New Edition is one of the most revered R&B groups to come along in the last, well, 30 years. On June 26, the guys embarked on their “All Six” tour, which will be making a stop at Chene Park on Friday, July 25. Fans would have had the rare opportunity to see all six members on stage. Unfortunately, the excitement was quickly tempered as news of Bobby Brown’s forced withdrawal from the tour for health reasons made its way around the country. As well wishes pour in for Brown, the group soldiers on.
Throughout their impressive career there have been ups and downs but long ago it became evident that New Edition was here for the long haul. As Johnny Gill stated, “We can think about all the things that have made us successful, but really in a nutshell it comes down to this being our destiny, our fate, and what God has for us.”
That is something that cannot be denied in an industry where groups come and go, lineups change and many artists use a group as a launching pad to solo success. Their love for one another, the group and their craft keep New Edition together despite the fact that solo projects by members of the group in many cases have been more commercially successful than the group was during their initial run.
When asked what keeps them together Mike Bivins said, “We’re brothers and the fact that we built this from the ground up and we can see the excitement on our fans’ faces when we’re on stage or when we’re out at the mall. They look forward to seeing us as a collective. They always ask about the group and when is the next time we’re performing in their city or when is the new album coming out. It’s a constant reminder that this thing we created is something that people cherish and that’s what keeps us coming together.”
If you had to sum up a New Edition performance in a few words, energetic, consistent and solid would definitely come to mind. There’s a passion and drive that is evident the moment they hit the stage. That passion, according to Ricky Bell, comes from their lifelong love of performing.
“We always wanted to put on a great show, so for years before we even did our first talent show all we did was rehearse,” he said. “It was always about the show. Going on stage hitting the choreography, singing the harmonies, deciding who’s going to sing lead on which songs and having the fans scream. That was always the motivation for us.”
Having opened for some of R&B’s legendary acts like Patti LaBelle, the Gap Band and Rick James gave the guys firsthand knowledge on what it took to put on a great show and work the audience. Credit for New Edition’s cohesiveness on stage and sharp choreography can be attributed to the group’s manager and choreographer, Brooke Payne, who is also Ronnie DeVoe’s uncle.
Payne was crucial to the success of New Edition and is often referred to as the seventh member. He has served as New Edition’s manager since the 90s and is the only choreographer the group has ever had. He is also responsible for the group’s name. He is respected throughout the industry for his guidance and innovative creativity which has been instrumental not only in the group’s successes, but the individual projects of Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant and the trio Bell Biv DeVoe. The group credits Payne with having a vision for the group early on.
The New Edition formula for longevity is simple, according to Johnny Gill.
“We don’t mess with the magic and what works and the fans appreciate that,” he said.
They are among the few groups that have retained the original melodies and choreography from their recordings and videos, making it a truly nostalgic event when they perform. They understand that their fans appreciate being able to attend a performance after all these years and still be able to follow the choreography and sing along because its all almost identical to what they recall from years ago.
With the current state of R&B, leaning more towards a hip-hop type of vibe, New Edition is always a welcomed break from the edgier R&B that’s prevalent today.
“A little edge is good, but sometimes you need that break, you want that feel-good music that takes you back. A lot of R&B acts are straddling the fence between singer and rapper so we help to bring that balance,” said Ronnie DeVoe.
While they are currently touring together, there are a couple of solo projects in the works. Johnny Gill has a new album coming out titled Behind Closed Doors, and as a bonus for fans the album will feature a new New Edition song. Meanwhile, Ronnie DeVoe and his wife, Shamari Fears, a former member of R&B girl group Blaque, are working on a dance music project under the name Digital DeVoe. The members of New Edition are always supportive of each other’s endeavors.
When reflecting on their long and successful career, Ricky Bell stated, “Let me just say that we have the best fans on the planet and that’s another thing that keeps us coming back to the table, coupled with the fact that we love what we do. A lot of people are not able to make a living doing what they love and we’re able to do that because the fans constantly motivate us to get back on that horse and give the people what they want.”
They are looking forward to their July 25 Chene Park concert because they have a deep affinity for the city.
“New Edition is one of the prominent and successful R&B groups of our generation that has weathered the test of time and remains a must-see group live in concert. We at The Right Productions are glad to be bringing the New Edition tour along with special guest Big Daddy Kan to Detroit. If you’er looking for a great concert, you will find it at Detroit’s number-one amphitheater Chene Park,” said Shahida Mausi, president and CEO of The Right Productions.
