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| Boyz II Men. (L-R): Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris and Shawn Stockman | Photo: Chris White |
Boyz II Men and a symphony orchestra: two things you don’t often associate together.
The world-renowned R&B group came for a special, one night only concert with the North Carolina Symphony at Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh on Thursday.
Known originally as Unique Attraction, Boyz II Men had various members in its beginning. One day, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris and Marc Nelson were practicing their harmonies in a bathroom at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts when Michael McCary joined in. McCary became the new, permanent bass singer and the group was formed.
After a stellar performance in front of celebrities and others, New Edition member, Michael Bivins, gave the group his number and later agreed to be manager and producer.
A delay in recording original material and reported personality conflicts led Marc Nelson to leave the group, making Boyz II Men into the quartet that would gain international fame.
The group's first taste of the road came with an opening gig on MC Hammer's high profile 2 Legit 2 Quit tour. While making a tour stop in Chicago the tour manager, Khalil Roundtree, was murdered.
The group's future performances of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" were dedicated to him. This very unfortunate event – and heartfelt performances of the song in its aftermath – would prove to help advance the group’s success in the business.
Boyz II Men has gone on to become one of the most iconic groups of our time; recording hits such as “End of the Road” (the group’s first No. 1 single), “One Sweet Day” (a collaboration with Mariah Carey) and “A Song for Mama.” The group also won numerous awards including nine American Music Awards and four Grammy Awards.
In January 2003, McCary retired from performing due to an ongoing battle with scoliosis. Despite that the band continued on as a trio, leaving Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris and Shawn Stockman.
20 years later, Boyz II Men is still going strong. The group recently announced it’ll join New Kids on the Block and 98 Degrees for a summer tour. The trio also announced that they’ll start limiting their own tours to concentrate on a headlining show at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
That made this night all the more special.
You normally don’t see an R&B group performing with a symphony orchestra. But Stockman said during the concert that each member of the group was trained in a classical style of music in school so this was a very natural fit for them.
Stockman also made a very touching argument that this was the reason why music should be in every school around the country. You truly never know what can happen if you get involved with music in school.
Boyz II Men performed all the hits for almost an hour and a half with no intermission. The crowd went wild at the playing of just the first note of a song. The guys even handed out roses to some lucky ladies during one song.
The symphony itself was fabulous. It was nice to hear a different take on these songs that we’ve all grown to love over time. I, for one, have always been infatuated with orchestras since I’ve played the clarinet for the past several years both in school and in a church orchestra.
Boyz II Men concluded the concert by performing arguably its biggest hit “End of the Road.” Everyone in the sold out Meymandi rose to their feet, sang along and swayed back-and-forth while the trio serenaded them. It was a magical moment.
Although the group announced in March that it was going to limit touring to focus on its show in Las Vegas, there was still a chance of a return trip to North Carolina in the future.
A group member asked during the concert if we’d come again if they returned. Naturally, everyone – including myself – shrieked with excitement over the possibility.
It’s amazing that this group has lasted for 20 years in a business where most groups don’t, especially nowadays. One thing’s for sure: this is definitely not the “End of the Road” for Boyz II Men.
The world-renowned R&B group came for a special, one night only concert with the North Carolina Symphony at Meymandi Concert Hall in Raleigh on Thursday.
Known originally as Unique Attraction, Boyz II Men had various members in its beginning. One day, Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris and Marc Nelson were practicing their harmonies in a bathroom at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts when Michael McCary joined in. McCary became the new, permanent bass singer and the group was formed.
After a stellar performance in front of celebrities and others, New Edition member, Michael Bivins, gave the group his number and later agreed to be manager and producer.
A delay in recording original material and reported personality conflicts led Marc Nelson to leave the group, making Boyz II Men into the quartet that would gain international fame.
The group's first taste of the road came with an opening gig on MC Hammer's high profile 2 Legit 2 Quit tour. While making a tour stop in Chicago the tour manager, Khalil Roundtree, was murdered.
The group's future performances of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" were dedicated to him. This very unfortunate event – and heartfelt performances of the song in its aftermath – would prove to help advance the group’s success in the business.
Boyz II Men has gone on to become one of the most iconic groups of our time; recording hits such as “End of the Road” (the group’s first No. 1 single), “One Sweet Day” (a collaboration with Mariah Carey) and “A Song for Mama.” The group also won numerous awards including nine American Music Awards and four Grammy Awards.
In January 2003, McCary retired from performing due to an ongoing battle with scoliosis. Despite that the band continued on as a trio, leaving Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris and Shawn Stockman.
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| Photo: Chris White |
That made this night all the more special.
You normally don’t see an R&B group performing with a symphony orchestra. But Stockman said during the concert that each member of the group was trained in a classical style of music in school so this was a very natural fit for them.
Stockman also made a very touching argument that this was the reason why music should be in every school around the country. You truly never know what can happen if you get involved with music in school.
Boyz II Men performed all the hits for almost an hour and a half with no intermission. The crowd went wild at the playing of just the first note of a song. The guys even handed out roses to some lucky ladies during one song.
The symphony itself was fabulous. It was nice to hear a different take on these songs that we’ve all grown to love over time. I, for one, have always been infatuated with orchestras since I’ve played the clarinet for the past several years both in school and in a church orchestra.
Boyz II Men concluded the concert by performing arguably its biggest hit “End of the Road.” Everyone in the sold out Meymandi rose to their feet, sang along and swayed back-and-forth while the trio serenaded them. It was a magical moment.
Although the group announced in March that it was going to limit touring to focus on its show in Las Vegas, there was still a chance of a return trip to North Carolina in the future.
A group member asked during the concert if we’d come again if they returned. Naturally, everyone – including myself – shrieked with excitement over the possibility.
It’s amazing that this group has lasted for 20 years in a business where most groups don’t, especially nowadays. One thing’s for sure: this is definitely not the “End of the Road” for Boyz II Men.
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