Boyz II Men (pronounced ''boys to men''), also known as B2M, is an American
vocal harmony
Vocal harmony is a style of vocal music in which a consonant note or notes are simultaneously sung as a main melody in a predominantly homophonic texture. Vocal harmonies are used in many subgenres of European art music, including Classical c ...
group from
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
,
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
, best known for emotional
ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or ''ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
s and
a cappella harmonies. They are currently a trio composed of baritone
Nathan Morris
Nathan Bartholomew Morris (born June 18, 1971) is an American baritenor, singer, businessman, and the founding member of American band Boyz II Men. He was the host of the show Hit Properties on the DIY Network where he bought and renovated a ...
alongside tenors
Wanya Morris
Wanyá Jermaine Morris ( ) (born July 29, 1973) is an American singer, best known as a member of the R&B group Boyz II Men.
Television and film appearances
Morris was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 22 of '' ...
and
Shawn Stockman
Shawn Patrick Stockman (born September 26, 1972) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as a member of the vocal group Boyz II Men.
In addition to Boyz II Men, Stockman was a member of the group Black Men United ...
. During the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on
Motown Records as a quartet, including bass
Michael McCary
Michael Sean McCary (born December 16, 1971) is an American singer, known for being a former bass singer of the R&B group Boyz II Men (in which he was sometimes known as Mike Bass).
In 2003, McCary left Boyz II Men due to back spasms that were ...
, who left the group in 2003 due to health issues which were eventually diagnosed as
multiple sclerosis.
During the 1990s, Boyz II Men gained international success, beginning with the release of top 5 singles "
Motownphilly
"Motownphilly" is a song by American vocal harmony group Boyz II Men, released as their first single from their debut album, ''Cooleyhighharmony''. The single was a success, peaking at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Michael Bivins, ...
" and "
It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" is an R&B song written by Motown husband-and-wife songwriting team Freddie Perren and Christine Yarian for the 1975 film '' Cooley High''. In the film, the song is performed by Motown artist G.C. Camer ...
" in 1991. Their number one single "
End of the Road" in was released in 1992, and reached the top of charts worldwide.
"End of the Road" set a new record for longevity, holding the number one spot on
''Billboard'' Hot 100 for thirteen weeks. Boyz II Men broke this record with the subsequent releases of "
I'll Make Love to You
"I'll Make Love to You" is a 1994 number-one hit single by American R&B group Boyz II Men for the Motown label. The song, which was written by Babyface, was the lead single from their second album, '' II'' (1994). It was a commercial success, ...
" and "
One Sweet Day
"One Sweet Day" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey and vocal group Boyz II Men. The song was released on as the second single from Carey's fifth studio album, ''Daydream'' (1995) by Columbia Records. The artists ...
" (with
Mariah Carey), which, at fourteen and sixteen weeks, respectively, each set new records for the total number of weeks at number one. "I'll Make Love to You" topped the charts in Australia (for four weeks) and garnered international success.
Consequently, Boyz II Men is among the music industry's elite with regard to time spent at number one in ''Billboard'' history with 50 cumulative weeks. They rank sixth behind
Drake
Drake may refer to:
Animals
* A male duck
People and fictional characters
* Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family name
* Drake (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* ...
,
the Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developmen ...
,
Rihanna,
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
and Carey. Furthermore, when "
On Bended Knee" took the number one spot away from "I'll Make Love to You", Boyz II Men became only the third artists ever (after the Beatles and Presley) to replace themselves at the top of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.
These achievements were enough to earn Boyz II Men recognition as ''
Billboard'' magazine's biggest
boy band during the period of 1987 to 2012. Boyz II Men has received four
Grammy Awards.
Boyz II Men continue to perform worldwide, as a trio. Their most recent studio album, ''Under the Streetlight'', was released in 2017.
In June 2017, a section of Broad Street (from Christian to Carpenter Streets) in Philadelphia was renamed "Boyz II Men Boulevard". This section of the street is near the
Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, where the members once attended.
History
1985–1990: Group formation and beginnings
The group, originally named Unique Attraction, was formed in 1985 by Michael Grimaldi, Nathan Morris, and Marc Nelson at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) along with fellow schoolmates
George Baldi, Jon Shoats, and Marguerite Walker. In 1987, Wanya Morris, who sang in the school's choir along with the members of Unique Attraction, joined the group and became a permanent member as a freshman. In 1988, Baldi, Shoats and Walker all left the group due to graduation. They then recruited Shawn Stockman after seeing him perform a solo in the school's choir. After an encounter in a school bathroom, Michael McCary started singing along with the group and eventually became the group's new bass singer. With a permanent lineup of members, the group rehearsed in the high school's bathrooms, on the corners of their schools, and in other local areas. At CAPA, they were mentored by
LaDeva Davis
LaDeva M. Davis (1944 – September 8, 2022) was an American television presenter and food educator who starred in the American public television series ''What's Cooking?'' She was the first African-American woman to have her own nationally synd ...
.
Finding inspiration in
New Edition
New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 19 ...
's harmonies and routines, they eventually renamed the group "Boyz II Men", after New Edition's "Boys to Men", from the 1988 album ''
Heart Break
''Heart Break'' is the fifth studio album by American contemporary R&B, R&B quintet New Edition, released June 20, 1988 by MCA Records. It is the first album to return the Boston-reared band as a quintet after the public exit of original member B ...
''. After performing at a Valentine's Day party at school in 1989, they snuck into a concert put on by local radio station Power 99 at the
Philadelphia Civic Center
The Philadelphia Convention Hall and Civic Center – more commonly known simply as the Philadelphia Civic Center – was a convention center complex located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It developed out of a series of buildings dedicated to ...
