At home and in harmony with Boyz II Men

Ebony, Feb, 1996 by Lisa Jones Townsel

THE day is gray and hazy in the City of Brotherly Love. But the weather hasn't dampened the spirits of the four prominent and well-to-do Philadelphians best known as Boyz II Men. In fact, Stonecreek Studios, just outside Philly in Gladwyne, Pa., echoes with the squeals and chatter of the soulful young crooners who make a handsome living harmonizing about the magic of love and romance.

It's an uncommon scene, one not often shared with the public. Kicked back and relaxed in their rehabbed factory-turned-studio, the uncoiffed, unshaven foursome, who have performed for Pope John Paul II and President Clinton, and who almost singlehandedly revived Motown's image, are unwinding after their hugely successful All Around the World Tour, which earned $25 million, reportedly Boomerang movie soundtrack, topped Billboard's singles' chart for 13 weeks, breaking the record held by Elvis Presley for "Don't Be Cruel."

Gradually, everything the Boyz touched turned to gold, then platinum, including their 1993 holiday collection, Christmas Interpretations, and their home video, Us II You.

Their second major album, II, released in 1994, was an even bigger hit than the first, winning practically every music award imaginable.

Fans of all ages, creeds and races remain eternally loyal to the group. Yet, group members downplay their star status. They say any young woman could feel comfortable introducing them to Poppa; for beneath their perfectly pressed oxford shirts, baggy blue jeans and crisp white tees are just four average guys who just happen to have a harder time getting into malls, barber shops and grocery stores without getting trampled.

"We're just normal guys," Wanya suggests. "The good-guy image is just something people have added to the Boyz II Men image. We're not perfect. We make mistakes. But we're ourselves."

Good guys they are, but innocents they're not, "Anything you see with Boyz II Men, anything we sing about, we've experienced," Wanya says. "We believe in love and monogamous relationships."

None of the guys will admit to having a girlfriend at this time, even though it has been rumored that at least one has been engaged before. "We go in and out of relationships just like normal people," Shawn insists. "Eventually, each of us hopes to find that special woman."

Wanya dispels rumors linking him to TLC's Lisa Lopes or 16-year-old singer Brandy Norwood. "There's no truth to either [rumor]," he says. "Lisa and I are friends. We talk, but she's got a man." As for Brandy, who recently paired up with him to do a candy sweet duet, "She's like a little sister to all of us," he says.

The Boyz have successfully dodged the scandal sheets the third highest-grossing concert tour of 1995.

Heads covered by baseball caps, the Boyz--Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris (no relation) and Shawn Stockman--who are known for their well-behaved, well-dressed stage personas, offer no apologies for just being themselves on this day. "We're having a bad-hair month," says 23-year-old Michael (Bass Man) McCary of their capped heads.

Apparently, off-time for the singing four (the world tour marked their last major engangement until 1997) is more than a state of mind. "This is what we do. We keep the hats on. We let the beards grow out. We look like Grizzly Adams," Shawn (Slim) Stockman, the group's falsetto, explains. "We're very natural when we're at home."

Suddenly, while joking around with one another in the soundroom of their new 48-track recording studio, the group bursts into song, with Wanya (Squirt) Morris, the lead vocalist, singing the loudest.

Hyperactive and boisterous, they begin somewhat off tune (intentionaly, of course) before breaking into a chorus of laughs. Once they regain their composure, they start again, singing nonsensical words at first. But then, their voices meet in the air, meld and rain down in seamless, silky harmonies. Even amid the fun and games, there is no doubt why these singers rank higher on the record charts than practically any other pop group around.

Their rich, thick sound is unmatched. So are their tender, sometimes passionate, love messages that have made women throw undergarments on stage and men propose marriage to their dates on the concert floor.

"Music is magical like that," says 22-year-old Wanya, offering an explanation for the group's phenomenal success and explaining why their music often moves fans to such bizarre behavior. "God put that specialness into the music so that when people hear it, there's this special feeling. It's powerful."

It was 1988 when the four young men first tried out their doowop/gospel sound in a singing group called Unique Attraction, fashioned after their role model group, Take 6. Trained at Philadelphia's High School of Creative and Performing Arts, they all knew they would need a very special break to make it big one day. That day came when former New Edition member-turned-artist manager Michael Bivins attended a concert at the city's convention center. The high schoolers went backstage and, hoping to impress Bivins with their talent, began singing New Edition's "Can't Stand the Rain."