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201 words

Cikhyzyan Cleveland 4/12/1 1B

717

TTp5

Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown was born in Boston, Massachusetts as one of six children

of Carole Elizabeth (ne Williams), a substitute teacher, and Herbert James Brown, a construction

worker. Brown grew up in Roxbury's Orchard Park Projects. Browns first taste of being onstage

occurred at age three when one of his childhood idols, James Brown, performed in Boston. The

performance had sparked a dream of becoming a singe. Brown joined the church choir, where

the recognized and developed his singing abilities. New Edition was founded by 9-year-old Brown

and childhood friends Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Travis Pettus, and Correy Rackley who all knew

each other growing up in the Orchard Park Projects in Boston. However, Rackley left the group

early and good friend Ralph Tresvant joined the group at the suggestion Bell who sang with

Tresvant as a duo.

Brown was also familiar with Tresvant since they were kids. Travis Pettus would also leave the

group and they became a quartet of Bell, Tresvant, Bivins, and Brown. In 1982, they became a

quintet when their manager Brooke Payne insisted on bringing in his nephew Ronnie DeVoe, to

complete the group. After performing in several talents shows in Boston areas in 19
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