Woody McClain, from left, Elijah Kelley, Algee Smith and Keith Powers attend “The New Edition Story” panel at Viacom’s BET portion of the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo Credit: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP).
12 Little Known Facts According to ‘The New Edition Story’
Many New Edition fans thought that they knew everything about the original boy band and R&B super group.
Not so fast my friend, as the legendary ESPN sportscaster Lee Corso would say.
Although fans were familiar with their hit songs, bad contracts, break ups and makeups, many details of their personal lives remained a mystery, except for headline grabber Bobby Brown.
However, the BET miniseries “The New Edition Story” taught fans many things that they could not have known.
Many of the New Edition members did not even know certain details until production of “The New Edition Story” began.
Below are some interesting facts about the bad boys from Boston and Washington, D.C., according to “The New Edition Story.”
- • Streetwise Records owner/producer Maurice Starr, who wrote and produced the “Candy Girl” album, only wanted to sign Ralph Tresvant as a solo artist. Tresvant insisted on Streetwise signing the entire group.
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- • The mothers of Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown and Ricky Bell all voted to fire choreographer and New Edition’s first manager Brooke Payne after the “Candy Girl” tour profited $1.87 for the entire five-member group. Ronnie DeVoe’s mother voted to keep Payne because that is her brother.
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- • Ronnie DeVoe’s mother wanted to pull him from the group after they fired DeVoe’s uncle, Brooke Payne.
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- • MCA Records executive Jheryl Busby (former president of Black music division) did not initially want to sign New Edition because he did not believe in their vocal abilities.
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- • Ralph Tresvant’s girlfriend lost his child while he was a teenager.
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- • Michael Bivins almost got fired from New Edition after a fight with Bobby Brown.
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- • A clause existed in New Edition’s contract, which allowed for Bobby Brown to receive a solo deal after his termination from New Edition with MCA Records.
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- • Ralph Tresvant had a solo deal on the table from Hollywood Records for $6 million, but chose to stay with New Edition and MCA Records.
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- • According to Johnny Gill, Stacy Lattisaw’s parents did not think they made a perfect combination because of his dark skin tone and her light skin tone.
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- • Ricky Bell abused alcohol, cocaine and prescription drugs.
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- • New Edition did not really rehearse for the failed “Home Again” tour in 1997.
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- • MCA Records sued New Edition after the group did not complete the “Home Again” tour.
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