Once this tour is over in September, the group will take
some much needed time off.
Since Boyz II Men first came on the music scene, they have enjoyed
the kind of success other groups dream about. It takes a
supergroup to break Elvis Presley's 25-year-long record for
a song staying for the most weeks at the #1 position on
the pop charts. Boyz II Men's "End of the Road" was number one
for an incredible 13 weeks - beating Elvis' record by two
weeks!
The group's debut album sold more than seven million copies
worldwide and ganered two Grammys, three American Music
Awards, five Soul Train Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, two World Music Awards, and a host of other
accolades.
Fueled with this kind of success, Boyz II Men have been riding the
wave of good fortune on tour since October, 1994. They
will be in town August 24 with TLC, Mary J. Blige, and
Montell Jordan, before they head off the road in September
for a much needed rest.
"After this tour, we're going to go back home and work in
our studio," group member Shawn Stockman related in a
confrence call interview last week with several journalists
from around the country. The studio he is referring to is
one they call Stonecreek Studios, in Gladwyne,
Pennsylvania. There the group will work on writing songs
for other artists.
Already, Shawn told us, they have written songs for Mariah
Carey and Color Me Badd, which they hope will be included
on these artists' respective upcoming album projects.
"We're taking a real long break, right now," Shawn
continued. During 1996, Shawn may do some acting (he's
interested in this area); and the other members will do
individual projects of their own, as well.
Signed to the Motown label, Boyz II Men are undeniably influenced
by the Motown groups of the 1960s, such as The Temptations
and the Spinners. This inspiration and the Boyz clean-cut
image have been a success formula. But it all comes
natural for them. They are clean-cut young men, and don't
care who knows it. Shawn explains that the group writes
their lyrics "the way we feel." And if the Boyz II Men pholosophy
is interpreted as being too clean, "that's just us. So be
it. We're doing what we've always done," the singer said
without apology.
Their career has been a whirlwind ride. But it has been a
learning experience, as well. "We're human beings. We
just get tired," Shawn explained about the demands of being
one of pop music's biggest success stories. Though they
are taking it all in stride and making the most of the
positionte world has put them in. Shawn readily admits
that the group "has grown mentally. Very fast. We had to
grow...this business kind of forces that."
And through all of it, he adds that "God keeps us grounded,
and level-headed."
Hos does the group prepare for a show...night after
night...after night...throughout a whole year's time? "We
try to stay focused-stay loose. And we pray; we pray
before and afterwards!"