Growing up around gang violence and crime, Bobby managed to eschew this lifestyle in his early teens, instead pursuing his love of music through performing in the church choir and at school. Along with friends Michael Bivins and Ricky Bell, they established the group, New Edition, who gained the attention of producer Maurice Starr, who produced their debut hit, “Candy Girl.” A record contract with MCA followed, bringing Brown significant stardom in his teen years, releasing four albums before deciding to pursue a solo career.
Brown’s debut solo release came in 1989, with “King of Stage,” spawning the hit R&B ballad, “Girlfriend.” Despite limited success, Brown persevered, with his second, “Don’t Be Cruel,” establishing the new sound of new jack swing and bringing Brown chat success. The title track gained him his first top ten hit, before peaking at the top spot with “My Prerogative.” The album was full of hits, selling a massive seven million copies, establishing Brown as a star.
However, despite the success of “Don’t Be Cruel,” Brown was unable to maintain the momentum, although his third record, “Bobby,” in 1992 still featured a top five hit in “Humpin’ Around,” amongst others.” Still, the album only sold two million copies. That same year, Brown married Whitney Houston, with their relationship becoming heavily publicised and the focus of many stories in the tabloid press. Growing substance-abuse issues and run-ins with the law took its toll on Brown’s musical output, although the reformation of New Edition in 1996 did gain a number one album with “Home Again.”
Continued problems with Brown’s personal life marred his music career towards the end of the decade, with 1997’s “Forever” failing to live up to any expectations. In 2005, Brown briefly rejoined New Edition again, before soon after separating to form Heads of State, along with fellow New Edition members Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant. Brown then ventured into the realm of reality TV with “Being Bobby Brown,” with his marriage to Whitney Houston breaking down subsequently. He released his fifth album, “The Masterpiece,” in 2012, only a few moths after Houston’s death. His personal troubles continued, struggling with addiction and arrest, resulting in a 55-day jail sentence for driving under the influence in 2013.
So ferociously has controversy swirled around Bobby Brown in recent years - particularly in terms of his relationship with his late ex-wife, Whitney Houston - that it’s easy to forget what he achieved in his own right, musically; after an early exit from New Edition in the mid-eighties on account of some personal indiscretions, he went on to enjoy a successful solo career in the early nineties, with his second album, Don’t Be Cruel, going seven times platinum, hitting number one in the U.S., and packing singles like ‘Roni’ and the global smash ‘My Prerogative’. In the years since, his career has been marked by constant strife in his personal life; substance abuse problems, legal troubles and even a drive-by shooting all part of an increasingly sad story. He has continued working, though, reuniting with New Edition on numerous occasions over the years and releasing a new solo record, the humbly-titled The Masterpiece, as recently as 2012. As of 2014, the classic six-piece lineup of New Edition, which includes Brown, continues to tour the U.S., with a sharp-suited, full band performance on The View launching their most recent jaunt; they’re well overdue a visit to the UK, too, so keep your eyes peeled for dates.
Joeg_67
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