporting by Jabar Robbins
Brenda K Starr
Before becoming a successful Spanish-language artist, Starr enjoyed her heyday in the late 80s as a freestyle/dance artist, and was nominated for a Grammy for the the hit "I Still Believe". Future pop singer Mariah Carey got her start as a back-up singer for Starr.
Brothers From The Ghetto (presented by Simply Majestic)
This Canadian rap group featured a White lead MC named Frank Morell and scored in the spring of 1991 with a song called “Play The Music (Hey DJ!). This was one of Canada’s better hip-hop songs during the New Jack Era.
C&C Music Factory
With production by the late David Cole and Robert Civiles (the C&C), this dance music collective stormed MTV, Much Music, and just about every other music outlet with their debut single, “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”. The second single performed almost as well, and the third single, “Things That Make You Go (Hmm)” exploded as well (and still sounds good to me to this day). There was a legal battle between Martha Wash (there she goes again) and C&C Music Factory. Wash claimed that she went unpaid for her vocals on “Gonna Make You Sweat”; on the second single, “Let’s Rock And Roll”, her vocals were stripped from the single version during the legal battle. The case was eventually settled.
Chubb Rock
East Coast MC Chubb Rock emerged during the second half of the New Jack Era, in late 1990 with the irresistible single, “Treat ‘Em Right” which is a New Jack Classic to this day. Later in 1991, Chubb Rock would guest rap on Tevin Campbell’s “If You Asked Me To”. On Michael Jackson’s “Jam”, Heavy D sounded just like Chubb Rock. Although Chubb Rock kept recording throughout the 90s, his “Treat Em Right” single (along with his producer Howie Tee) will forever remain potent symbols of the New Jack Swing era.
Update: you can now hear Chubb Rock on NYC's Power 105.1 on weekday afternoons as an air personality. Bravo!
Chuckii Booker
If Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis had any sonic disciples, Chuckii would have to be the one voted “most devoted” in sound. Chuckii’s work with Troop earned him his own debut album (on which “Turned Away”, his biggest hit would be spawned), and a gig as music director on Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 Tour. In 1992, Chuckii returned with ‘Nice & Wild’, featuring “Games”, a masterpiece in sonic melancholy. After his second album, Chuckii was never heard from again.
Christopher Williams
While he’d released a debut album in 1987 (‘CW’), this pretty-boy crooner first made waves on the New Jack City soundtrack in 1991 with the single, “ Dreamin”. Later, Williams would stun audiences with his song “All I See” in 1993 from his “Changes” album. As a 2nd generation Uptown artist, Christopher Williams will be fondly remembered for his powerful, Teddy Penderass-ish vocal delivery as well as his good looks. In 1995, he released ‘Not A Perfect Man’, and in 2001 released ‘Real Men Do’.
C&C Music Factory
With production by the late David Cole and Robert Civiles (the C&C), this dance music collective stormed MTV, Much Music, and just about every other music outlet with their debut single, “Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)”. The second single “Here We Go” performed almost as well, and the third single, “Things That Make You Go (Hmm)” exploded. There was a legal battle between Martha Wash (there she goes again) and C&C Music Factory. Wash claimed that she went unpaid for her vocals on “Gonna Make You Sweat”; and on the second single, “Here We Go”, her vocals were stripped from the single version during the legal battle. The case was eventually settled. C&C went on to release one more album in 1994, but it was their 1990 album that they will be remembered for.
Color Me Badd
These four guys were unique in that two of them were White, one was Latino, and one was Black. Their slick and soulful Howie Tee-produced anthem “I Wanna Sex You Up” was easily the standout single from 1991’s “New Jack City” soundtrack. They followed up with a debut album, and songs like “I Adore, Mi Amor”, “All for Love”, and “Thinking Back” were solid R&B/pop to the fullest.
After their initial success however, their 1993 followup (“Time And Chance”) failed to generate the listership their debut did nearly three years earlier. By 1995 – even though Color Me Badd were still recording – the group had been all but forgotten; perhaps due to a similar group that emerged in 1994 called “All For One”…
The Cover Girls
This dance-pop act had a revolving roster, but their top-ten hit “We Can’t Go Wrong” in 1990 earned them a spot touring with the New Kids On The Block during the New Jack Era. Their existence spanned from 1987 to the late 90s, but they peaked during the New Jack Era.