. Their plan was to find
Will Smith
Willard Carroll Smith II (born September 25, 1968), also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor and rapper. He began his acting career starring as a fictionalized version of himself on the NBC sitcom '' The Fresh ...
backstage and perform for him. However, while looking for Smith, they happened to cross paths with New Edition member
Michael Bivins
New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 1980 ...
, who along with fellow band mates Ricky Bell and
Ronnie DeVoe
Ronald Boyd DeVoe Jr. (born November 17, 1967), is an American singer, rapper, and actor known as one of the members of the R&B/pop group New Edition, and the R&B/ hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Career
DeVo ...
, just announced they were forming a New Edition spin-off trio
Bell Biv DeVoe
Bell Biv DeVoe, also known as BBD, is an American music group from Boston, Massachusetts, formed from members of New Edition, consisting of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe.
The band is best known for their debut album, the multi-p ...
. After they sang New Edition's "
Can You Stand the Rain" for him, Bivins and everyone in attendance, including other celebrities, were impressed. He then gave the group his number and told them to give him a call. Nate eventually called him, and he agreed to manage and helped produce the group.
The delay before recording their own material and reported personality conflicts led founding member Marc Nelson to leave the group, making Boyz II Men into the quartet that found international fame: Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman.
1991–1993: ''Cooleyhighharmony'' and "End of the Road"
Boyz II Men's first album, ''
Cooleyhighharmony
''Cooleyhighharmony'' is the debut studio album by American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was first released in the United States by Motown Records on April 30, 1991. The album was mainly written by Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris an ...
'', was released on Motown in 1991 and was produced by Michael Bivins. ''Cooleyhighharmony''s drum-heavy
new jack swing sound and multi-layered
sampled
Sample or samples may refer to:
Base meaning
* Sample (statistics), a subset of a population – complete data set
* Sample (signal), a digital discrete sample of a continuous analog signal
* Sample (material), a specimen or small quantity of so ...
backdrops were similar to that of
Bell Biv DeVoe
Bell Biv DeVoe, also known as BBD, is an American music group from Boston, Massachusetts, formed from members of New Edition, consisting of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe.
The band is best known for their debut album, the multi-p ...
's own work, but featured classic-soul styled vocals in place of BBD's
rapping and brassier
singing
Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or with ...
. This style was dubbed "
hip hop doo-wop" by the group and Bivins, who presented Boyz II Men and adolescent R&B group
Another Bad Creation to the public as BBD's protégés.
From the beginning, Boyz II Men featured all four members as leads, avoiding the usual R&B group arrangement of one or two lead singers and a team of background singers. The multiple-lead arrangement became a Boyz II Men trademark, and it became typical to hear Wanya Morris' vibrato-heavy
tenor
A tenor is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The low extreme for tenors is wide ...
, Shawn Stockman's tenor voice, Nathan Morris'
baritone, and Michael McCary's
bass (often used in spoken-word sections of many Boyz II Men hits) trading bars in each song.
The album's liner notes identified unique nicknames for each member of the group. These nicknames were devised in collaboration with Bivins in an attempt at marketing. Wanya was "Squirt", Shawn was "Slim", Michael was simply "Bass", and Nathan assumed the name "Alex Vanderpool", after a soap opera character who brandished a nerdy style.
Boyz II Men's first single, the
Dallas Austin
Dallas L. Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and film producer.
Biography
Early life
During a 2019 interview with DJ Vlad, Dallas Austin detailed previously unknown or unconfirmed events in ...
-produced "
Motownphilly
"Motownphilly" is a song by American vocal harmony group Boyz II Men, released as their first single from their debut album, ''Cooleyhighharmony''. The single was a success, peaking at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Michael Bivins, ...
" featured a rap cameo by Michael Bivins that gives the story of how he met Boyz II Men. The single's release was accompanied with a
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device ...
that presented the group in hip hop style. (The video also included cameos from fellow Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts alumni
Black Thought
Tariq Luqmaan Trotter (born October 3, 1973), better known as Black Thought, is an American rapper, actor and the lead MC of the Philadelphia-based hip hop group the Roots, which he co-founded with drummer Questlove (Ahmir Thompson). Regarded a ...
and
Questlove of
The Roots.) ''Cooleyhighharmony''s second single was an a cappella cover of a classic Motown tune,
G.C. Cameron's "
It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" is an R&B song written by Motown husband-and-wife songwriting team Freddie Perren and Christine Yarian for the 1975 film '' Cooley High''. In the film, the song is performed by Motown artist G.C. Camer ...
" from the 1975 film ''
Cooley High
''Cooley High'' is a 1975 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film that follows the narrative of high school seniors and best friends, Leroy "Preach" Jackson ( Glynn Turman) and Richard "Cochise" Morris (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs). Written by Eric ...
'', while "Uhh Ahh" served as the third single.
''Cooleyhighharmony'' achieved major success, eventually selling over nine million copies and winning the
at the
1992 Grammy Awards
The 34th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 25, 1992, recognizing accomplishments by musicians from the previous year (1991). Natalie Cole won the most awards (three), including Grammy Award for Album of the Year, Album of the Year. Paul ...
. Boyz II Men were also nominated for
Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967. The official guidelines are as ...
, along with British singer-songwriter
Seal
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, or "true seal"
** Fur seal
* Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...
, fellow R&B group
Color Me Badd
''Color'' Me Badd is an American contemporary R&B group that was formed in 1985 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma by lead singer Bryan Abrams (born November 16, 1969), tenor Mark Calderon (born September 27, 1970), second tenor Sam Watters (born July 23 ...
, as well as dance group
C+C Music Factory
C, or c, is the third letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''cee'' (pronounced ), plural ''cees''.
History
"C" ...
, but the Grammy was awarded to singer-songwriter
Marc Cohn
Marc Craig Cohn (; born July 5, 1959) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. He won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1992. Cohn is best known for the song " Walking in Memphis" from his eponymous 1991 album, which was a Top 40 ...
