BOBBY BROWN
Brown's career in music began when Maurice Starr assembled the doo-wop, teeny-bop, hip-hop crew dubbed New Edition in the early 1980s. The urban, yet heaven-sent R&B sound created by Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivens and Ronald Devoe declared their arrival onto the charts in the form of sugar-coated ballads like "Candy Girl" and "Cool It Now." Even though success was plentiful, a charismatic front man quality and individual popularity prompted Brown to establish a solo career separate from New Edition. Brown's first album, King of the Stage, enjoyed moderate success, but his second release, 1988's Don't Be Cruel, defined the new-jack sound thanks to the surefire production of L.A. Reid and Babyface. The hits carrying this mighty hard stepper won over radio airwaves, creating an R&B movement more akin to hip swaying and funky bumpin' than relaxed soul ballads. In 1992 Brown married pop-diva Whitney Houston and released a follow-up album titled Bobby, also produced by Babyface. Brown's latest CD, Forever, was released in November 1997 on MCA Records.
|
|
