New Edition, Boyz II Men, Toni Braxton Reunite in Philadelphia
When New Edition took the stage with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton at the Liacouras Center on Sunday evening, March 15, the audience response was unstoppable. Philadelphia’s stop on…
When New Edition took the stage with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton at the Liacouras Center on Sunday evening, March 15, the audience response was unstoppable.
Philadelphia's stop on the New Edition Way Tour brought something unexpected. Michael McCary showed up — McCary departed Boyz II Men in 2003 after doctors diagnosed him with multiple sclerosis.
Boyz II Men kicked off the concert with "Motown Philly" before launching into "Please Don't Go," "Ooh, Aah," and "Four Seasons of Loneliness." Shawn Stockman and Nathan Morris gave shoutouts to Southwest Philadelphia, while Wanya Morris declared North Philly pride.
Local Story: Celebrating in 'The Mushroom Capital of the World'
According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the New Edition tour takes its name from a street in Boston's Orchard Gardens that was renamed for the band. City officials renamed it after the band, honoring the place where its members grew up and started the group in 1978.
The New Edition tour has historical resonance for Philly. It was in Philly where Boyz II Men first met Michael Bivins, who was then part of a New Edition spinoff called Bell Biv DeVoe. Bivins signed Boyz II Men after the group auditioned for him backstage at the Philadelphia Civic Center in 1989.
Braxton revealed her signature style in numbers such as "He Wasn't Man Enough" and "Just Be a Man About It." She dedicated "Unbreak My Heart" to her late sister Traci Braxton.
Bobby Brown ran through "Don't Be Cruel," "My Prerogative," and "Every Little Step." Ricky Bell, Bivins, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe, and Johnny Gill collaborated on backing vocals. The 57-year-old moved across the stage with a two-step blended with his bandmates' choreography.
The group also ripped through "If It Isn't Love," "You're Not My Kind of Girl," and "Can You Stand the Rain?" They also performed a medley of early hits: "Candy Girl," "Cool It Now," and "Mr. Telephone Man."