. "Motownphilly" and "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" were number 1 R&B hits and top five U.S. pop hits.
In 1992, Boyz II Men joined
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell (born March 30, 1962), better known by his stage name MC Hammer (or simply Hammer), is an American rapper, dancer, record producer and entrepreneur. He is known for hit songs such as " U Can't Touch This", "2 Legit 2 Quit" ...
's high-profile
2 Legit 2 Quit Tour
Tour or Tours may refer to:
Travel
* Tourism, travel for pleasure
* Tour of duty, a period of time spent in military service
* Campus tour, a journey through a college or university's campus
* Guided tour, a journey through a location, directed ...
as an
opening act. While traveling the country, their tour manager Khalil Rountree was murdered in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
, and the group's future performances of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" were dedicated to him. As a result of this unfortunate experience, the song helped advance their success.
While touring during 1992, Boyz II Men returned briefly to the studio to record the single "
End of the Road", co-written and produced by
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds
Kenneth Brian Edmonds (born April 10, 1959), better known by his stage name Babyface, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has written and produced over 26 number-one R&B hits throughout his career and has won 12 Grammy A ...
, for the soundtrack to
Eddie Murphy's film ''
Boomerang
A boomerang () is a thrown tool, typically constructed with aerofoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. A returning boomerang is designed to return to the thrower, while a non-returning ...
''. This song, released as a single on June 30, 1992, became Boyz II Men's biggest hit. It reached the number one position on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on August 15, remaining there for a record-setting 13 weeks, until November 14, 1992. The success of "End of the Road" instantly transformed Boyz II Men from up-and-coming R&B stars into mainstream music celebrities.
A revamped ''Cooleyhighharmony'' was reissued during 1993, with "End of the Road" added as a special bonus track, but "End of the Road" initially appeared only on the ''Boomerang'' soundtrack. Later, the track was included on a collection of singles produced by Michael Bivins called "East Coast Family, Vol. 1". Shortly after the release of this compilation, Boyz II Men and Michael Bivins parted ways professionally. Boyz II Men continued to work with Babyface and other high-profile record producers over the next several years.
1994–1996: ''II'' and "I'll Make Love to You"
![Boys II Men](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Boys_II_Men.jpg)
After releasing a Christmas compilation, ''
Christmas Interpretations'' in 1993, Boyz II Men returned to the studio for their highly anticipated sophomore effort. In 1994, ''
II'' was released. ''II'' sold more than copies in the United States alone, becoming one of the best-selling albums ever released by an R&B group act, and one of the biggest albums of the decade. ''II'' later won two awards at the
1995 Grammy Awards, including
Best R&B Album
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Album is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works on albums in the R&B music genre. Honors ...
.
Most of the tracks on ''II'' were written and produced by
Tim & Bob
Tim & Bob (Tim Kelley and Bob Robinson), also known as Funktwons, were a songwriting and production duo. Tim & Bob have discovered and or worked on some of the biggest artists in the music industry and has helped develop the Atlanta music scene ...
—Tim Kelley and Bob Robinson (5), Babyface (2) and the successful team of
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III (born June 6, 1959) and Terry Steven Lewis (born November 24, 1956) are an American R&B/pop songwriting and record production team. They have enjoyed great success since the 1980s with various artists, most ...
(2). Several of ''II''s tracks became major singles, among them Jam & Lewis's "On Bended Knee", and Babyface's "
I'll Make Love to You
"I'll Make Love to You" is a 1994 number-one hit single by American R&B group Boyz II Men for the Motown label. The song, which was written by Babyface, was the lead single from their second album, '' II'' (1994). It was a commercial success, ...
" and "
Water Runs Dry".
"I'll Make Love to You" broke "End of the Road's" 13-week record at number 1, by spending 14 weeks at the top of the chart (a feat equaled earlier that year by
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed " The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston i ...
's cover of "
I Will Always Love You"). "On Bended Knee" replaced "I'll Make Love to You" at number 1, making Boyz II Men only the third act ever to replace itself at number 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, after Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
In 1995, the group appeared as backing vocalists on "
HIStory
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
" from Michael Jackson's Grammy-nominated ninth
album of the same name.
In 1995, Motown issued ''
The Remix Collection'', a compilation of
remixes of various Boyz II Men songs from ''Cooleyhighharmony'' and ''II''. The group itself had opposed the release of the collection because they felt the compilation did not represent Boyz II Men's best work. After the label released the album without their permission, there was a dispute between the company and the group. Boyz II Men initiated their own recording company Stonecreek (which released material by artists such as
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam (which has the same initials as ''United States'') is a common national personification of the federal government of the United States or the country in general. Since the early 19th century, Uncle Sam has been a popular symbol of ...
), and they arranged for Stonecreek's distribution by
Epic Records, not Motown.
1997–1998: ''Evolution'' and label conflicts
Boyz II Men's third studio album, ''
Evolution
Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...
'', was released during 1997 to mixed reviews and sold three million copies, far below the stratospheric success of ''II''s ( copies) and ''Cooleyhighharmony'' (). Only one of ''Evolution''s singles, the Jam/Lewis-penned "
Four Seasons of Loneliness", reached number 1 on the Hot 100 chart. The second single, the Babyface-helmed "
A Song for Mama
"A Song for Mama" is a number-one R&B single by the American R&B group Boyz II Men. The tune, which was written and produced by Babyface, served as the theme song to the 1997 motion picture ''Soul Food'', and spent two weeks at number one on th ...
" (the theme song to the Babyface-produced film ''
Soul Food
Soul food is an ethnic cuisine traditionally prepared and eaten by African Americans, originating in the Southern United States.Soul Food originated with the foods that were given to enslaved Black people by their white owners on Souther ...
