Bell Biv Devo
was a successful splinter group of New Edition that consisted of three previous members, Ricky Bell (also known as Slick), Michael Bivins (also known as Biv), and Ronnie DeVoe (also known as R.D.).
Where are they now?
Michael Bivins
According to People Magazine, He has wanted to get away from the music biz. In June, he covered the Lakers and Spurs for TNT on NBA.com
Ricky Bell
Is a studio consultant and best friends with Tresvant who wed their wives in a 2005 double ceremony at the Ritz in L.A.
Ronnie DeVoe
The singer who is 40, is the owner of an Atlanta realestate firm and is trying for a baby with his wife Shamari who is from the R&B group Blaque
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Origin: Boston, Massachusetts
Member(s): Ricky "Slick" Bell
Michael "Biv" Bivins
Ronnie "R.D." DeVoe
Labels:
Career years: 1990–present
Biography
Bell Biv DeVoe began to take shape in the late 1980s, but not until completing the tour in support of Heart Break did the threesome decide to make the break from New Edition official. At the suggestion of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, they chose to chart their own course.
Bell Biv Devoe's debut album Poison has a variety of producers, including Dr. Freeze and Spyderman, Wolf & Epic (Richard Wolf & Bret "Epic" Mazur), Guy's Timmy Gatling, and Public Enemy's Hank Shocklee and Keith Shocklee. As a result, Bell Biv DeVoe's first album "Poison" has a larger new jack swing composition as compared to New Edition releases. BBD was a pioneering group that was the first to successfully combine hip-hop with R&B & pop. The CD was released in 1990, and its title track became a #1 hit on the R&B chart. The singles that followed were "Do Me!", "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?", "When Will I See You Smile Again", and "Dope!" (the latter was retitled "She's Dope!" upon release due to the rising drug abuse among children). Poison sold over three million copies. The remix album WBBD-Bootcity! The Remixes, with the Wolf & Epic produced "Word To The Mutha!" as accompanying single, was released the next year and was certified gold.
Bell Biv Devoe sold in excess of 4 million albums, prompting performances on the 1990 American Music Awards and other such ceremonies.
Bivins took time off from recording to search for new talent and bring together the East Coast Family, discovering and producing debut albums for the groups for Another Bad Creation and Boyz II Men. Bell Biv DeVoe's second album, Hootie Mack, was released in 1993 and spawned the singles "Gangsta", "Above The Rim", "Something In Your Eyes" and "Show Me the Way".
In 1996, Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe participated in the reunion of New Edition and toured in support of the CD Home Again on the MCA record label. In 2002, Bell Biv DeVoe's third album, B.B.D., was released. This latest effort saw Bell Biv Devoe exploring a more, hardcore rap style/R&B approach. It received mixed reviews and not much commercial success.
Ronnie DeVoe is now a real estate agent in the Atlanta, Georgia area but still remains with New Edition. He is very passionate about nutrition, especially healthy eating, and is currently collaborating with the group Viking Pimps on their up-coming album.
Reference/Source(s):
Bell Biv DeVoe. (2008, June 14). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:00, June 17, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bell_Biv_DeVoe&oldid=219217971
