English (UK) 
Nederlands According to no less an authority than the RIAA, Boyz II Men are the most commercially successful R&B group of all time. They've sold ludicrous numbers of records and been involved in three of the longest-running number one pop singles in history, and they've done it as a unit of equals.
source: www.allmusic.com
In fact, their four-part harmonies blend so smoothly that most of the general public would be hard-pressed to name any of the group's individual members. And that's no reflection on their skill as singers; Boyz II Men were among the first male urban soul artists to adopt the sort of hyper-technical melodic embellishments that were popularized by virtuosic divas like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.
Their early music was indebted to new jack swing, but the group quickly found their forté in lush, soulful ballads, where their harmonies could be showcased to greatest effect. Boyz II Men may never duplicate their incredible run of success during the first half of the '90s, but that's a near-impossible task for anyone, even with the broad-based appeal of their clean-cut romantic image.
1985
In 1985, all future members of the group Boyz II Men attend The Philadelphia High School for Creative & Performing Arts . But they don't know each other yet.
Before they joined this school, they all have had a difficult time at home. A quote from www.vh1.com/shows/behind_the_music :
Each was born into poverty in the projects of Philadelphia -- Nathan Morris (6/18/71) on Philly's South side; Michael McCary (12/16/71) and Wanya Morris (7/29/73) in North Philly; and Shawn Stockman (9/26/72) in Southwest Philly.
Each had an abusive or absent father which forced them to rely on their mothers for financial and emotional support. Nate's parents got divorced when he was ten and his family often went without food, heat and water.
Mike's father was an ex-convict whose methods of making money weren't always legal.
Shawn grew up in a fatherless family of seven brothers and two sisters.
Wanya's mother and father were never married; they split up when he was only three. His mother's boyfriend often beat him for no apparent reason.
To escape the dangers of their crime-ridden neighborhoods, the boys turned to music and faith, often finding safety in the church choir. The smooth tunes of Motown artists like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and the Temptations provided further inspiration. Yet their passion for music and clean-cut image did little to boost their popularity with other kids. By the time they were ready to enter high school, each of the boys came to a life-changing conclusion--the only way they would succeed was if they found a supportive environment where they could hone their talents.
Their salvation came in the form of Philadelphia's High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. For Wanya, going to the school was like stepping into Fame, one of his favorite television shows.
Nathan Morris and his friend Marc Nelson form a R&B quartet.
This group, christened Unique Attraction, goes through a lot of personell changes due to graduations of its members.
But Wanya Morris (no relation of Nathan), who was asked to join in his freshman year, proves to be a stayer.
Shawn Stockman, who caught attention because of the solo's he did with his group, was asked and proves to be a stayer too.
During one of the rehearsals that take place in the school's bathroom, bass Michael McCary drops by. Mike keeps following them around, until the group asks him to join - making it five-strong!
They sing on campus, but out on the streets too, and on platforms of the underground. When they've mastered a new song, they tend to try it out at their favorite teen hangout in Philadelphia: the Gallery (a shopping mall in the Center City District).
In 1988, the group is stable:
- tenor 1: Shawn Stockman
- tenor 2: Marc Nelson
- tenor 3: Wanya Morris
- baritone: Nathan Morris
- bass: Michael McCary
1989
The group attends a concert in the Philadelphia Civic Center, which is yearly organised by radio station Power 99 FM. The concert features, amongst others, Bel Biv DeVoe (a spin-off of the group New Edition). Boyz II Men are fan of its singer Michael Bivins, and work themselves backstage after the gig.
Apart from artists like Paula Abdul, Will Smith & Jazzy Jeff, Keith Sweat, Cherelle and Kid 'n Play, they manage to meet Michael Bivins and perform for him the song ‘Can You Stand The Rain' (of New Edition). (See this youtube clip and this youtube clip, in which they sing this song a cappella again). Michael appears to be impressed and gives his phone number to the group.
After a lot of insistence, he becomes their manager.
1990
In March, Michael Bivins is successful in accomodating Unique Attraction at Motown Records; he uses his own company Biv 10 Records. Bivins urges the group to pick another name. They choose: Boyz II Men, the title song of New Edition's album Heartbreak.
This year Marc is forced to say goodbye to the group and pursues a solo career.
The remaining gentlemen turn to the studio to record an album:
- tenor 1: Shawn Stockman
- tenor 2: Wanya Morris
- baritone: Nathan Morris
- bass: Michael McCary
1991
The debut album is released at Motown Records on April 30: Cooleyhighharmony
The name is derived from the blaxploitation comedy Cooley High from 1975.