,'') was a Top 10 success, but the follow-up "Can't Let Her Go" underperformed.
The global tour began in 1997 to promote ''Evolution'' was successful in terms of ticket sales, but behind the scenes, Boyz II Men was wracked by conflicts, with their record label and internal conflicts among the members of the group. Making matters worse, health problems began to take their toll on the group. While on tour to support the ''Evolution'' album, Wanya Morris developed a
polyp on his
vocal cords
In humans, vocal cords, also known as vocal folds or voice reeds, are folds of throat tissues that are key in creating sounds through vocalization. The size of vocal cords affects the pitch of voice. Open when breathing and vibrating for speec ...
, and the group was forced to postpone part of the tour until he recovered. McCary's multiple sclerosis meant that he was unable to participate in most of the group's dance routines.
Boyz II Men were nominated for 2 Grammys in 1998: Best R&B Album for ''Evolution'' and Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for "A Song for Mama".
1999–2001: ''Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya''
In 1999, Motown's parent company,
PolyGram, was bought by
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch– American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...
. Amidst the major corporate restructure, Motown was merged with UMG's Universal Records, where Boyz II Men found themselves reassigned.
Their only studio LP album for Universal, 2000's ''
Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya
''Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya'' is the fifth album by R&B group Boyz II Men in 2000. It was their first LP on which they received more creative control, and their only LP for Universal Records
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated ...
'', was chiefly written and produced by the group itself, in an attempt to update their sound and ward off critics who questioned the group's reliance on Babyface's hit-making songcraft. While the critics were more receptive to ''Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya'' than they had been to its predecessor, the LP sold only 500,000 copies in the US, copies worldwide, and although its two singles, "Pass You By" and "Thank You in Advance," received media attention, neither became hits.
Boyz II Men departed from Universal in 2001, ending their relationship with the company that brought them to international stardom in 1991. The label released a very successful
greatest hits
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...
compilation, ''
Legacy: The Greatest Hits Collection'', to close out their contract.
2002–2003: ''Full Circle'' and "The Color of Love"
Signing a new deal with Arista Records in 2002, Boyz II Men began recording the ''
Full Circle'' album, and recruited Babyface for a new single, "The Color of Love". In an attempt to recapture the massive success the group had enjoyed a decade earlier, the album received a significant promotional budget. Arista commissioned a high-budget music video, shot in four different locales by four different directors: supervising director
Little X
Julien Christian Lutz (born October 31, 1975), known professionally as Director X, is a Canadian filmmaker, commercial director, music video director, and television director. Having directed more than 100 music videos, he is widely known as a pr ...
filmed scenes featuring Michael McCary in India,
Hype Williams
Harold Williams (born August 1, 1970) is an American music video director, film director, film producer, and screenwriter.
Early life
Williams was born in Queens, New York. He is of mixed African-American and Honduran descent. He attended Adel ...
filmed Shawn Stockman in
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...
,
Benny Boom filmed Nathan Morris in
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
, and
Chris Robinson filmed Wanya Morris in
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...
and finally all were filmed in New York. The resulting music video had a debut on
BET
Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los ...
, but failed to have a great effect, and ''Full Circle'', like ''Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya'' before it, sold slightly more than 500,000 copies in the US and copies worldwide.
''Full Circle'' became Boyz II Men's final album as a quartet, and their last effort to receive extensive promotion from a major record company. On , 2003, Michael McCary left Boyz II Men due to chronic
back
The human back, also called the dorsum, is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck. It is the surface of the body opposite from the chest and the abdomen. The vertebral column runs ...
problems resulting from
multiple sclerosis (MS) and personal problems. Arista terminated Boyz II Men's contract on , and the remaining three members took a temporary hiatus from the music industry.
2004–2006: ''Throwback, Vol. 1'' and ''The Remedy''
![Boyz II Men](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Boyz_II_Men.jpg)
After a year out of the spotlight, Boyz II Men created the independent label MSM Music Group (distributed through
Koch Records
MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a New York City-based independent record label and music management company. It was formed in 2009 from the music assets of Koch Entertainment, which had ...
), and released the ''Throwback, Vol. 1'' LP in 2004. The album is a collection of covers of classic R&B and soul songs such as
The Dazz Band
The Dazz Band is an American R&B/funk band most popular in the early 1980s. Emerging from Cleveland, Ohio, the group's biggest hit songs include " Let It Whip" (1982), "Joystick" (1983), and "Let It All Blow" (1984). The name of the band is a ...
's "
Let It Whip", Michael Jackson's "
Human Nature
Human nature is a concept that denotes the fundamental dispositions and characteristics—including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting—that humans are said to have naturally. The term is often used to denote the essence of humankind, or ...
", and, as the single,
Bobby Caldwell
Robert Hunter Caldwell (born August 15, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He released several albums spanning R&B, soul, jazz and adult contemporary. He is known for his soulful and versatile vocals. Caldwell released the ...
's "What You Won't Do for Love". For this record, Nathan took on the bass lines as well as the baritone vocals that he sang when Boyz II Men was a quartet. ''Throwback, Vol. 1'' reached number 59 on the Billboard 200. The group launched an independent tour of North America and Asia in support of the ''Throwback'' series. The album sold over 200,000 copies with little to no promotion aside from the group's independent tour.
In 2005 Boyz II Men recorded a CD with Anderson Cameau called "Apocalypse", a project meant to benefit
Haiti.
In 2006, Boyz II Men's seventh studio album, ''The Remedy'', was released exclusively in Japan, where they found a thriving fan base. In other regions, ''The Remedy'' was made available online through the group's website on , 2007.
