A must-have for every Boyz II Men fan, this unofficial and unauthorized handsome volume traces forty years of the groundbreaking group through stunning photography, fascinating facts, and interviews with fans and industry pros.Philly’s own Boyz II Men is an iconic boy band that jumped to the top of the charts (and into the hearts of millions of global fans) in the 1980s. Though the band came to prominence in a time when acts like New Kids On The Block, Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC were surging in popularity, Boyz II Men was truly a transitional group, with a unique sound that took cues from both pop and R&B and brought together audiences across the world. Today, Boyz II Men is the bestselling R&B group of all time, having sold over 60 million albums worldwide, with a highly anticipated biopic in the works.
In the unofficial and unauthorized
Boyz II Men 40th Anniversary Celebration, music journalist John Morrison delves into
the band’s origins—from their beginning in high school and their earliest influences—
to their biggest successes in the ’80s and ’90s,
to their continued achievements today and the
lasting legacy they’ve left in the boy-band canon. Along the way, readers will also explore the creation of Boyz II Men’s biggest hits, such as “End of the Road” and “Motownphilly”; the fan culture that built up around the band, from the small gigs and mall tours of their earliest years to their national anthem performance in 2022 and tour and album plans for their anniversary year in 2025; Boyz II Men’s influences, from R&B to a cappella, and their place in a boy-band history that begins with the Jackson 5 and continues in the modern day with bands like One Direction and BTS; and the lasting legacy of a band proudly celebrating their fortieth anniversary.
The book features interviews with icons of the music world and leading music historians and journalists, including:
- Singer-songwriter and record producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds
- Singer-songwriter Loren Davis-Stroud
- Music journalist Michael Gonzales
- Music producer Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo
- Musician and studio manager Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou
- Audio engineer George Hajioannou
- Bassist Reggie Hamilton
- Author and historian Dart Adams
- Longtime music journalist and entertainment industry professional Karas Lamb
With stunning
photographs and recollections from fans throughout, fans can relive their most precious memories of their favorite crossover band and learn about
hidden gems and new tidbits from famous friends and collaborators. This is far from the end of the road for this groundbreaking group, and this book is the perfect companion to your everlasting love for “Nate, Mike, Shawn, and Wan”!
Foreword
Introduction
CHAPTER 1: Motownphilly
CHAPTER 2: A Unique Attraction
CHAPTER 3: The East Coast Family
CHAPTER 4: Cooleyhighharmony
CHAPTER 5: End Of The Road
CHAPTER 6: A Joyous Sound
CHAPTER 7: II
CHAPTER 8: Whats Next?
CHAPTER 9: Were Just Vibin
CHAPTER 10: All Around The World
CHAPTER 11: Full Circle
CHAPTER 12: Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya
Conclusion
Timeline
Discography
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Image Credits
Sources
Index
John Morrison is a writer, producer, and DJ from Philadelphia. For the last 25 years, Morrison has worked as an independent music journalist, documenting and reporting on Philly hip-hop culture. His writing has appeared in the Philadelphia City Paper, NPR Music, The Wire, Red Bull Music Academy, Bandcamp Daily, and more. An in-demand on-air personality, Morrison regularly appears on NPRs All Songs Considered and The World Cafe as well as NPRs Tiny Desk Top Shelf series.
Morrison is currently writing a major book on the history of hip-hop culture in Philadelphia. As hip-hops first major stronghold outside of New York, Morrisons book will fill in some crucial blank spaces about the dawn of hip-hop and its eventual nationwide spread.
Ashley Oken is an entertainment journalist whose work has appeared in MTV News, New Noise Magazine, ELLE magazine, The New York Times, and other outlets. Passionate about representing rising artists in the rock sceneespecially BIPOC, female, and queer artistsOken hosted the podcast A Million Emo Thoughts, an artist interview and music commentary show. Additionally, Oken is a screenwriter and teacher; she penned the script for PBSs music series Soundfield, edited scripts for various TV shows and web series, and taught college-level courses on music journalism and profile writing. When shes not covering the latest in celebrity and rock music or writing scripts, she can be found at a concert, trying new restaurants, or enjoying a big bowl of pasta.
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