| Song Name - | "End of the Road" |
| Artist - | Boyz II Men |
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Boyz II Men came together 1988 at Philadelphia's High School of the Creative and Performing Arts. Originally a quartet comprised of Nathan Morris, Marc Nelson, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman, the group became a quintet when Michael McCary overheard them harmonizing in the bathroom, and jumped in with the bass line. Now a quintet, the group known as Unique Attraction quickly became favorites of their female schoolmates. After a successful Valentine's Day concert the group decided they were ready for the big time, so they sneaked backstage at a Bell Biv DeVoe concert, hoping that something would happen. It did. They convinced Michael Bivins, a former member of New Edition, to listen to their a capella rendition of that group's "Can You Stand the Rain." Bivens immediately offered to manage them, and secured them a contract with Motown Records. Nelson left the group shortly thereafter, but he continued to write songs and actively support the group. Their debut album, Cooleyhighharmony, invoked the Motown heritage with vocal harmonies and stage choreography that harkened back to the Temptations and the Four Tops. Boyz II Men's first single, the up-tempo dance track "Motownphilly," similarly recalled the classic traditions of '60s and '70s soul. "Motownphilly" and their next single, the a cappella ballad "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday," topped the R&B charts and broke the pop top five; their album won that year's Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and went multiplatinum. The popularity of Boyz II Men probably had as much to do with timing as their undeniable skills. Their smooth, four-part harmony sound was a refreshing counterpoint to the rap, sample-based dance music, and R&B/gospel divas that dominated the R&B charts in the early 1990s. In fact, their brand of new jack swing—a blend of hip-hop and classic R&B pioneered by New Edition—incorporated aspects of currently popular styles. They were the first male urban soul artists to include the elaborate gospel-influenced embellishments popularized by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, and their instrumental accompaniments continually updated and refreshed their impeccably blended vocals. "The End of the Road," recorded for the soundtrack of the Eddie Murphy comedy Boomerang, catapulted the group into superstardom; it remains one of the best selling singles of all times. Their second album debuted at number one, and four successive singles broke the top five. Boys II Men seemed to have the Midas touch, and they were soon invited to record with Brandy, Mariah Carey, LL Cool J, and Michael Jackson. In short order they became Motown's best selling artists ever (topping the Temptations and the Supremes), and the highest grossing R&B group ever. Their success arguably bridged the gap between New Kids on the Block and other popular boy bands of the 1980s and the resurgent craze of the late 1990s. |
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"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"
