Boyz II Men to perform at MO2BS

Boyz II Men is the most commercially successful R&B group of all time. The group has sold millions of records and been involved in three of the longest-running number-one pop singles in history. Boyz II Men will perform at Chaguaramas at MO2BS  on June 18 at the “Generation of Soul 2” concert. The group, with several gold and platinum records to their credit, found their forte in lush, soulful ballads. Formed in 1988 at Philadelphia’s High School of Creative and Performing Arts, founding members Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson had been singing together for several years. They began to attract attention when they hooked up with Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman, and bass vocalist Michael McCary, calling themselves Unique Attraction.

The quintet developed a repertoire that leaned heavily on New Edition songs (one of which, “Boys to Men,” gave them their name). 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 acapella version of New Edition’s “Can You Stand The Rain.” Bivins offered them a deal right there. Nelson wasn’t around to be part of it due to personality conflicts but he later resurfaced as a member of Az Yet.

Down to a quarter, the group’s first single, the up tempo dance track “Motownphilly,” rocketed up the charts, going to Top Five pop and number one R&B on its way to platinum sales. The acapella ballad “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” also hit the top Five and topped the R&B charts, and went gold. Meanwhile, the album won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Boyz II Men cut a smooth Babyface ballad called “End of the Road” for the soundtrack of the Eddie Murphy film Boomerang which went on to become one of the biggest hits in history, spending 13 weeks at number one and breaking Elvis Presley’s record of 11 weeks held  since 1956.

The group’s other successes include album titled It, which was an instant smash. “I’ll Make Love to You” raced up the charts, tying Whitney Houston’s short-lived record, with 14 weeks of its own at number one. “On Bended Knee” actually replaced “I’ll Make Love To You” at number one for a six-week run of its own. Boyz II Men opened their own recording studio in 1995. They spent some time recording collaborations with other artists: Wanya Morris duetted with Brandy on the hit “Brokenhearted,” and the whole group sang on Michael Jackson’s History and LL Cool J’s Hey Lover. The biggest one, however, was a song done with Mariah Carey called “One Sweet Day.” “A Song For Mama” gave Boyz II Men their record-setting seventh platinum single.