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In 1978, the group was started by Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Bobby Brown while living at the Orchard Park housing projects in the Roxbury district of Boston, Massachusetts. They would soon meet a young local group manager/choreographer named Brook Payne, whom would give them the name, "New Edition."Soon after Bell would bring in his best friend Ralph Tresvant, who would soon become the group's lead singer. Payne later rounded out the line-up by bringing in his nephew, Ronnie DeVoe. The group would perform all around Massachusetts and would eventually land a spot at a talent show which ran by Maurice Starr, where the first prize was $500.00 and a recording contract. New Edition came in 2nd place, but Starr decided to bring the group to his studio the following day and would record their debut album, Candy Girl featuring the hits, Is This The End, Popcorn Love, Jealous Girl and the title track, which went to #1 in 1983. NE parted company with Starr in 1984.

Around 1986, Bobby Brown was voted out of the group, due to behavioral problems during concerts, and therefore went on to pursue a solo career in 1987; he did not find success in his solo ventures though, until 1988. Brown was replaced by former solo child star Johnny Gill who would become an official member that same year. The group's sound also evolved at this time from bubblegum pop-styled R&B to smoother, more adult music. The new material, primarily produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, had a strong new jack swing feel. The first album recorded with Gill, Heart Break, had numerous R&B hits, including "If It Isn't Love", "Can You Stand The Rain", "N.E. Heart Break", and "Boys To Men" (which later lent its name to the Philadelphia-based super group Boyz II Men).

New Edition in the 1990s
In 1989, the members of New Edition branched off into various career paths, with Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe forming the popular hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD), Ralph Tresvant embarking on his solo career and Gill restarting his solo career. In 1991, the group had a semi-reunion of sorts when they recorded a remix of the Bell Biv DeVoe track "Word To The Mutha!" in which all six members performed and appeared in a music video for the very first time. In 1996, the reunion became complete, as all six former members reunited for the Home Again album/tour. The album featured the hit singles "Hit Me Off" and "I'm Still In Love With You."

Later years
After another long hiatus, New Edition, minus Bobby Brown, started touring clubs and casinos in 2003. It was then that they caught the attention of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, who was present at one of their shows. Soon afterwards, Diddy signed the group to Bad Boy Records. In the fall of 2004, New Edition released their seventh studio album, One Love. The album was not a commercial success and ultimately the group asked to be released from their Bad Boy contract.

In the fall of 2005, New Edition performed at BET's 25th Anniversary Special. The group performed a medley of their greatest hits, and even brought Bobby Brown out onstage for a rendition of "Mr. Telephone Man". It was later announced on BET and Access Hollywood that Brown has rejoined the group and will be on the next New Edition album. By January 2006, New Edition announced that the group would launch a new album and tour in 2008. Recently, all six members of New Edition announced performed/recorded a live concert DVD entitled, "Spend The Night With New Edition" a BET special presented by Lincoln, who the group has done advertising with. New Edition is currently preparing for their 25th Year Anniversary, which is sure to be phenomenal.

2007 TOUR DATES

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