R&B Groups

7 Of The Best ‘80s R&B Groups

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The 80s were an amazing time for R&B. From the explosive fashion, to the new emphasis on contemporary R&B, the decade was stacked with amazing group talents. Moreover, the success of the time helped to ignite an even greater popularity by the time the 90s came around. From New Edition, to the soulful crooners of Atlantic Starr, these are the seven best groups that helped shape R&B in the 80s. 

New Edition

New Edition are a staple of 80s R&B. They initially began as a modern rendition of the superstar group, the Jackson 5. However, it didn’t take long for them to establish their own unique sound and look. In fact, many people consider them to be the “original boy band.” The group, which is still active today, consists of Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill, and Ralph Tresvant. Some of their most iconic songs include “Mr. Telephone Man” and “Candy Girl.” New Edition is arguably the most popular R&B group of the 80s, and have since been inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

The Gap Band

The Gap Band was named after the Greenwood, Archer, and Pine streets in Tulsa Oklahoma. Formed by the Wilson brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert, the Gap Band was known for their dance beats and high-energy songs. This was best exemplified in songs such as “Outstanding” and “You Dropped A Bomb On Me,” becoming quick staples of the 80s R&B scene. 

Read More: The Gap Band Music Icon Ronnie Wilson Passes Away At 73: Report

DeBarge

DeBarge initially started with just three of the DeBarge brothers. However, in the decade that they were active, different members of the family joined the band. As a result, they evolved into creating fuller sounds and melodies, garnering a booming fanbase. At the height of their fame, they released their fourth album, Rhythm Of The Night. The title track went on to become their most popular song to date, hitting the third spot on the Billboard Hot 100. 

Atlantic Starr

Despite a rotating roster of band members, Atlantic Starr was one of the dominant R&B groups of the 80s with hit after hit. They are most known for their immaculate single, “Always,” which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100. Furthermore, their catalog of hits also includes songs like “Secret Lovers,” which made the top 10 in both the US and UK, and “Masterpiece.” Overall, their romantic and soulful R&B won them a diverse fanbase, during the 80s, and beyond. 

Mary Jane Girls

The Mary Jane Girls were a girl group formed by Rick James in 1983. Though their career only lasted five years, they were able to make a big impact in a little time. Songs like “In My House“ and “All Night Long” became fan favorites. Beyond the music, Mary Jane Girls was also known for the unique individual styles of its members. Rick James famously cast each member of the group as a character archetype, including: the street girl, the model, the cheerleader, and the dominatrix.

Read More: 7 Of The Best ’90s R&B Groups

Lisa Lisa And Cult Jam

Lisa Velez’s booming vocals and general mystique were at the front and center of the success of Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. The band was put together by Full Force after Velez auditioned for them and they realized that they couldn’t let her talent go. Throughout the 80s, they released R&B hit after hit. This includes their debut single “I Wonder If I Take You Home,” which was an instant chart-topper, to later hits like “Head To Toe,” and “Lost In Emotion.”

Cameo 

Cameo’s music incorporated sounds of funk, disco, Hip Hop and R&B, setting them apart from their peers. They found mainstream success in the late 70s with tracks like “I Just Want To Be,” and rode that success into the 1980s. Cameosis, their fifth album, topped the R&B charts and was their second album to be certified Gold. After the success of the album, they began to churn out Gold-certified albums like no man’s business. They have continued to refine their sound through the years.

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Boyz II Men Hits: Philly Crooners’ Best Songs

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When Philadelphia named part of Broad Street after its own R&B superstars Boyz II Men in June 2017, it felt like a long time coming. How Philadelphia Magazine remembers it, Boyz II Men’s arrival on the music scene shifted the era. They called it “a time of giant, lumbering record labels, inescapable pop stars, and enormous record sales that seem utterly impossible today.” The beginning of their career can be distilled by a key line from “Motownphilly”: “Back in school we used to dream about this every day.“

Boyz II Men linked up as teenagers from different neighborhoods. They attended the esteemed Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, where they began their musical genesis in the hallowed halls of artistic education. Since their graduation, the school has relocated to Broad Street. It is that area that has been rechristened Boyz II Men Blvd. 

In between classes in German and classical music, the boys crystallized into a group that would be esteemed in the music world, making them as known for their collaborative fashion as for their sound, turning them into a unit that would stand the test of time, creating an illustrious legacy in the world of R&B.  

“Motownphilly” (1991)

The first song released from their 1991 Cooleyhighharmony, “Motownphilly” demonstrated that the Boyz were not a typical pop or R&B group. While there was a syncopation in their look and style, their sound was old school. It was a soulful harmony that demonstrated that they were musicians of the most superlative kind. Additionally, experimenting with sounds from the 1960s and 1970s, the music video had the band moving through their home city of Philadelphia. They moved through the City of Brotherly Love with a carefree belief in themselves and their music.

The lyrics mention two other New Jack Swing groups: Another Bad Creation and Bell Biv Devoe. The genre was a cacophony of sampling, swing, and other production elements that had been innovated since the 1980s. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis championed the sound and further etched their legendary status. These cameos also helped certify that Boyz II Men were part of a new musical renaissance.

“It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” (1991)

This signature ballad from their debut album Cooleyhighharmiony reached No. 2 on the charts. It solidified their reputation as a group that could deftly handle difficult vocals and entrancing harmonies. This song was a cover of G.C. Cameron’s 1975 hit. The album also alluded to the 1975 film Cooley High, whose story centered on two Black high school students from Chicago.

“End Of The Road” (1991)

Recorded in 1991 and released in 1992, the song resulted from a collaboration with Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. Babyface is a producer and songwriting legend in his own right. “End of the Road” was also created for the classic Eddie Murphy film, Boomerang. It stayed at the coveted No. 1 position on Billboard’s Hot 100 for a record-setting 13 weeks, starting on August 22, 1992. 

“I’ll Make Love To You” (1994)

Another number written and produced by Babyface, this song was one of their longest enduring No. 1s. However, in the beginning, Boyz II Men didn’t want to do the ballad. They were concerned that the song sounded too much like “End of the Road” in terms of word choice and instrumental build-up. Further, in a 2019 interview with Entertainment Weekly, they recalled they were grateful to producers and managers. Essentially, they seemingly forced the group to record the song. The team also recognized that it would resonate with a youthful audience in an atypical way to love songs. The single stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 Weeks, tying with Whitney Houston’s 1992 record set with “I Will Always Love You.” 

“One Sweet Day” (1995)

Any collaboration with Mariah Carey is almost guaranteed to stay in the upper stratosphere of musical hits. Boyz II Men’s collaboration with Mariah Carey on “One Sweet Day” in 1995 was no exception. Landing on Billboard’s Hot 100 for 16 weeks was an epic milestone. No other song in the chart’s 54-year history had ever done so. The track was written by Mariah and the Boyz after the death of one of Mariah’s dear friends. The song was her homage to him, his friends, and his family. 

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