2007–2009: ''Hitsville USA'' & ''Love''
![Boyz II Men - Live at Vega](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Boyz_II_Men_-_Live_at_Vega.jpg)
In mid-2007, the group re-signed with Universal Records and released the LP ''
Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA'' through the
Decca Records label. The LP is a
cover album featuring songs from the Motown Records catalog, co-produced by
Randy Jackson of ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
'' fame. The ''Motown'' album includes covers of songs by The Temptations ("
Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" is a song by American soul group The Temptations, written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Released on the Gordy (Motown) label, and produced by Norman Whitfield, it features on the group's 1 ...
"),
Marvin Gaye ("
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" is a 1968 single released by American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, on the Tamla label in 1968. The B-side of the single is "Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl" from the duo's ''United'' LP. The ...
", "
Mercy Mercy Me
"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" is the second single from Marvin Gaye's 1971 album, '' What's Going On''. Following the breakthrough of the title track's success, the song, written solely by Gaye, became regarded as one of popular music's most po ...
"),
Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and most influential group ...
("
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a song written by Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. It is a multiple award-winning 1965 hit R&B song originally recorded by their group, The Miracles, on Motown's Tamla label. The Miracles' million-sell ...
"), and even Boyz II Men themselves (an a cappella version of "End of the Road").
Commercially, ''Motown'' found some success. It peaked at number 6 on the US R&B chart and was certified Gold in the UK. The album was also a critical success. For the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009, Boyz II Men received two nominations for the album ''Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA'' (Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "Ribbon in the Sky").
In 2008, Boyz II Men's three members appeared on Celebrity ''
Don't Forget the Lyrics
''Don't Forget the Lyrics!'' is an international game show in the United States. The American show originally aired on Fox from July 11, 2007, to June 19, 2009, and after a year off the air, a third overall season, and first as a syndicated sh ...
'' and created a sensation with their performance. They earned $500,000 for their two nominated charities; the appearance also generated interest in their next release.
In 2009, Boyz II Men announced plans for a new cover album that covers "artists I don't think people would expect us to cover!" according to Shawn Stockman. Entitled ''
Love
Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love o ...
'', the album was released on , 2009. The album contains remakes of love songs from outside the R&B genre.
2010–2012: Love Cruise and ''Twenty''
![BoyzIIMenHWoFJan2012](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/BoyzIIMenHWoFJan2012.jpg)
Boyz II Men headlined a "Love Cruise" in honor of their 20th anniversary and in observance of
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, thr ...
. The cruise took place –14, 2011, and traveled from
Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
, to
Nassau, Bahamas. Cruise passengers received a Boyz II Men welcome cocktail party, a concert performance by Boyz II Men, an additional fan appreciation concert by Boyz II Men, a photo session with Boyz II Men (in small groups), a formal
prom
A promenade dance, commonly called a prom, is a dance party for high school students. It may be offered in semi-formal black tie or informal suit for boys, and evening gowns for girls. This event is typically held near the end of the school y ...
night, a
poker tournament, a deck party with Boyz II Men and a guest DJ, a singles mixer, a gift bag, and onboard drawings for other Boyz II Men events. Couples were able to renew their
wedding vows
Marriage vows are promises each partner in a couple makes to the other during a wedding ceremony based upon Western Christian norms. They are not universal to marriage and not necessary in most legal jurisdictions. They are not even universal w ...
in a special ceremony with Boyz II Men.
''
Twenty'', named in recognition of Boyz II Men's twenty years in the music business, is a double CD album with thirteen original songs and eight rerecorded Boyz II Men classics. It was released on October 25, 2011. ''Twenty'' is the group's fourth release through MSM Music Group. It was released in Japan 13 days before its official US release date with the help of
Avex Group
is a Japanese entertainment conglomerate led by founder Max Matsuura and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1988, the company manages J-pop talents like Ayumi Hamasaki and internet sensation PikoTaro. It has also shifted into other busi ...
, the biggest Japanese
independent record label.
Originally, Boyz II Men announced a reunion with original member Michael McCary for the ''Twenty'' album. On September 6, 2009, at a concert in
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The population was 459,470 at the 2020 census. Although mostly suburban in character, it is the most populous city ...
, Virginia, Stockman announced that their upcoming 20th anniversary album would "include all 4 members", sparking a tremendous applause.
But soon after that announcement, McCary declined and did not join the project.
As a trio, Boyz II Men performed as special guests on
VH1's highly rated ''
VH1 Divas Celebrate Soul'' concert.
Boyz II Men contributed a cover of Japanese rock band
L'Arc~en~Ciel
L'Arc-en-Ciel (French: 'The Rainbow', stylized as L'Arc~en~Ciel), also known as Laruku, is a Japanese rock band, formed in Osaka in 1991 by bassist tetsuya and vocalist hyde. Following the departure of original members hiro and pero, guitaris ...
's song "
Snow Drop" to their 2012 tribute album.
2013–present: The Package Tour, ''Collide'' and Geico commercials
![Boyz II Men Blvd Broad Street Philadelphia](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Boyz_II_Men_Blvd_Broad_Street_Philadelphia.jpg)
On January 22, 2013, the group appeared on ''
The View'' along with
New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block (also initialized as NKOTB) is an American boy band from Dorchester, Massachusetts. The band consists of brothers Jonathan and Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood. New Kids on the Block enjoy ...
and
98 Degrees
98 Degrees (stylized as 98°) is an American pop and R&B vocal group consisting of four vocalists: the group's founding member Jeff Timmons, brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, and Justin Jeffre. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, C ...
to announce their joint tour that took place in summer 2013. As of February 20, 2013, Boyz II Men announced that beginning March 1, 2013, they will stop touring and begin performing shows at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
On January 13, 2014, the trio appeared at the end of an episode of ''
How I Met Your Mother'' titled "
Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra", performing an a cappella version of the show's song "You Just Got Slapped". Their eleventh album, titled ''Collide'', was released on October 21, 2014.
