Fans of 80s RnB will certainly remember Ralph Tresvant, the lead singer of boy band New Edition. Decades have passed and Tresvant still dedicates its time to preserving the legacy of New Edition.
Tresvant also boasts of a successful solo career, although compared to that of fellow actor Bobby Brown. As his career progressed, Ralph started acting. His most recent gig is hosting a radio show on The BASS of Boston WZBR 1410 AM.
The New Edition Story, a biopic about the boy band that debuted in early 2017 on BET no doubt filled fans with nostalgia as it gave them a glimpse into the band members’ lives. Here’s a look into the life of one of the mainstays of the once-popular band.
Ralph Tresvant Biography,
Tresvant was born as Ralph Edward Tresvant Sr. Born May 16, 1968 to Patricia and Ralph Edward Tresvant in the Roxbury section of Boston, Massachusetts, Sr Rizzo loved music and listening to music from a young age, a passion which he shared with his younger siblings.
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He often sang in school and at the start of his secondary school, he became one of the members of a group of boys who would become the new edition.
Group Thr originally consisted of Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins. The trio would perform at local shows, and while performing at a local talent show, they would catch the eye of budding singer-songwriter Brooke Payne. Payne devised the band’s New Edition name by stating that he wanted it to be the new edition of the Jackson 5.
However, the boys were later signed to Streetwise Records, an independent label owned by Maurice Starr. Starr then added his nephew Ronnie DeVoe to the group, bringing the number to 4.
New Edition enjoyed a rapid rise to stardom thanks to their debut album Candy Girl (1983) which was a major success. It spawned a self-titled single and other tracks such as ‘Popcorn Love’ and ‘Is This the End’. Despite the change of label from Streetwise to MCA, New Edition remains a success thanks to the voice of Tresvant, which has become the band’s signature. New Edition released consecutive albums from 1983 to 1986 and another in 1988.
The success of New Edition launched her members into successful solo careers, however, an introverted Tresvant was the last to declare a solo career. However, when he finally crawled out of his shell to release his self-titled debut solo album, it was a massive hit, spawning a single that spent weeks at the top of the R&B charts.
In 2008, Tresvant formed another Heads of State group including his former band member, Bobby Brown. Tresvant still sings with New Edition as of this day and continues to work on new music.
Ralph Tresvant Mother
The premiere of the New Edition biopic on BET revealed some things about Tresvant that were previously unknown. One of those things is the pressure and pain he had to endure in 1996 when his mother, Patricia Tresvant, died. To make matters worse, he was also in the process of divorcing his then wife Shelly.
Ralph Tresvant Wife, Children/Son, Family
Tresvant has been married twice. His first marriage was in 1993 to his childhood sweetheart who was named Shelly. The couple share three children including a son and two daughters named Na’Quelle and Mariah. Their marriage subsequently dissolved.
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Reports surfaced in early 2017 that Shelly later wandered off and is now addicted to crack. The source also claims she is homeless in Atlanta.
Tresvant got married for the second time in 2004, this time to a longtime fan named Amber Serrano. They had first met when Serrano was 13.
However, she was just a fan then, and they didn’t really get along well. Years later, they crossed paths again and the rest, as they say, is history. They married in a double marriage to Rizzo bandmate Ricky Bell, who married Amy Correa Bell.