Boyz II Men -- one of the most successful R&B male vocal groups of all time -- return to the limelight with their new CD, Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA. The four-time Grammy Award-winning threesome is poised to release their Decca debut on November 13th, helmed by mega-producer/music veteran Randy Jackson. Jackson comments, "The mixture of the classic Motown sound and today's R&B soul is what makes this album truly unique." Additional guest appearances include Brian McKnight, who has production credits on a track as well. The disc features beloved songs from the Motown catalogue that sparkle with the signature Boyz II Men sound that catapulted them to international fame.
Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA reunites Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and Shawn Stockman, revered for their famous soulful R&B harmonies. Highlights on the disc include Motown favorites such as, "Just My Imagination" (The Temptations), "Ain't Nothin' Like The Real Thing" and "Mercy Mercy Me" (Marvin Gaye), "Tracks Of My Tears" (Smokey Robinson) and "Got To Be There" (Jackson 5). Also included will be a cappella versions of Stevie Wonders' "Ribbon In The Sky" and their own "End Of The Road".
"We wanted to pay tribute to an era that had such a major influence on our sound," commented Shawn Stockman. "Everything on this record was recorded with all live instruments, and working with Randy we were able to capture the feel, vibe and energy of these classic songs," said Wanya Morris. "This was pure fun," added Nate Morris.
As one of the major creative forces behind Boyz II Men new CD, Randy Jackson's credentials are uniquely impressive. Also a Grammy-Award winner, he has recorded, toured, performed and produced records for Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, *NSYNC, Madonna, Elton John, Destiny's Child and many more. Having recently completed his sixth season on American Idol, Jackson's amazing talent, vast studio knowledge and record company expertise have made him one of today's highly coveted music industry experts.
Throughout their career, Boyz II Men has achieved a prominent level of commercial and critical triumph. The Philadelphia natives, now together for 16 years, have been cited as "the most commercially successful R&B group of all time" by the RIAA. Between 1992 and 1997, the group recorded five #1 pop hits, sold over 60 million records worldwide and earned a host of Grammy's, American Music Awards, World Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards. Three of their #1 hits, "End of the Road", "I'll Make Love to You", and "One Sweet Day" (a duet with Mariah Carey), set, then broke, the record for the longest time at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
