New Edition formed in Boston in 1978.
The group began when childhood friends Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ralph Tresvant started performing together in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. Ronnie DeVoe later joined, completing the classic five-member lineup associated with the group’s early success.
New Edition became one of the most influential American R&B boy bands of the 1980s. Their 1983 debut album, Candy Girl, produced the title song and established the group with a youthful pop-soul sound. Maurice Starr managed and produced the group during this early period.
A common mix-up is confusing New Edition’s formation with the release of its debut single or album. The band formed in 1978, but Candy Girl was released in 1983. New Edition also helped launch the careers of several members, including Johnny Gill, who joined later, and Bell Biv DeVoe, formed by Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe.