Bobby Brown

Robert Barisford Brown, known as Bobby Brown, was born on February 5, 1969, in Boston, Massachusetts. He is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer. Brown's musical journey began at a young age when he joined the church choir, developing his singing abilities under the influence of artists like James Brown, Rick James, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and Prince. In 1980, at the age of 12, Brown co-founded the R&B/pop vocal group New Edition with childhood friends Michael Bivins and Ricky Bell. The group, which later included Ralph Tresvant and Ronnie DeVoe, achieved significant success with hits like "Candy Girl" (1983), "Cool It Now", and "Mr. Telephone Man". Brown left New Edition in 1985 to pursue a solo career. His debut album King of Stage (1986) featured the Number One R&B single "Girlfriend". However, it was his second album, Don't Be Cruel (1988), that brought him widespread success, producing five Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles, including the Number One hit "My Prerogative" and the Grammy Award-winning "Every Little Step". Brown's subsequent albums include Bobby (1992), which was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA and featured the singles "Humpin' Around", "Get Away", and "Good Enough"; Forever (1997); and Two Can Play That Game (best of and remixes, 1995). A new album surfaced in 2012, The Masterpiece. Brown also contributed to the soundtrack of Ghostbusters II in 1989. Throughout his career, Brown has been recognized for his contributions to new jack swing, a fusion of hip-hop and R&B, often collaborating with Teddy Riley.