In 2016, the trio appeared in ''
Grease: Live'' as the Teen Angels and sang ''
Beauty School Dropout "Beauty School Dropout" is a song from the musical '' Grease''. It was written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, and was performed by Frankie Avalon for the film version and soundtrack album
Overview
In the musical, the song is the showcase piece of ...
''.
Wanya placed 4th for the
22nd season of the
ABC reality competition series ''
Dancing With The Stars''. They also did music for an animated adaptation of ''
The Snowy Day''.
In 2017, the group began starring in television commercials for
GEICO Auto Insurance.
On June 24, 2017, a section of Broad Street in Philadelphia, from Christian to Carpenter Streets, was renamed “Boyz II Men Boulevard” by the city council. Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, where the members of Boyz II Men were once students, is on this section of Broad Street.
In August 2017, it was announced they were releasing a new album titled ''Under the Streetlight'' in the Fall. It was released on October 20, 2017.
On January 4, 2018, the group was featured in a new track released by
Charlie Puth
Charles Otto Puth Jr. (; born December 2, 1991) is an American singer and songwriter. His initial exposure came through the viral success of his song videos uploaded to YouTube. Puth initially signed with the record label eleveneleven after p ...
, titled "
If You Leave Me Now", created for Charlie Puth's album ''Voicenotes''.
On September 6, 2018, the group performed at the NFL 2018–2019 season kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.
On October 2, 2018, the group performed "Ladies Man" on ABC's ''Dancing with the Stars''. DeMarcus Ware and Lindsay Arnold danced a quickstep to the song.
The group is featured on a re-imagined version of
Take That
Take That are an English pop group formed in Manchester in 1990. The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. The original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Barlow is the group's lead singer ...
's song ''
Love Ain't Here Anymore
"Love Ain't Here Anymore" is a song by English boy band Take That. Released on 27 June 1994, it was the sixth and final single taken from the band's second studio album, '' Everything Changes'' (1993). It peaked at number three in the UK Single ...
'' from their number one selling album
Odyssey
The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by modern audiences. As with the ''Iliad'', th ...
.
Howard Donald
Howard Paul Donald (born 28 April 1968) is an English singer, songwriter, drummer, pianist, dancer and record producer. He is a member of English pop-group Take That. Donald was also judge on the German reality talent show ''Got to Dance'' fro ...
revealed during an interview with
Magic Radio that "he fulfilled a dream when they recorded this song".
On December 15, 2018, the group staged a concert at the
Smart Araneta Coliseum
The Araneta Coliseum, also currently known by naming rights sponsorship as Smart Araneta Coliseum, is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena that is part of the Araneta City in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines. Nicknamed as "the Big Do ...
with Filipino girl group DIVAS—a group composed of
Kyla,
Yeng Constantino
Josephine Eusebio Constantino-Asuncion (born December 4, 1988), professionally known as Yeng Constantino, is a Filipino pop rock singer-songwriter, occasional actress and host. She is referred to as the ''Philippines Pop Rock Royalty'' and ...
,
KZ Tandingan and
Angeline Quinto
Angeline Ticman Quinto (; born November 26, 1989) is a Filipina singer, actress, entrepreneur and winner of '' Star Power: Sharon's Search For The Next Female Pop Superstar'' in 2011.
Quinto has been dubbed as the "''Philippines’ Queen of ...
titled Boyz II Men with DIVAS.
On September 18, 2019, it was reported that the group would play themselves on the ABC comedy series ''
Schooled''.
On September 30, 2019, Boyz II Men announced their Asia Tour, which is slated to take place after returning from their US tour and residency in Las Vegas. They will be visiting cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok (December 7), Singapore (December 9) and Manila.
Style and influence
Boyz II Men is among the biggest names in a cappella and R&B. With what was called "crossover appeal", Boyz II Men found themselves at the vanguard of the 1990s movement to take R&B back into the mainstream, where it had been back in the 1970s. Their use of hip-hop beats in combination with R&B was not unique, but it was Boyz II Men's enormous success with mainstream audiences in "putting harmony over the hip-hop tracks" that helped usher in the near-total dominance of the R&B genre on the pop charts in the 2000s and 2010s. On January 5, 2012, Boyz II Men were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were featured on the first episode of the 2021
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...
series ''This Is Pop'', called "The Boyz II Men Effect", about their impact on the boy band scene in the 1990s.
Members
;Current
*
Nathan Morris
Nathan Bartholomew Morris (born June 18, 1971) is an American baritenor, singer, businessman, and the founding member of American band Boyz II Men. He was the host of the show Hit Properties on the DIY Network where he bought and renovated a ...
(1985–present)
*
Wanya Morris
Wanyá Jermaine Morris ( ) (born July 29, 1973) is an American singer, best known as a member of the R&B group Boyz II Men.
Television and film appearances
Morris was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 22 of '' ...
(1987–present)
*
Shawn Stockman
Shawn Patrick Stockman (born September 26, 1972) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as a member of the vocal group Boyz II Men.
In addition to Boyz II Men, Stockman was a member of the group Black Men United ...
(1988–present)
;Former
*
Michael McCary
Michael Sean McCary (born December 16, 1971) is an American singer, known for being a former bass singer of the R&B group Boyz II Men (in which he was sometimes known as Mike Bass).
In 2003, McCary left Boyz II Men due to back spasms that were ...
(1988–2003)
*
Marc Nelson
Marc K. Nelson (born January 23, 1971) is an American singer and songwriter.
He was an original member of Boyz II Men while still attending Philadelphia's High School of Performing Arts. However, Nelson left the group to pursue a solo caree ...
