Bobby Brown facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bobby Brown
Brown in 2018
Born	Robert Barisford Brown (1969-02-05) February 5, 1969 (age 56) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter rapper dancer
Years active	1978–present
Television	Being Bobby Brown
Spouse(s)	Whitney Houston ​ ​ (m. 1992; div. 2007)​ Alicia Etheredge ​ (m. 2012)​
Children	7, including Bobbi Kristina
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	R&B soul new jack swing pop
Labels	MCA Geffen Bronx Bridge

Bobby Barisford Brown Sr. (born February 5, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and dancer. He is known for being one of the first artists to create a music style called new jack swing. This style mixes hip hop and R&B sounds. Bobby Brown started his music journey in 1978 with the R&B group New Edition. He was a member until 1985.

After leaving New Edition, Bobby Brown began a successful solo career. His second album, Don't Be Cruel (1988), was a huge hit. It had five songs that reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. One of these songs, "My Prerogative", became a number one hit. He also won a Grammy Award for his song "Every Little Step". In 1989, he added two songs to the Ghostbusters II movie soundtrack. His next album, Bobby (1992), also had popular songs like "Humpin' Around".

In 1992, Bobby Brown married singer Whitney Houston. They had a daughter named Bobbi Kristina Brown. Brown also acted in movies such as A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. He rejoined New Edition for tours and albums in 1996 and again in 2005. In 2005, he and Whitney Houston starred in a reality TV show called Being Bobby Brown.

Early Life and Music Dreams

Bobby Brown was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was one of eight children. His mother was a teacher, and his father worked in construction. Bobby grew up in the Orchard Park Projects in Roxbury.

When he was just three years old, Bobby saw his idol, James Brown, perform in Boston. This show made him dream of becoming a singer. He joined his church choir, where he discovered his singing talent. Other musicians who inspired Bobby included Rick James, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and Prince.

Music Career Highlights

Starting with New Edition

Bobby Brown helped start the group New Edition in 1980 when he was 12. He formed the group with his childhood friends Michael Bivins and Ricky Bell. Ralph Tresvant joined them, and later Ronnie DeVoe completed the group, making them a quintet.

In 1982, New Edition signed a record deal. Their first album, Candy Girl, was released in 1983. The song "Candy Girl" was a top-20 hit on the R&B charts. Bobby sang lead on the song "Jealous Girl". The group became very popular with their second album, New Edition. This album included big hits like "Cool It Now" and "Mr. Telephone Man".

Despite their success, Bobby felt the group was not paid fairly. He later said he only saw $500 from all their tours and record sales. Bobby left New Edition in early 1986. There was some debate about why he left. Some say he wanted to leave, while others say the group's management voted him out.

Bobby Brown's Solo Journey

After leaving New Edition, Bobby Brown signed a solo deal with MCA Records. His first solo album, King of Stage, came out in 1986. He had a number-one R&B hit with "Girlfriend".

He then worked with top producers like Babyface and Teddy Riley for his next album. This album was Don't Be Cruel, released in 1988. It became his most successful solo album ever. It had five top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "My Prerogative" was a number-one song and became one of his most famous hits. The album sold twelve million copies worldwide. In 1990, he won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Every Little Step".

In 1989, Bobby Brown contributed two songs to the Ghostbusters II soundtrack. One song, "On Our Own", reached number two on the charts. He went on a big world tour to promote Don't Be Cruel. In 1990, he sang on Glenn Medeiros's number-one hit "She Ain't Worth It".

His next album, Bobby, was released in 1992. It sold over 3 million copies and had hits like "Humpin' Around". He received another Grammy nomination for "Humpin' Around". In 1994, a remix of his song "Two Can Play That Game" became a big hit in the UK.

Bobby Brown released his fourth solo album, Forever, in 1997. After this, he took a break from releasing solo music for several years. In 2010, he sang with Macy Gray on her song "Real Love". On June 5, 2012, he released his fifth album, The Masterpiece.

New Edition Reunions

Bobby Brown has reunited with New Edition several times. His first reunion with the group was at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards. They later recorded the song "Word to the Mutha!" together.

A full reunion happened in 1996 with the album Home Again. Bobby sang lead on two hit songs, "Hit Me Off" and "You Don't Have to Worry".

In 2005, Bobby reunited with New Edition again for the BET 25th Anniversary Special. In 2008, he, Ralph Tresvant, and Johnny Gill formed a group called Heads of State. All six members of New Edition reunited at the 2009 BET Awards to honor Michael Jackson. Bobby Brown and New Edition still perform together, including on The Culture Tour in 2022.

Acting and Television Career

Bobby Brown first appeared in a movie in 1989, with a small role in Ghostbusters II. In 1990, he was in the HBO kids' show Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme. He also had a big role in the 1996 film A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. He appeared in other movies like Two Can Play That Game and Nora's Hair Salon.

In 2005, Bobby Brown and his wife Whitney Houston starred in the reality TV series Being Bobby Brown on the Bravo network. The show was very popular and brought high ratings for Bravo. It showed parts of their daily lives. The show lasted for one season.

Bobby Brown has also appeared in other reality shows. These include Real Husbands of Hollywood, Celebrity Fit Club, and Gone Country. In 2021, he competed on The Masked Singer as "Crab". In May 2022, two shows about his life, Biography: Bobby Brown and Bobby Brown: Every Little Step, began airing on A&E. Bobby Brown is an executive producer for both of these shows.

Personal Life and Family

Bobby Brown's parents, Carole and Herbert Brown, passed away in 2011 and 2012.

Marriages

Bobby Brown met Whitney Houston at the Soul Train Music Awards in 1989. They became close friends and then started dating. In 1991, Bobby proposed to Whitney, and they married on July 18, 1992. Their daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, was born in 1993. Bobby and Whitney also recorded a song together called "Something in Common".

In 2005, they appeared on the reality show Being Bobby Brown. In September 2006, Whitney Houston filed for divorce, which was finalized in April 2007. Whitney received custody of their daughter.

Whitney Houston passed away on February 11, 2012. Bobby Brown later spoke about his "14 beautiful years" with her.

In 2009, Bobby Brown had a son named Cassius with his partner, Alicia Etheredge. They got engaged in 2010 and married on June 18, 2012, in Hawaii. They have since had two more daughters.

Children

Bobby Brown has seven children. His oldest son, Landon, was born in 1986. He has two children with Kim Ward: a daughter named La'Princia (born 1989) and a son named Bobby Brown Jr. (born 1991). His only child with Whitney Houston was Bobbi Kristina Brown (born 1993). With Alicia Etheredge, he has a son born in 2009, and two daughters born in 2015 and 2016.

In January 2015, his daughter Bobbi Kristina was found unconscious at her home. She was taken to the hospital and later passed away on July 26, 2015, at age 22. On November 18, 2020, his son Bobby Jr. passed away at age 28.

Discography

Studio albums

• King of Stage (1986)
• Don't Be Cruel (1988)
• Bobby (1992)
• Forever (1997)
• The Masterpiece (2012)

With New Edition

• Candy Girl (1983)
• New Edition (1984)
• All for Love (1985)
• Home Again (1996)

Tours

• Heartbreak Tour (with Al B. Sure! and New Edition) (1988)
• Don't Be Cruel Tour (1988–1991)
• Humpin' Around the World Tour (1992–1993)
• New Edition Reunion Tour (1996)
• Forever Tour (1997–1998)
• Heads of State Tour (2008–2014)
• RBRM Tour (2018)
• The Culture Tour (2022)
• The Legacy Tour (2023)

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Bobby Brown para niños