The following songs are released as singles:
‘Motownphilly' (video), ‘It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday' (an acappella remake, compared to the album; see the video) and ‘Uhh Ahh' (video).
1992
Their home base Philadelphia declares April 22 “Boyz II Men day".
The soundtrack of the Boomerang movie (with Eddy Murphy) is released. It contains the song ‘End of The Road'.
This song is released as single as well, including a video. ‘Please Don't Go' is released as single too.
1993
In September Michael gave up his job as manager of Boyz II Men, because his record company (Biv 10 Records) is too much demanding. Dick Scott will be the new manager.
The second album of the group is released at the Motown label on October 5: Christmas Interpretations
The song ‘Let It Snow' is released as single.
They release no less than 3 videoclips: ‘Let it Snow' (youtube clip), ‘Silent Night' (youtube clip) and ‘Share Love' (youtube clip).
Boyz II Men write most of the songs, in collaboration with Brian McKnight.
Off the first album single ‘In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember)' is released.
December 16, album Cooleyhighharmony is released again, but now with 17 tracks. It contains more remixes and the hit ‘End Of The Road' as well.
The new album gives them the opportunity to guest star on Will Smith's sitcom ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air'.
1994
The third album is released (August 30 in the States, September 12 in the UK): II
The following songs are made into singles:
‘I'll Make Love to You' (video) and ‘On Bended Knee' (video).
At about the same time (according to Amazon it was September 13) VHS video “Then II Now" is released.
They tour their show “All Around The World Tour".
1995
May 19 they buy a recording studio in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. They christen it ‘Stonecreek Studios' because one window overviews a “big creek with stones in it, so that pretty much explains it".
Singles ‘Thank You' (video), ‘Water Runs Dry' (video), ‘Vibin'' (video) and ‘I Remember' are released; they are songs of the second album.
Mariah Carey releases a single which contains a collaboration with BIIM: ‘One Sweet Day'. (The song originates from her album Daydream.)
They perform this year at Pope John Paul II's visit to Baltimore, Maryland.
October 24 the Spanish version of album II is released: Yo Te Voy A Amar
November 7 the fifth album is released: The Remix Collection . It's a release of Motown Records, and in fact against the wishes of the group. Nathan declares towards USA Today that they were not at all happy with the release because “it was not our best work."
Song ‘Hey Lover' can be found on LL Cool J's albums Mr. Smith and All World.
Wanya sings with Brandy for the first time “outside" the group, and Shawn really goes solo with a song for the Mr Hollands' Opus soundtrack: ‘Visions of a Sunset'.
1996
February 14 their own label is launched: Stonecreek Recordings. The label is distributed by Sony (not Motown).
The same day they appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show for the first time.
In Japan, June 7 the sixth album Extras is released.
BIIM is awarded a Hall of Fame award by Philadelphia this year.
During the American Music Awards (AMA) they win two of five nominations: Best Soul/R&B Album for album II and Favorite Duo/Group in Soul/R&B. They do not need to perform by the way.
During the NAACP Image Awards they recieve an award for Best Group; Wanya and Shawn collect the prize.
During the Soul Train Music Awards in March they obtain The Sammy Davis Jr. Award for “Entertainer of the Year", a lifetime achievement type award.
And at the end of the year they recieve another award for single ‘One Sweet Day' at the Billboard Music Awards. The Boys are not there, but Mariah Carey excepts it on their behalf.
At the Closing Ceremonies of the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, they sing their version of the National Anthem. This song had been put on the soundtrack of the Olympics: “Rhythm of the Games Soundtrack", but the Summer Olympics committee requested them during the Closing Ceremonies to sing “less soulful"...
Of The Remix Collection this year the following singles are released: ‘Hey Lover' (video) and ‘Brokenhearted' (video).
1997
In March, Nate opens his own hair salon named Morris' International Stylings, in Philly. He's not cutting hair himself, by the way.
Their first public appearance this year is at the opening of the Motown Cafe in Las Vegas, Nevada. Statues of them had been put before the cafe.
On September 23 album number seven is released in two languages: Evolution and Evolución
The songs ‘4 Seasons of Loneliness' (video) and ‘A Song For Mama' (video) are released as single.
In the UK, single ‘4 Seasons of Loneliness' is released in two flavors.
