Maurice Starr
Maurice Starr (born Larry Curtis Johnson, 1953) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. Though trying his hand at a solo career, he's best known for his work creating songs and albums with pop and soul bands such as Con Funk Shun, New Edition, and the New Kids on the Block.
Biography
Originally from Deland, Florida, Johnson moved to Boston, Massachusetts, in the early 1970s. As an artist, Johnson was a member of The Johnson Brothers (not to be confused with The Brothers Johnson from Los Angeles, California) and the seminal electro group known as the Jonzun Crew with brothers Michael Jonzun and Soni Jonzun. In 1980, Johnson changed his name to Maurice Starr and recorded two R&B albums, Flaming Starr and Spacey Lady. Unsuccessful as a solo artist, and described as "a cross between Berry Gordy and P.T. Barnum," Starr decided to create a band to perform the songs that he wrote.
In 1982, Starr discovered the band New Edition on his talent show. He co-wrote and co-produced their debut album with the hits, "Candy Girl", Is This The End", and "Popcorn Love". After the album that produced these singles, creative differences caused Starr and New Edition to go their separate ways. The group continued to produce a number of U.S. Top 10 R&B hit singles and a Top 5 hit ("Cool it Now") in the Billboard Hot 100. Three of the members, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, and Ralph Tresvant, went on to have successful solo careers, while the three others formed the award-winning group Bell Biv DeVoe.