Boyz II Men

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the mid-1980s at the High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Boyz II Men originally formed as a quintet before establishing themselves as a quartet and, following Michael McCary’s departure in 2003, as a trio with Nathan Morris, Wanyá Morris and Shawn Stockman. Boyz II Men developed a sound that blends contemporary R&B, soul, pop and new jack swing, with a strong emphasis on vocal harmonies, doo‑wop roots and a cappella passages. Discovered by Michael Bivins and signed to Motown, they debuted on record with Cooleyhighharmony in 1991, followed by Christmas Interpretations (1993), II (1994), Evolution (1997) and Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya (2000). Over the years the group alternated between ballads, more rhythm-driven R&B productions and covers of classics, as on Throwback, Vol. 1 (2004), Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA (2007), Twenty (2011), Collide (2014) and Under the Streetlight (2017). Along the way Boyz II Men also crossed into adjacent musical spheres, notably collaborating with Mariah Carey on “One Sweet Day,” while remaining active on stage with international tours and Las Vegas residencies.