A Limited Edition (blue CD cover), with the following tracks:
1. Radio Edit
2. Vibin' (The New Flava)
3. Water Runs Dry
4. End of the Road.
And a regular version (orange cover), with the following tracks:
1. Radio Edit
2. B II Men Version
3. Instrumental
4. Acappella.
The single ‘A Song For Mama' is released in the same two flavors: a Limited Edition, with the following tracks:
1. A Song For Mama - Radio Edit
2. I'll Make Love To You
3. Motownphilly
4. Sympin' - Remix Radio Edit.
And a ‘Euro 4 Track CD Single':
1. A Song For Mama - Radio Edit
2. A Song For Mama - LP Version
3. Baby C'Mon
4. A Song For Mama – Instrumental.
To promote their new CD, which of course had to become as successful as the previous ones, they appear on basically every talkshow known including The Rosie O'Donnell show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show of Jay Leno, The Vibe Show, The Keenen Ivory Wayans Show, MTV Live...
But the album proves to be a disappointment. Motown Records is going through presidents, so the Boys have to promote the album themselves. On top of that, the critics are harsh: “their worst album ever," “they lost the magic," “the Boyz grew ‘old' ungracefully." The most common thing the critics say, is: have the Boys evolved, as the album seems to state?
The group teams up with Secretary Shlala in a campaign against teen smoking (a poster had been made saying “Smoke-Free, It's the New Evolution").
With Thanksgiving they serve turkeys to families in Camden, New Jersey. Camden decides to rename a street after them (from “Boulevard" to “Boyz II Men Boulevard"); this rename is only effective for one year though.
The weekend before Christmas, they hand out free toys in the same town.
The group co-hosts the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, and they sing too.
This year, Uncle Sam releases an album on the label of Boyz II Men, and scores a hit with ‘I Don't Ever Want To See You Again' (written by Nate). In the video that's being released at the same time (‘Can You Feel It') the Boyz make a guest appearance.
1998
At the end of January, they're the headliners of “Motown's 40th Anniversary halftime show" during the Super Bowl 32 in San Diego, California (therefore singing at the end).
Since February they appear a lot on TV. For example with Rosie O'Donnell (for the second time), the Regis & Kathie Lee Show, Nickelodeon's All That, a VH1 R&B Groups special and a Motown 40th Anniversary special.
In January they are awarded for the fifth year at the American Music Awards; this time Best R&B Duo or Group.
One month later they win again at the NAACP Image Awards the Best Group award.
A few weeks later, at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, they win in the Best R&B Duo or Group category.
They're not awarded at the 40th annual Grammy Awards or the 12th annual Soul Train Music Awards.
Mid-1998 Sony pulls the plug out of “Stonecreek Recordings". It only has one artist (Uncle Sam) and is therefore not profitable.
In March, the video of ‘Can't Let Her Go' is released (video).
In June, the video of ‘Doin' Just Fine' is released (which had been shot at Jamaica, see this video). The singles of both videos are not released in America, but they are released elsewhere.
In April the group starts touring the Evolution World Tour. Mike suffers from a back injury for some time now and won't be able to dance during this tour. For the first time, they hire a group of dancers: 4 men and 4 women (of whome only the women remain during the tour). The opening acts for the tour are Uncle Sam, Destiny's Child, Next and K-Ci & JoJo.
During the tour it is found that Wanya has developed polyps on his vocal cords. Subsequently, the tour is postponed for a few weeks. May 26 they resume again in Mountain View, California, at the Shoreline Amphitheater. They resume rather cautiously, by using an abbreviated set list and let the audience sing most of the melodies.
On October 23, they're the first group (and the youngest artists) to be inducted into BET's Walk of Fame.
They perform a mini show and receive a mini placard and a glass sculpture.
On occasion of 40 years Billboard Magazine, BM releases a Top 40; Boyz II Men is mentioned as “the number one singles artists in 40 years".
In November and December they're working on a video for the song ‘I Will Get There'.
Collaborations
- How Stella Got Her Groove Back (Soundtrack)
- 7. Your Home Is In My Heart
A duet with Chanté Moore. Written by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, and Boyz II Men. - Kiss The Sky - Tatyana Ali
- Intro (1), Interlude (7) and Kiss The Sky (9) have been written by Shawn and he's singing background vocals on the latter. Tatyana Ali is one of the actresses of ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel Air'.
- The Prince Of Egypt (Inspirational)
- 3. I Will Get There
- The Prince Of Egypt (Soundtrack)
- 19. I Will Get There.
