Ronnie DeVoe
Encyclopedia
Ronnie DeVoe, aka R.D., is one of the members of the R&B sextet New Edition
.
DeVoe was the last member, prior to Johnny Gill
to join the group after being brought in by his uncle (the group's choreographer) Brooke Payne. In 1981, the group took second place at a talent show. Their performance caught the eye of music impresario Maurice Starr
who decided to manage the boys and signed them to his Streetwise record label.
DeVoe, and fellow New Edition members Michael Bivins
, Bobby Brown
, Ricky Bell
and Ralph Tresvant
, were the biggest teen group for the better half of the mid-1980s, almost achieving the success of their role models, The Jackson 5
. In 1990, after New Edition broke up, Devoe, along with Bivins and Bell, formed the New Jack Swing
group Bell Biv DeVoe
. His vocals on songs like "Gangsta", "Do Me!
", "Poison
", and "I Thought It Was Me" helped make the songs big hits and their debut album sold more than 5 million copies. The group went on to release two more albums. All three members rejoined New Edition for the album and reunion tour Home Again in 1996.
DeVoe still performs and records with New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. He is an owner of DeVoe Broker Associates, a real estate agency in Atlanta, Georgia
and has been married to Shamari Fears
of the R&B group Blaque
since March 2006. The Untitled New Edition Biopic is scheduled for release either next year or in 2010. Tristan Wilds
is DeVoe's personal choice to play him.
New Edition
New Edition is an R&B group formed in Boston in 1978. The group reached its height of popularity during the 1980s. They were the progenitors of the boy band movement of the 1980s and 1990s and led the way for groups like New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync...
.
DeVoe was the last member, prior to Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill
Johnny Gill is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B supergroup New Edition, and was also a member of another supergroup called LSG; with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. His signature song "My, My, My" has been included on numerous romantic...
to join the group after being brought in by his uncle (the group's choreographer) Brooke Payne. In 1981, the group took second place at a talent show. Their performance caught the eye of music impresario Maurice Starr
Maurice Starr
Maurice Starr is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:Starr, originally from Florida, moved to Boston with his brother Michael in the early 1970s. After moving to Boston he recorded two unsuccessful R&B albums, Flaming Starr and Spacey Lady...
who decided to manage the boys and signed them to his Streetwise record label.
DeVoe, and fellow New Edition members Michael Bivins
Michael Bivins
Michael Lamont Bivins, a.k.a. Biv , is the founder and member of the R&B group New Edition and the hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe...
, Bobby Brown
Bobby Brown
Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a...
, Ricky Bell
Ricky Bell (singer)
Ricky Bell, nicknamed "Slick" is an American R&B singer best known as one of the founding members of New Edition and the lead singer of Bell Biv DeVoe...
and Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant
Ralph Tresvant , aka Rizz, is an American tenor singer, best known as one of the lead singers in New Edition.-New Edition:Tresvant sang lead on many of the New Edition lead singles including "Candy Girl", "Cool It Now" and "If It Isn't Love"...
, were the biggest teen group for the better half of the mid-1980s, almost achieving the success of their role models, The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5
The Jackson 5 , later known as The Jacksons, were an American popular music family group from Gary, Indiana...
. In 1990, after New Edition broke up, Devoe, along with Bivins and Bell, formed the New Jack Swing
New jack swing
New jack swing or swingbeat is a fusion genre spearheaded by Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle which became extremely popular from the late-1980s into the mid-1990s. Its influence, along with hip-hop, seeped into pop culture and was the definitive sound of the inventive Black New York club scene...
group Bell Biv DeVoe
Bell Biv DeVoe
Bell Biv DeVoe is an American R&B musical group which branched off from New Edition. It consists of three of New Edition's previous members, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe...
. His vocals on songs like "Gangsta", "Do Me!
Do Me!
"Do Me!" is a song by hip hop/R&B group Bell Biv DeVoe. The song was released in 1990 as the second single from the group's multi-platinum debut album, Poison. A remix is included on the group's WBBD-Bootcity!: The Remix Album, released in 1991....
", "Poison
Poison (Bell Biv DeVoe song)
"Poison" is a 1990 single by the New Edition spinoff group, Bell Biv DeVoe. This song—in the style of New Jack Swing, a late-80s hybrid of R&B and hip hop—was the group's most successful, and sings of the dangers of falling in love. "Poison" was the first single taken from Bell Biv DeVoe's debut...
", and "I Thought It Was Me" helped make the songs big hits and their debut album sold more than 5 million copies. The group went on to release two more albums. All three members rejoined New Edition for the album and reunion tour Home Again in 1996.
DeVoe still performs and records with New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. He is an owner of DeVoe Broker Associates, a real estate agency in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
and has been married to Shamari Fears
Shamari Fears
Shamari Fears–DeVoe is the lead singer from the R&B group, Blaque. She is married to Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe.She was born in Detroit, Michigan.-Album Appearances:-Filmography:-Television:...
of the R&B group Blaque
Blaque
Blaque is an American Urban-R&B group that had a string of hits in the late 90’s. The group's name stands for Believing, Life, Achieving, Quest, Unity, Everything. Their debut album sold more than 1.5 million copies and was certified Platinum...
since March 2006. The Untitled New Edition Biopic is scheduled for release either next year or in 2010. Tristan Wilds
Tristan Wilds
Tristan Paul Mack Wilds is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Michael Lee on the HBO original drama series The Wire and as Dixon Wilson on the CW drama series 90210.-Life and career:...
is DeVoe's personal choice to play him.