We caught up with Algee Smith on the red carpet at the premiere for BET’s “The New Edition Story” and he discusses singing in front of Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Babyface and being honored to play Ralph Tresvant in the movie.
Bobby Brown performed with New Edition at a sold out concert during the Allstate Tom Joyner Family Reunion gathering that attracted 14,000 people over the weekend. Bobby performed a set that lasted almost two hours with band members Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Johnny Gill. Bobby appeared to be in good spirits and was greeted wildly by the audience during the opening. While on stage he told the crowd: “I’m seven and a half years off of narcotics, 21 days clean of alcohol, and I go by the name Bad Azz Bobby Brown!” Bobby chilled backstage it with Tom Joyner, his son Cassius, and wife Alicia Etheredge (who was treated at a local hospital for a seizure days earlier). New Edition is celebrating 30 years of performing as a group. Images via Tony Leavell, Rance Elgin
Three years ago, Ralph Tresvant, Johnny Gill & Bobby Brown said f*ck a “Ronnie, Ricky & Mike” and started a new group called “Heads Of State.” We totally missed it. And we’re sure you did too. And since that album they were supposed to drop still hasn’t come out, we’re sure they’re basically just going around singing New Edition songs. They did that yesterday at Jazz In The Gardens in Miami. Which means Bobby had to prove he’s still the “Kang of R&B.” Which led to many caption worthy moments like the one above. And this one. It also got us to thinking, ladies: which of New Edition’s former lead singers would YOU hit? More pics from their performance on page 2.