The five original members of the R&B super-group New Edition will return “right back where they started from” this weekend for a long-overdue salute from the same city that seems to sometimes forget that the “NE crew” are the original native sons that “blew-up” back in the day:
“Candy Girl” “Cool It Now” “Mr. Telephone Man” “If It Isn’t Love” “Can You Stand the Rain.”
And those are just a few of the classics from New Edition, without even running down the lis
t of Top 40 hits from the various solo projects and Bell Biv DeVoe, the trio that emerged from New Edition’s nucleus in the early ‘90s: “It’s My Prerogative” “Don’t Be Cruel” “Sensitivity” “Poison.”
Younger audiences may not fully appreciate the impact of New Edition and its influence on other artists from the era (think Boyz II Men) and even many of today’s younger artists. But these five youngsters from Roxbury’s Orchard Park (OP) projects— Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, Michael Bivins, and Bobby Brown – later joined by non-Bostonian but still mega-talented Johnny Gill— were a phenomenon, particularly in Boston’s neighborhoods and in Black America writ large.
For many of us, there’s a massive sense of pride that our city produced this level of talent and showmanship. And, honestly, there’s a tinge of frustration and annoyance that New Edition isn’t a bigger part of the Boston narrative.
New Kids on the Block. Aerosmith. Dropkick Murphys. The rock-band Boston, naturally. These are likely the brands and groups most associated with Boston to the casual music fan. For all that, it’s way beyond time for New Edition to claim their rightful place in the city’s entertainment pantheon.
This Saturday, Mayor Wu will take another step in the right direction by re-naming a Roxbury street corner in their old OP ‘hood, The 10 a.m. ceremony will take place at the corner of Ambrose and Albany streets, where the mayor will designate Dearborn Street as New Edition Way and declare Aug. 30 as “New Edition Day” in the City of Boston.
After the street sign is unveiled and the speeches made — hopefully featuring a few a cappella renditions from the group itself— a block party is scheduled at the nearby Boys & Girls Club. The after-party will double as a “back-to-school” celebration for local kids, who’ll receive backpacks and more.
“Boston is where it all began for us,” Bobby Brown said in a statement released by the mayor’s office. “This honor means the world to me.”
Ricky Bell added: “This honor is mind-blowing in the most awesome way. 02119 IS and WILL always be my home.”
It’s about time Boston embraced these pioneering performers. It was great to see Bell Biv DeVoe share the stage for the entire NE lineup with the Boston Pops at the July 4 Hatch Shell celebration. Looking ahead, who better than New Edition to christen the new White Stadium when that facility is ready for its debut? Let’s make it happen.
–Bill Forry
