Boyz II Men, a Philadelphia-based rhythm and blues quartet, have literally gone from singing together in a bathroom to performing sold-out concerts in the United States' largest venues. The group's four members—Nate Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris— experienced an almost overnight success as their debut album went triple platinum in sales and critics of all ages and races heaped praises upon their work. Since the release of the album Cooley-highharmony in 1991 and its follow-up, II, in 1994, Boyz II Men have established themselves as innovators who combine the standard elements of R&B with new, hip-hop stylings, all the while relishing old-fashioned romantic love as a theme.
From complete unknowns at the beginning of the 1990s, the members of Boyz II Men have leaped into the limelight to become fashion and music trendsetters. The term "doo-hop" has been coined to describe their sound, the "Alex Vanderpoolera" tag to describe their upscale attire. More importantly, the group has been credited with resuscitating the flagging fortunes of Motown Records, long considered the premier label for black pop artists. Asked about the group's secret for success, Stockman told Knight-Ridder: "Our music makes you feel good. We know life isn't all peaches-and-cream, but sometimes you just want to relax and forget about all that."
