Their big break came in 1989, when they snuck backstage at a Bell Biv DeVoe concert and wowed group member Michael Bivins (also formerly of New Edition, and a budding music entrepreneur) with an a cappella version of New Edition's 'Can You Stand the Rain.' Bivins offered them a deal right there, but Nelson would not stick around to be part of it personality conflicts led to his departure soon after (he later resurfaced as a member of Az Yet).ĭown to a quartet, Boyz II Men entered the studio to record their debut album, Cooleyhighharmony, for the legendary Motown Records. Calling themselves Unique Attraction, the quintet performed a well-received Valentine's Day show for their school and developed a repertoire that leaned heavily on New Edition songs (one of which, 'Boys to Men,' gave them their name). Things finally stabilized when they hooked up with Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and bass vocalist Michael McCary. Founding members Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson had been singing together for several years, but had trouble keeping a group together simply due to members graduating. Boyz II Men haven't duplicated their incredible early-'90s commercial success, but they have remained relevant - even as mainstream R&B has devalued vocal groups - as a touring act with occasional studio sessions heavy on tasteful interpretations.īoyz II Men were formed in 1988 at Philadelphia's High School of the Creative and Performing Arts. Their early music was indebted to new jack swing, but the group quickly found their forté in lush, soulful ballads, where their harmonies could be showcased to greatest effect. And that's no reflection on their skill as singers Boyz II Men were among the first male R&B artists to adopt the sort of hyper-technical melodic embellishments that were popularized by virtuosic divas like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. In fact, their four-part harmonies blended so smoothly that most of the general public would be hard-pressed to name any of the group's individual members. They sold ludicrous numbers of records and were involved in three of the longest-running number one pop singles in history, and they did it as a unit of equals. According to no less an authority than the RIAA, Boyz II Men are the most commercially successful R&B group of all time.
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