(1985–1990)
*
George Baldi (1985–1988)
* Jon Shoats (1985–1988)
* Marguerite Walker (1985–1988)
Timeline
Discography
; Studio albums
* ''
Cooleyhighharmony
''Cooleyhighharmony'' is the debut studio album by American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was first released in the United States by Motown Records on April 30, 1991. The album was mainly written by Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris an ...
'' (1991)
* ''
Christmas Interpretations'' (1993)
* ''
II'' (1994)
* ''
Evolution
Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...
'' (1997)
* ''
Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya
''Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya'' is the fifth album by R&B group Boyz II Men in 2000. It was their first LP on which they received more creative control, and their only LP for Universal Records
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated ...
'' (2000)
* ''
Full Circle'' (2002)
* ''
Throwback, Vol. 1
''Throwback, Vol. 1'' is the seventh studio album by American R&B group Boyz II Men, released by Koch Records, and featuring covers of classic R&B songs (hence the album title) from such artists as Teddy Pendergrass, The Isley Brothers and Michael ...
'' (2004)
* ''
The Remedy'' (2006)
* ''
Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA'' (2007)
* ''
Love
Love encompasses a range of strong and positive emotional and mental states, from the most sublime virtue or good habit, the deepest interpersonal affection, to the simplest pleasure. An example of this range of meanings is that the love o ...
'' (2009)
* ''
Twenty'' (2011)
* ''
Collide'' (2014)
* ''
Under the Streetlight'' (2017)
Filmography
* "Going Home" (1995): A
Disney Channel concert special filmed during Boyz II Men's "All Around the World Tour" live from the
Alamodome
The Alamodome is a 64,000-seat domed indoor multi-purpose stadium in San Antonio, Texas. It is located on the southeastern fringe of downtown San Antonio. The facility opened on May 15, 1993, having been constructed at a cost of $186 mil ...
in
San Antonio
("Cradle of Freedom")
, image_map =
, mapsize = 220px
, map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = United States
, subdivision_type1= State
, subdivision_name1 = Texas
, subdivision_t ...
, Texas.
* The group makes a guest appearance in
fourth season episode "Twas the Night Before Christening" of ''
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' is an American television sitcom created by Andy and Susan Borowitz for NBC. It aired from September 10, 1990, to May 20, 1996. The series stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart ...
'' in which they sing at
Nicky's christening (1993).
* "Living In Paradise?" (2000): They appeared as themselves on the hit show ''
Moesha''.
* ''
Long Shot
In photography, filmmaking and video production, a wide shot (sometimes referred to as a full shot or long shot) is a shot that typically shows the entire object or human figure and is usually intended to place it in some relation to its surro ...
'': They appear as themselves performing at a charity event.
* ''This Is Pop'' (2021): They are featured on the episode "The Boyz II Men Effect".
* ''Celebrity Wheel of Fortune'' (2021): Wanya and Shawn play to win money for charities of their choice.
* ''A Very Boyband Christmas'' (2021): Wanya and Shawn join members of 'Nsync, 98 Degrees and other boy bands to celebrate the holidays.
* ''
Live in Front of a Studio Audience'' (2021): The group performs the theme song of ''
Diff'rent Strokes
''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackso ...
'' as the intro to the special’s reenactment of "Willis’s Privacy".
Awards and nominations
American Music Awards
The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show, generally held in the fall, created by Dick Clark in 1973 for ABC when the network's contract to air the Grammy Awards expired, and currently produced by Dick Clark Pro ...
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="5" ,
1992
!scope="row" rowspan="3" , Boyz II Men
, Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist
,
, -
, Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist
,
, -
,
Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group
,
, -
, "
Motownphilly
"Motownphilly" is a song by American vocal harmony group Boyz II Men, released as their first single from their debut album, ''Cooleyhighharmony''. The single was a success, peaking at number three on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Michael Bivins, ...
"
,
Favorite Soul/R&B Single
,
, -
, ''
Cooleyhighharmony
''Cooleyhighharmony'' is the debut studio album by American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was first released in the United States by Motown Records on April 30, 1991. The album was mainly written by Boyz II Men members Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris an ...
''
,
Favorite Soul/R&B Album
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2" ,
1993
File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefu ...
, "
End of the Road"
,
Favorite Pop/Rock Song
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="3", Boyz II Men
!scope="row" rowspan="2", Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="4" ,
1995
File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The Great Hanshin earthquake str ...
,
, -
,
Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2", "
I'll Make Love to You
"I'll Make Love to You" is a 1994 number-one hit single by American R&B group Boyz II Men for the Motown label. The song, which was written by Babyface, was the lead single from their second album, '' II'' (1994). It was a commercial success, ...
"
, Favorite Soul/R&B Single
,
, -
, Favorite Pop/Rock Song
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="5" ,
1996
!scope="row" rowspan="2", ''
II''
, Favorite Soul/R&B Album
,
, -
, Favorite Pop/Rock Album
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="4", Boyz II Men
,
Artist of the Year
''Artist of the Year'' is a television competition shown on the Sky Arts channel (formerly known as Artsworld and Sky Arts 1) which aims to find the best portrait and landscape painter every year.
Overview
Through several rounds of regional comp ...
,
, -
, Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2", Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group
,
, -
,
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...
,
, -
Billboard Music Awards
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2" , 1992
, Boyz II Men
,
Top Hot 100 Artist
,
, -
, "
End of the Road"
!scope="row" rowspan="2" ,
Top Hot 100 Song
,
, -
, 1994
, "
I'll Make Love to You
"I'll Make Love to You" is a 1994 number-one hit single by American R&B group Boyz II Men for the Motown label. The song, which was written by Babyface, was the lead single from their second album, '' II'' (1994). It was a commercial success, ...
