Ralph Edward Tresvant (born May 16, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, actor and record producer, best known as the lead singer of R&B group

New Edition New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 19 ...

. As a solo artist, Tresvant released the album '' Ralph Tresvant'' (1990). In 2008, he began touring with Bobby Brown and Johnny Gill in a new group named

Heads of State A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international persona." in its unity and ...

Early life

Tresvant was born on May 16, 1968, in the

Roxbury Roxbury may refer to: Places ;Canada * Roxbury, Nova Scotia * Roxbury, Prince Edward Island ;United States * Roxbury, Connecticut * Roxbury, Kansas * Roxbury, Maine * Roxbury, Boston, a municipality that was later integrated into the city of Bo ...

section of

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

, the son of Patricia Tresvant and Ralph Hall. Tresvant grew up enjoying music with his younger siblings, sister LaTonya and brother Andre. When some junior high school friends got the idea to put a group together, Tresvant and three others – Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins – started performing at local talent shows. They were spotted by a local up-and-coming producer and songwriter, Brooke Payne, a local manager and choreographer, who encountered the boys at a local talent show in Roxbury. After an audition for Payne, he gave them the name New Edition to signify they were a new edition of the Jackson 5.

Maurice Starr Larry Curtis Johnson (born July 14, 1953), better known by his stage name Maurice Starr, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work creating songs and albums with boy bands New Edition and New Kids on ...

, who wanted to create a "newer edition" of the pop act

The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5 (sometimes stylized as the Jackson 5ive, also known as the Jacksons) are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was founded in 1964 in Gary, Indiana, and for most o ...

, signed them to his independent Streetwise Records label and a fifth member, Ronnie DeVoe (Payne's nephew), was added to the group. Releasing their debut album, '' Candy Girl'', in 1983. The album was a successful launching pad for the group, spawning the teen-oriented hit singles " Popcorn Love," "

Is This the End "Is This the End" is a 1983 song by R&B/Pop group New Edition New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of th ...

," "

Jealous Girl "Popcorn Love" is a single by New Edition, released on August 6, 1983. It was released as the third and final single from their debut album, '' Candy Girl'' on the Streetwise label. The single read #25 on the R&B chart. Charts Another Bad Cre ...

" and the title track.

Career

After a dispute over money,

left Starr's management and record label and signed with major label

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 w ...

, which released the group's self-titled second album. Tresvant's smooth, approachable vocal style had become a signature for the group, and the hits continued, including the Top Five smash single "

Cool It Now "Cool It Now" is a 1984 hit single by American group New Edition, and is the first single from their eponymous second album, ''New Edition''. In the US, the song entered the Hot Black Singles chart on September 1, 1984. The song peaked at number 4 ...

." Quiet and shy, Tresvant was initially apprehensive about the idea of recording a solo project. Tresvant felt as if the members of the group were not showing him the acknowledgment that he thought he deserved. However, after witnessing the huge success of Bobby Brown's solo albums and of Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins'

Bell Biv Devoe Bell Biv DeVoe, also known as BBD, is an American music group from Boston, Massachusetts, formed from members of New Edition, consisting of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. The band is best known for their debut album, the multi-p ...

side project, Tresvant eventually relented. His self-titled debut was released in 1990. The lead single " Sensitivity" spent 20 weeks on the U.S. R&B Singles chart, including two weeks at Number One. The album also included the Top 5 hit singles "

Do What I Gotta Do "Do What I Gotta Do" is a song performed by American contemporary R&B singer Ralph Tresvant, issued as the third single from his eponymous debut album. The song peaked at No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' R&B singles chart in 1991. Although it failed ...

" and " Stone Cold Gentleman", the latter of which features guest vocals from former band member Bobby Brown. Tresvant's self-titled debut album sold two million copies, achieving double-platinum status. Tresvant's vocals were also featured on songs on the soundtracks for the films ''Mo' Money'' ("Money Can't Buy You Love") and ''The Preacher's Wife'' ("Somebody Bigger Than You and I"). He made a cameo appearance in the popular urban comedy ''

House Party 2 ''House Party 2'' is a 1991 American comedy film and the sequel to the 1990 film ''House Party'' released by New Line Cinema. The film returns most of the cast of the first film such as Kid 'n Play and Full Force, along with new cast members ...

'' which featured his two singles for the film's soundtrack, "Rated-R" and " Yo Baby Yo " . Tresvant is a radio show DJ on The BASS of Boston WZBR 1410 AM. The show "Inside the Ride with Ralph Tresvant" premiered on Monday, September 5, 2016.

Discography

;Solo * '' Ralph Tresvant'' (1990) * '' It's Goin' Down'' (1994) * '' Rizz-Wa-Faire'' (2006) ;New Edition * '' Candy Girl'' (1983) * ''

'' (1984) * '' All for Love'' (1985) * '' Under the Blue Moon'' (1986) * ''

Heart Break ''Heart Break'' is the fifth studio album by American R&B quintet New Edition, released June 20, 1988 by MCA Records. It is the first album to return the Boston-reared band as a quintet after the public exit of original member Bobby Brown, and t ...

'' (1988) * '' Home Again'' (1996) * '' One Love'' (2004)

Filmography

*1985: '' Knight Rider'' as New Edition *1985: '' Krush Groove'' as New Edition *1991: ''

'' as himself *2004: ''Barbershop Blues'' as Jake *2006: ''Triple Cross'' as Sonny *2008: ''Behind RizzWaFaire'' *2014: '' Get on Up'' as

Sam Cooke Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an American singer and songwriter. Considered to be a pioneer and one of the most influential soul music, soul artists of all time, Cooke is common ...

*2018: ''Girls Trip'' as New Edition

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tresvant, Ralph 1968 births American contemporary R&B singers Countertenors Geffen Records artists Interscope Records artists Living people MCA Records artists Musicians from Boston New Edition members New jack swing musicians 20th-century African-American male singers 21st-century African-American male singers