Members of the singing quartet Boyz II Men are working to keep their feet firmly on the ground while allowing their music to fly free by maintaining their ties to religion, friends, and famliy.
The group's blend of smooth ballads and up-tempo hip-hop dance rhythms have allowed this talented group of singers to reach CD and tape sales of more than 16 million with their first two records (not including their Christmas album) and an audience that crosses the barriers of age, race, and sex.
Their first album alone garnered the group 16 major music awards.
Boyz II Men perhaps the most successful of Motown's newest generation of singers, will be playing at Blossom Music Center Friday.
"Our religion has helped us keep things in perspective and kept us from getting caught in the kinds of things that have made some other entertainers cocky." said Wanya Morris, 21. "Our beliefs help to keep our view of what has happened to us in perspective."
Shawn Stockman, 22, said the group owes its success to a lot of hard work, good people, and luck, but before all of that they believe they have been blessed wit divine guidance.
"We first have to thank our Lord for all things that have happened to us and then all others," added Morris.
The two men said their families and their childhood friends also have worked to keep them in check with the reality they've always known. They believed the moral grounding given to them in Philadelphia has worked to allow them to tell the difference between thebusiness of the entertainment industry versues its glitter.
Stockman said the group will not be venturing out from singing harmonies and songs into the rap genre and other styles anytime soon.
"We can't rap," Stockman said. "We listen to a lot of rap and other musical styles. It is just not our thing. We are singers. At this stage, it is enough to try to do well."
"Although on our remixes we sometimes have guest MCs," said Stockman.
The group's choice of songs depends on what they are trying to acheive with their next album. Although they collaborate and write much of their own music, (seven of ten on 'Cooleyhighharmony,' their first album, and eight of thirteen on 'II.'), they are always looking for something new and fresh to try out.
"When we write, we basically just go with what we feel," said Stockman. "We do not sing anyting we do not believe in.
"Because we grew up listening to all kinds of music-the Motown sound, Philadelphia sounds, east coast and west coast sounds-all their influences can be seen in our writing and hard in the way we sing," said Stockman.
The group, which also includes Nathan Morris, 24 (no relation to Wanya) and Michael McCary, 23, all attended the Creative and Performing Arts High School of Philadelphia. They sang together in high school simply because it was something the liked doing.
Morris said when the group was discovered by ther former manager, Michael Bvins, they were not looking for a record contract.
"We were just looking for new avenues to sing," said Morris. "There is no doubt, we owe everyhing that happened to us in the beginning to him. We will not forget what he has done for us."
Stockman said he does not agree with the contoversy over music lyrics and certain forms of music. He believes artists have the right to write and sing what they want.
"People will choose to listen and to buy whatever kind of music they want," said Stockman. "I will not condemn other artists and how they express themselves. It is a matter of free sppech.
"However, I do believe that parents have the responsibility to know what their children are listening to and to teach them what the songs are all about," continued Stockman. "People, the consumer, will in the end, dictate whether they want something done."
Although the group basically has spent the last 2 1/2 to 3 years promoting their albums, perfecting their stage shows and collecting music awards, they've attempted to spread some of their success to other by participating in charity basketball games and visiting inner-city youth through special programming. (Nathan Morris and McCary were out playing in one of the group's charity basketball games when the telephone inteview was conducted last week.)
"We also started a program in Philly where kids who have good grades and perfect attendance records can come to our new studio to see how we do what we do, sing, and whatever else we can cram into a day," said Stockman.
The group will be taking a year long break from singing and touring after the completion of their current Budweiser Superfest concert tour.
"We want to get a little more comfortable and relaxed before going back to the studio," said Morris.
They have been very busy.
Besides recording for their own albums, the group has worked with Color Me Badd, Brandy, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and others. Recording on Jackson's HIStory album was a special treat to the group.
"It was a dream come true," said Morris. "There was not too many people who get to sing with him. He was very professional in the way he did things. He knew what he wanted."
Morris said he discounted the allegations that have been made about Jackson.
"You know, people will make things up about entertiners," said Morris. "People who love a group or entertainer sometimes will put them on a pedestal, forgetting that they have all the same human beings, they may have."
"We are human beings who happen to be entertainers," he continued. "We all have days when we wake up on our good sides and other days on our bad sides."