By Barry Anderson, blackdoctor.org
Ralph Tresvant sang and danced into our hearts and one of the lead singers of the legendary supergroup, New Edition. With songs like “Mr. Telephone Man” and “Cool It Now,” Tresvant and New Edition were a household name in the late 80’s.
Ralph Tresvant was born prematurely on May 16, 1968, to Patricia Tresvant and Ralph Hall, Sr. Ralph grew up in an apartment in the Orchard Park Development of Roxbury, Massachusetts on #8 Adams Street. He says about growing up in the projects, “We were really poor and real pressured; but I had a strong family, and that’s what helped me keep it all together.”
New Edition once again became a household name with the 2017 three-night biopic of the group that aired on BET. The series broke ratings records and had everybody talking about Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky, Mike and of course Ralph.
Venturing out on a solo project, his 1990 debut solo album, Sensitivity, was released and the title track spent 20 weeks at No. 1 on the U.S. R&B Singles chart. The album also included the hit singles “Do What I Gotta Do” and “Stone Cold Gentleman.”