Here sung a cappella. - Down In The Delta (Soundtrack)
- 7. Just A Little Luv
Again Shawn sings solo.
1999
In January, PolyGram (Motown's distributor) merges with Universal. Artists and employees are being shifted around or fired, and Boyz II Men is finally able to get out of their contract with Motown. After 9 years of Motown, they close a record deal with Universal Records.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day they recieve the first annual Voices of Freedom award in Philly.
At the start of 1999, they recieve the RIAA's Diamond Award for album II (more than 10 million copies have been sold).
At the end of 1999, they're awarded ‘Best R&B Group of the Century' by the RIAA.
They make a TV appearance at the 14th annual Gospel Stellar Awards, Lou Rawl's Parade of Stars and MTV's Ultra Sound: Money for Nothing.
Off the album The Prince of Egypt single ‘I Will Get There' is released (video).
2000
Universal releases a compilation album on May 9: The Ballad Collection
September 12 a ‘genuine' album is released (the fourth studio album): Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya
For the first time in their career, they now have more creative influence on their own albums...
A video of ‘Pass You By' is released and a video of ‘Thank You In Advance'.
2001
Universal Records releases a compilation album on October 30: Legacy: The Greatest Hits Collection
In either a ‘normal' version (13 tracks) as in a ‘deluxe edition' (2 cd's, 35 tracks).
2002
June 11, the album Full Circle is released on the Arista Records label.
Off this album, ‘The Color of Love' is released as single on June 11, and ‘Relax Your Mind' on July 16.
2003
The group is nominated for a Soul Train Music Award in category R&B/Soul Album Group, Band or Duo, for the album Full Circle.
October 7 Motown Records releases again a compilation album (what do you mean, ‘cash cow'...): 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Boyz II Men
Unfortunately, Michael McCary has to say goodbye to the group because of his scoliosis (back problems).
2004
August 24, album Throwback, Vol. 1 is released at the Koch Records label. An album of covers. And the first album as a trio!
In Taiwan, the album is released with a bonus track.
The song ‘What You Won't Do for Love' is released as single.
September 4 a DVD is released: ‘Music in High Places (Live From Seoul, Korea)'.
2005
December 1, only in Japan the Christmas album Winter/Reflections is released on the MSM/Urban World Records label.
2006
October 25, only in Japan (Koch Records) album The Remedy is released.
2007
The album The Remedy is presented to America on February 14 through their website.
Decca Records releases album Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA on November 13.
‘The Tracks of my Tears' is released as single, and as video.
2008
November 25, another DVD is released: ‘Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA.'
Next to that, singles ‘Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)' with a video, ‘War', and ‘Mercy Mercy Me' are released.
2009
In May, album Cooleyhighharmony (Expanded Edition) is issued by Hip-O Select in the US only; it's a pick-and-mix of the previous Cooley-albums, plus some new songs.
On the Decca label, album Love is released on November 24. It's a covers album again.
Of the song ‘I Can't Make You Love Me' is a single produced.
December 7, the third DVD is issued: “BIIM: Live at Lollapalooza 2009".
2011
Boyz II Men headline a “Love Cruise" in honor of their 20th anniversary and in observance of Valentine's Day. The cruise takes place February 11–14, and travels from Miami (Florida) to Nassau (Bahamas).
Cruise passengers receive a Boyz II Men welcome cocktail party, a concert performance, an additional fan appreciation concert, a photo session with the Boyz, a formal prom night, a poker tournament, a deck party with Boyz II Men and a guest DJ, a singles mixer, a gift bag, and onboard drawings for other Boyz II Men events. Couples are able to renew their wedding vows in a special ceremony with the group.
In recognition of the groups' 20 years in the music business, new album Twenty is released on October 12 in Japan, on the label Rhythm Zone (Avex Group). It's a double album, featuring on Disc 1 twelve new songs (plus a Japan-only bonus track) and on Disc 2 nine classics, re-arranged for the current trio. The entire album feels very mature.
October 17, the album is released in England on the Universal Music TV label, and released on the American label MSM / Benchmark (Warner Bros.) on October 25. At once, three singles are released as well: More Than You'll Ever Know, One Up For Loveand Flow.
2012
January 5, the group is awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
2013
January 22, the group announces that they will start touring this summer with New Kids on the Block and 98 Degrees.
February 20, they announce that of March 1 they will stop touring and begin performing at the Mirage Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas).