Today Jonathan talks with Maurice Starr who is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. A Little About: 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. The group produced a number of U.S. Top 10 R&B; hit singles and a Top 5 hit ("Cool it Now") in the Billboard Hot 100. Creative differences caused Starr and New Edition to go their separate ways, and eventually the band split up. Two of the members, Bobby Brown and Ralph Tresvant, went on to have successful solo careers, while the three others formed the award-winning group Bell Biv DeVoe. In 1984, Starr created New Kids on the Block, a band consisting of five male teenagers, brothers Jordan Knight and Jonathan Knight, with Danny Wood, Donnie Wahlberg and Joey McIntyre. Starr intended New Kids on the Block to be a white version of New Edition; he stated "I honestly believe that if they'd been white, (the group) would have been 20 times as big." By 1989, New Kids On The Block was the fastest-rising act in the United States. Starr also handled the group’s lucrative marketing of posters, T-shirts, and other spin-offs. Starr later attempted to repeat his success with artists such as Perfect Gentlemen, Rick Wes, Homework, the Superiors, Tommy Page and Ana. Starr has started to work independently with non-mainstream groups. He is currently managing New Kriation, a boy band he assembled, along with producing and writing their songs. Watch it on AccessTV.org or GO Mobile • Share it with Colleagues, family, friends, and foe, that way you can help keep them in the know. The AccessTV.org Network is Funded by J. Stan and Nyesha McCauley. Additional support made possible by community volunteers. Help me make more fresh quality content. Every contribution is helpful, big or small. Click to Support: http://accesstv.org/archives/3628 Get our Mobile App: http://mob.accesstv.org/ Be a force for good! If you can't save the world - save someone that can! Thanks for Watching! J. Stan McCauley www.Jstan1.net

• published: 06 Aug 2015
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