Robert Barisford “Bobby” Brown turns 46 today, given all he’s going through with the hospitalization of daughter Bobbi Kristina, today is bittersweet for the King of R&B. He’s got a lot to deal with and we wish him a Happy Birthday and continued prayers.
Brown started his career as a member of New Edition until he was kicked out of the group. Brown went solo and had a chart topping second album, Don’t Be Cruel, which had a number of hit singles including “My Prerogative.” Brown also had a string of top ten hits on various Billboard charts between 1986 and 1992, and won a Grammy Award. He’s noted as a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a fusion of hip-hop and R&B.
His musical influences include R&B artists such as Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, and Prince, and James Brown. In 2012 Bobby Brown re-joined New Edition for a full-fledged reunion. At the end of 2008, the group Heads Of State was formed with members Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill & Ralph Tresvant.
