Song:On Our Own
Album:Gold
Bobby Brown was probably the most successful R & B artist of the late 80s. On Our Own was one of his biggest hits in 1989. Today Brown is best known for his turbulent personal life. He was born Feb. 5, 1969 in Boston. He formed New Edition with Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell and Ralph Tresvant. They won a record contract with Maurice Starr in a 1982 talent contest. He had a distribution deal with MCA Records. Of course New Edition was very successful. But Brown didn't think he was getting enough money and that their management didn't care about them. As chronicled on VH1's Behind The Music, Brown was voted out of New Edition in 1986. So then he signed a solo deal with MCA. His 1986 debut CD King Of Stage didn't do well. And though the single Girlfriend topped the R & B chart, it didn't cross over to pop. His 1988 CD Don't Be Cruel was Brown's big breakthrough. The big difference was working with producers LA Reid and Babyface. His biggest hit from this album was My Prerogative which Brown wrote and produced with Teddy Riley associate Gene Griffin. It topped the Billboard Hot 100. Roni and Every Little Step were top five hits. Don't Be Cruel was certified 7XPlatinum. On Our Own was from the soundtrack of the 1989 film Ghostbusters II. it reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was written and produced by Reid and Babyface. Brown wouldn't record again until the 1992 CD Bobby. Humpin' Around was his final top five pop hit. He married Whitney Houston in 1992. Because Brown's music career faded in the mid-90s and his personal life has been so notorious, I think a lot of folks have forgotten how big he was. You can get all his hits on this budget comp. Brown reunited with New Edition in 1996 and his next solo CD was released in 1997. Of course with Brown's bad behaviour including jail time for a DUI and the death of wife Whitney Houston and then daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, it is unlikely that Brown will ever be able to revive his music career. He was a big star in the late 80s but think about how big he could have been. He has been touring with New Edition. Here's the video for On Our Own by Bobby Brown. See if you can spot all the guest cameos in the video.
Your last comment is what comes to my mind when thinking about this gentleman. How much better and bigger he could have been, had not the drugs and personal turbulent life sank him down. Its a real shame, so much talent, not to be realized.
ReplyDelete