Friday, July 17, 2020

Boyz II Men - Motownphilly (1991)





Four guys from Philly started singing and they said it sounded smooth.  So they started a group and here they are kicking it just for us.  Inspired by 80s boy group New Edition, Unique Attraction was formed at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.  Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, Shawn Stockman and MIchael McCrary auditioned for New Edition member Michael Bivens, who was impressed enough to become their manager.  The boyz also renamed their group after New Edition's song Boys to Men.

Their 1991 debut album Cooleyhighharmony was a hit with listeners and critics but it was their 1992 single End Of The Road from the Boomerang soundtrack that catapulted them to R&B superstars, remaining at #1 for 13 weeks.  However, it was a short-lived record until Whitney Houston spent 14 weeks at #1 with I Will Always Love You from The Bodyguard (1992).  Boyz II Men's sophomore album II was an even bigger success and the boyz tied Whitney for the longest running #1 song with their cheesy I'll Make Love To You single only to be outdone by themselves two years later with their One Sweet Day duet with Mariah Carey.    

Taking a cue from Hi-Five, the quartet filmed the video for their debut single around their hometown in The City of Brotherly Love, cruising, dancing and consuming all the Philly steaks you can eat.

Motownphilly was filmed in Philadelphia, PA

Location: Dancing On The Promenade
Address: Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA






Location: Dickens Inn Restaurant
Address: 421 S 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA





Location: Geno's Steaks
Address: 1219 S 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA










Location: Frank Palumbo Elementary School
Address: 1100 Catharine Street, Philadelphia, PA







Locations Visited: December 2019




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