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

New Edition New Edition is an American Contemporary R&B, R&B/Pop music, pop group from the Roxbury, Boston, Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by singer/rapper Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a new edition of the Jackson ...

. As a solo artist, Tresvant released his double platinum-selling debut album '' Ralph Tresvant'' (1990). In 2008, he began touring with

Bobby Brown Robert Barisford Brown Sr. (born February 5, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer. Alongside frequent collaborator Teddy Riley, he is recognized as a pioneer of new jack swing: a fusion of hip-hop and Contemporary R&B, R ...

and Johnny Gill in a new group named

Heads of State A head of state is the public persona of a sovereign state.#Foakes, Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representative of its international persona." The name given to the office of head of sta ...

. On February 3, 2023, Tresvant became host of the syndicated radio show ''Love and R&B'', heard on WOSF.

Early life

Tresvant was born on May 16, 1968, in the Roxbury section of

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

, 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 –

, Ricky Bell and

Michael Bivins Michael Lamont Bivins (born August 10, 1968) is an American singer, rapper, manager, and producer, and a founding member of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe. Biography Bivins was born and still lives in Boston. He and his wife, Teasha, have four ...

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

The Jackson 5 The Jackson 5, later known as the Jacksons, are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was formed in Gary, Indiana in 1964, and originally consisted of brothers Jackie, Ti ...

, signed them to his independent Streetwise Records label and a fifth member,

Ronnie DeVoe Ronald Boyd DeVoe Jr. (born November 17, 1967), is an American singer and rapper known as one of the members of the R&B/ pop group New Edition, and the R&B/ hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe. He was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Career DeVoe wa ...

(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," " Jealous Girl" 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. established in 1972, though MCA had released recordings under that name in the UK from the 1960s. The label achieved success in the 1970s through the 1980s, often by acquiring other ...

, 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, 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 and reached number 1. In January ...

." Quiet and shy, Tresvant was initially apprehensive about the idea of recording a solo project. Tresvant felt the members of the group were not showing him the acknowledgment that he thought he deserved. However, after witnessing the huge success of

's solo albums and of

, Ricky Bell and

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 (singer), Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. The band is best known for their debut ...

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" 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 won the

Billboard Music Award The ''Billboard'' Music Awards are honors given out annually by ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'', a publication covering the music business and a Billboard charts, music popularity chart. The ''Billboard'' Music Awards show has been held annu ...

for "#1 New Pop Male Artist" in 1991. 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 second installment of the House_Party_(franchise)#Films, ''House Party'' film series. Kid 'n Play, Full Force, Tisha Campbell, and Martin Lawrence reprise their roles from the first film ...

'' which featured his two singles for the film's soundtrack, "Rated-R" and "Yo Baby Yo". Tresvant was a radio show DJ on WZBR. The show ''Inside the Ride with Ralph Tresvant'' premiered on September 5, 2016. In 2023, he took over hosting duties of Radio One's ''Love and R&B'' radio show from former label mate, Al B. Sure!

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 contemporary R&B, 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 ...

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

Filmography

*1985: ''

Knight Rider ''Knight Rider'' is an American media franchise, entertainment franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The core of ''Knight Rider'' is its three-television series: the original ''Knight Rider (1982 TV series), Knight Rider'' (1982–1986) and sequ ...

'' as New Edition *1985: ''

Krush Groove ''Krush Groove'' is a 1985 American musical comedy-drama film distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures that was written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by Michael Schultz (who also produced the movie, along with George Jackson and Doug McHenry). ...

'' 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 Cooke (; January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) was an American singer and songwriter. Considered one of the most influential soul music, soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred to as the "King of Soul" for his distin ...

*2017: ''

Girls Trip ''Girls Trip'' is a 2017 American comedy film starring Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah. The film is directed by Malcolm D. Lee and written by Kenya Barris and Tracy Oliver, from a story by the pair and E ...

'' 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 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century African-American male singers 21st-century American male singers