"
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="3" , 1995
, ''
II''
,
Top Billboard 200 Album
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2" , Boyz II Men
,
Top Artist
,
, -
,
Top R&B Artist
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2" , 1996
!scope="row" rowspan="2" , "
One Sweet Day
"One Sweet Day" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey and vocal group Boyz II Men. The song was released on as the second single from Carey's fifth studio album, ''Daydream'' (1995) by Columbia Records. The artists ...
" (with
Mariah Carey)
, Top Hot 100 Song
,
, -
, Billboard Music Special Hot 100
,
, -
Grammy Awards
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2" ,
1992
, Boyz II Men
,
Best New Artist
The Grammy Award for Best New Artist has been awarded since 1959. Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were handed out, for records released in the previous year. The award was not presented in 1967. The official guidelines are as ...
,
, -
, ''Cooleyhighharmony''
!scope="row" rowspan="4",
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal The Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal was awarded between 1970 and 2011. From 1967 to 1969 and in 1971 the award included instrumental performances. The award had several minor name changes:
*From 1967 to 1968 the ...
,
, -
,
1993
File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefu ...
, "End of the Road"
,
, -
,
1994
File:1994 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 1994 Winter Olympics are held in Lillehammer, Norway; The Kaiser Permanente building after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; A model of the MS Estonia, which sank in the Baltic Sea; Nelson ...
, "
Let It Snow
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", also known as simply "Let It Snow", is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945 in Hollywood, California, during a heat wave as Cahn and Styne imagined cooler conditions ...
"
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="3" ,
1995
File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The Great Hanshin earthquake str ...
, !scope="row" rowspan="2", "I'll Make Love To You"
,
, -
,
Record of the Year
The Grammy Award for Record of the Year is presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without reg ...
,
, -
, ''II''
,
Best R&B Album
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Album is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for quality works on albums in the R&B music genre. Honors ...
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2" ,
1996
, !scope="row" rowspan="2", "
One Sweet Day
"One Sweet Day" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey and vocal group Boyz II Men. The song was released on as the second single from Carey's fifth studio album, ''Daydream'' (1995) by Columbia Records. The artists ...
" (with
Mariah Carey)
, Record of the Year
,
, -
,
Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2" ,
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...
, "
A Song For Mama
"A Song for Mama" is a number-one R&B single by the American R&B group Boyz II Men. The tune, which was written and produced by Babyface, served as the theme song to the 1997 motion picture ''Soul Food'', and spent two weeks at number one on th ...
"
, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
,
, -
, ''
Evolution
Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...
''
!scope="row" rowspan="2", Best R&B Album
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2" ,
2001
, ''
Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya
''Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya'' is the fifth album by R&B group Boyz II Men in 2000. It was their first LP on which they received more creative control, and their only LP for Universal Records
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated ...
''
,
, -
, "
Pass You By
"Pass You By" is a song by American contemporary R&B, R&B quartet Boyz II Men, released from their fifth studio album, ''Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya'' (2000), on July 11, 2000. "Pass You By" was commercially unsuccessful, failing to appear on the ...
"
!scope="row" rowspan="2", Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocal
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2" ,
2009
, "Ribbon In The Sky"
,
, -
, ''
Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA''
, Best R&B Album
,
, -
MTV Video Music Awards
!Ref.
, -
,
1993
File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefu ...
, "
End of the Road"
, rowspan=2,
Best R&B Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B was first awarded in 1993 under the name of Best R&B Video, and it was given every year until 2006, as the following year MTV revamped the VMAs and eliminated all the genre categories. The following year, thou ...
,
, rowspan=4,
, -
, rowspan=2,
1995
File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The Great Hanshin earthquake str ...
, rowspan=2, "
Water Runs Dry"
,
, -
,
Best Cinematography
,
, -
,
1996
, "
One Sweet Day
"One Sweet Day" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey and vocal group Boyz II Men. The song was released on as the second single from Carey's fifth studio album, ''Daydream'' (1995) by Columbia Records. The artists ...
"
(with Mariah Carey)
,
Best R&B Video
The MTV Video Music Award for Best R&B was first awarded in 1993 under the name of Best R&B Video, and it was given every year until 2006, as the following year MTV revamped the VMAs and eliminated all the genre categories. The following year, thou ...
,
Soul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of '' Soul Train'', the p ...
, -
,
1992
, Boyz II Men
, Best New R&B/Soul Artist
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="3",
1993
File:1993 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The Oslo I Accord is signed in an attempt to resolve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict; The Russian White House is shelled during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis; Czechoslovakia is peacefu ...
!scope="row" rowspan="2", "End of the Road"
, Song of the Year
,
, -
, Best R&B Music Video
,
, -
, "
Please Don't Go"
, Best R&B Single – Group, Band or Duo
,
, -
!scope="row" rowspan="2",
1995
File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The Great Hanshin earthquake str ...
, ''II''
, R&B/Soul Album Group, Band or Duo
,
, -
, "I'll Make Love to You"
, R&B/Soul Single Group, Band or Duo
,
, -
,
1996
, Boyz II Men
, Entertainer of the Year
,
, -
,
1998
1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''.
Events January
* January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently s ...
, ''Evolution''
!scope="row" rowspan="2", Best R&B/Soul Album – Group, Band or Duo
,
, -
,
2003
, ''
Full Circle''
,
, -
See also
*
List of best-selling music artists
*
List of artists who reached number one in the United States
This is a list of recording artists who have reached number one on '' Billboard'' magazine's weekly singles chart(s). This list spans from the issue dated January 1, 1955 to the present. Prior to the creation of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, ''Bil ...
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
African-American musical groups
American contemporary R&B musical groups
American vocal groups
Ballad music groups
American boy bands
Grammy Award winners
Motown artists
Musical groups established in 1988
Musical groups from Philadelphia
Sony Music Publishing artists
Vocal quartets
Vocal trios
Avex Group artists
1988 establishments in Pennsylvania