New Edition is an American R&B/pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978. 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 departed 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". Tresvant was the lead singer on most of the songs. 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.
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. In 2026, the group was nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Career
19781985: Rise to stardom
thumb|New Edition in 1985.
The group was formed by Bobby Brown and his childhood friends in the Orchard Park Projects of Roxbury, Boston. The group then scored its big break in 1982, performing at the local Hollywood Talent Night held at Boston's Strand Theatre by singer/producer Maurice Starr. The first prize was $500 and a recording contract. Although the group came in second place, an impressed Starr decided to bring the group to his studio the following day to record what would become their debut album, Candy Girl.
Returning from their first major concert tour, the boys were dropped off back at their homes in the projects and were given a check in the amount of $1.87 apiece for their efforts. Later that year, Bell and Gill joined New Kids on the Block onstage at a House of Blues benefit show for Toys for Tots in Boston, performing "Full Service" and "This One's for the Children".
Gill later confirmed that New Edition had signed with manager Irving Azoff, that they are currently signed with Geffen Records (which absorbed the group's old label, MCA, and controls the group's back catalog) and was slating to release a comeback album.
On July 3, 2011, in New Orleans, Louisiana, all six members of New Edition reunited at the Essence Music Festival to kick off and celebrate their 30th anniversary tour. "This is just the beginning. We're preparing for a world tour and many other exciting things that we'll be announcing soon. The next chapter of New Edition is going to be an incredible celebration to thank our fans for all of their support over the last 30 years," said Bell speaking on behalf of the group.
In February 2012, Brown missed a handful of dates due to the death of ex-wife Whitney Houston. On March 9 and 11, 2012, Brown and Bell Biv DeVoe made their African debut by performing in Nigeria. From late 2011 to early 2012, New Edition went on a tour called #AllSix across the United States.
In late 2012, New Edition received the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Soul Train Awards ceremony. All six members appeared together onstage that evening.
In August 2015, BET announced a three-episode miniseries about the group would be made for release in January 2017. All six members were co-producers of The New Edition Story. Jesse Collins Entertainment was the executive producer of the original miniseries, which was BET's first scripted music-focused miniseries. The group's original choreographer and longtime manager Brooke Payne also served as a co-producer. On January 24–26, 2017, BET aired the biopic miniseries The New Edition Story which chronicles the band members life from their childhood in Boston into Hollywood fame as adults. It was directed by Chris Robinson and executive produced by Jessie Collins. The group served as co-producers. The miniseries brought in 28.4 million viewers to BET, through the initial run and subsequent encores over the week of the premiere.
In July 2021, New Edition signed with Creative Artists Agency and announced a Las Vegas Residency and an upcoming arena tour.
New Edition performed a medley of their hits alongside New Kids on the Block at the 2021 American Music Awards, marking their first performance at the award show since 1997.
In December 2021, New Edition announced The Culture Tour, presented by the Black Promoters Collective. The 30-city tour began in Columbus, Georgia on Feb. 16, 2022, and ended in Miami, Florida, on April 10, 2022.
In December 2022, New Edition announced that they would keep doing tours for the year of 2023. It was named The Legacy Tour and New Edition will be touring 31 cities across the United States. The tour will also have opening acts such as Keith Sweat, Tank, and the R&B/Hip-Hop group, Guy. New Edition's first concert will begin in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 9, 2023.
On November 6, 2023, New Edition announced a Vegas residency at the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas in early 2024, which will start on February 28 through March 9
In October 2025, New Edition announced The New Edition Way Tour for 2026, which begins January 29 through April 04 and they will be joined by Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton.
Awards
New Edition received two American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group (1987 and 1997). They also received the Soul Train Award in 1989 for Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Group, Band, or Duo (Heart Break), and again in 1997 for the Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band, or Duo (Home Again). In 2012, New Edition received the Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award. On June 28, 2016, Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Walk of Famer Vin Di Bona announced New Edition's induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Recording. On January 23, 2017, New Edition received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their contributions to the music industry, located at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard. In 2017, New Edition received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2017 BET Awards. In 2022, the group was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame. In 2023, New Edition was inducted into the 12th Class of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame
Discography
;Studio albums
- Candy Girl (1983)
- New Edition (1984)
- All for Love (1985)
- Under the Blue Moon (1986)
- Heart Break (1988)
- Home Again (1996)
- One Love (2004)
Tours
- Candy Girl Tour (1983–1984)
- Fantasy Tour (1984–1985)
- All 4 Love Tour (1986)
- Heartbreak Tour (1988–1989)
- Home Again Tour (1996–1997)
- One Love Tour (2004–2005)
- 30th Anniversary Tour (2011–2012)
- All Six Tour (2014)
- Greatest Hits Tour (2016)
- Culture Tour (2022)
- Legacy Tour (2023)
- The New Edition Way Tour with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton (2026)
Band members
;Official members
- Ricky Bell – tertiary lead vocals, background vocals (first tenor) <small>(1978–present)</small>
- Michael Bivins – rapping, background vocals (low baritone) <small>(1978–present)</small>
- Bobby Brown – secondary lead vocals, background vocals (second tenor) <small>(1978–1985, 1996–1997, 2005–present)</small>
- Ralph Tresvant – primary lead vocals, background vocals (melody) <small>(1978–present)</small>
- Ronnie DeVoe – rapping, background vocals (second tenor) <small>(1982–present)</small>
- Johnny Gill – co-secondary lead vocals, background vocals (high baritone) <small>(1987–present)</small>
Timeline
Spinoffs
New Edition went through three separate spinoff groups created throughout their careers with Bell Biv DeVoe being the most notable, popular and successful act. While the other two acts were more formed and promoted as concert collaborations and touring performances respectively.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Spinoff
!Members
!Year(s)
!Notes
|-
|Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD)
|
- Ricky Bell
- Michael Bivins
- Ronnie DeVoe
|1990–2001 & 2016–2017
2022
<small>* The Culture Tour (New Edition)</small>
|The band's creation was an idea and concept suggested by Ralph Tresvant and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis which the band released 2 albums in the 1990s, and a third album in the early 2000s.
The band reunited in late 2016 to release their fourth studio album Three Stripes; they also released music videos for the singles "Run" and "I'm Betta"
|-
|Heads of State (HOS)
|
- Bobby Brown
- Johnny Gill
- Ralph Tresvant
|2008–2011
|The second half of New Edition who made successful strides at solo careers decided to band together to tour and perform alongside each other collectively sharing the stage performing each other's hits. (Most notably, The Summit Tour).
|-
|RBRM
|
- Ricky Bell
- Bobby Brown
- Ronnie DeVoe
- Michael Bivins
|2017–2019
|Formed in late 2017 and created for live tour performances as a result of attempting to reunite the New Edition band after they released their 2017 biopic miniseries The New Edition Story.
Disagreements surrounding the New Edition trademark and the group's creative direction resulted in Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant leaving the group, with the remaining members continuing to perform under the new moniker "RBRM".
|}