Shawn, Nathan, Wanya, and Michael have a special secret.
They not only sing, but they sing from their hearts!
It was expected that Boyz II Men would win a Grammy and they did.
For the first time in a very long time, a group has come
along that not only has captured the hearts of their fans,
but has also won the approval of thei musical
contemporaries!
Voices are back, replacing the former gimmickly musical
backbeats and synthesized overproduction that have tended
to drown out the talents of whoever is singing.
Though the group started off just singing stuff from the
streets and what they listened to around their Philadelphia
neighborhood, they were lucky enough to have teachers who
taught them about classical composers and introduced them
to another catergory of music. This exposure paid off for
them.
Their high school principal, Ellen Savitz insists, "One of
the reasons they're as good as they are is that they were
traned as choral singers. They not only learned how to use
their own voices, but how their voices blend with
others."
Michael Bivins agrees. "The first time I had heard them
sing backstage at a BBD concert I knew they were something
special. It wasn't just the blending of their voices. It
was the whole thing....attitude, appearence, and sincerity.
When you spot something like this you have to do something
about it."
And, of course, Michael did. He became their manager and
signed them up with Motown, who at the time desperatley
needed a hit act to return the company to chart glory.
Boyz II Men did just that and continues to do it.
Basically Shy
Though they all love the glitter of the show business, none
of them is the type who likes all the attentionthey got
from their fans and contemporaries. When they drop by
their old school, they have to do so in secret. Visits can
cause a frenzy.
On tour the fans can get a little crazy and Boyz II Men doesn't
exactly fit into the mold of eccentric stars like Michael
Jackson or the more profane rappers. They're basically
quiet, relegious, and unassuming.
Still this hasn't stopped them from becoming one of the
most popular groups in show business, not only with the
fans, but with the people who work with them every day.
They're also very certain that they want to keep their
music special to those who hear it. "We'd like people to
think Boyz II Men music is a refuge from the turmoil in the
world," says Nate.
Unfourtantly, last year the group was swept up in personal
turmoil that has left them still unbelieving and shaken
up.
Almost a year ago Boyz II Men's road manager, Khalil Roundtree, was killed in a Chicago hotel as the group performed with Hammer's Too Legit tour. Roundtree was shot when he confronted several men creating a disturbance outside Boyz II Men's hotel rooms. Three men await trial in the killing.
If you watched them at the American Music Awards or noticed
the cover of last month's fresh!, it was hard to ignore the
tears. Backstage, where they won for the best pop/rock
single for "End of the Road," they sobbed. "We felt him
with us tonight," Nate Morris said. "It's not just us
four. He made us what we are."
All four boys grew up fast after the kiling. It made them
realize that fame and fortune still doesn't prevent you
from experiencing pain and unhappiness. It also made them
realize that in today's violent world, not even big stars
are safe.
Though they are more cautious about everything in their
lives now, it still hasn't stopped them from having an
inner happiness that they want to share with their friends,
family, and fans.
It's obvious that Boyz II Men will be around for a very long time, sending messages throuh their hearts and voices.