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Spotlight on 'Celebrity Squares': Bobby Brown

The iconic artist, from founding New Edition to his solo success and surprising roles, has traversed music, film, and even 'Celebrity Squares.'

Bobby Brown takes center square on "Celebrity Squares" to help a marketing specialist from Houston and a security guard from Oklahoma City win a cash prize. His breadth of experience with life — and his has been an eventful one, through tragedy and triumph — might be helpful when it comes to having random knowledge and knowing some things to help one of the contestants win. His name rings bells in plenty of households, but let’s refresh and take a look at five highlights from Bobby Brown’s career throughout the years.  

Founding New Edition 

New Edition is what jump-started his career. At 12, Bobby Brown gathered his childhood friends in Boston to create a boy group inspired by the Jackson 5.  The result was the first iteration of New Edition, which included Ricky Bell, Ronnie DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant, and Michael Bivins. Their debut album, Candy Girl, came out in 1983, and it featured hits such as “Is This the End,” “Popcorn Love,” Candy Girl,” and “Jealous Girl,” which topped charts in the US and the UK. 

Flying Solo 

The fellas in New Edition have all established themselves as individual talents. However, Bobby Brown made it hard to keep eyes off him with his raunchy dancing, rapper-like posturing, and his sense of style. The above caused some riffs between Bobby and his band, but when he broke out as a solo artist, he let his bad boy flag fly. In 1988, he went on a successful tour to promote his debut album, Don’t Be Cruel. He got a lot of flack from critics who felt that he was too crude but that didn’t stop him from winning an American Music Award in two categories in 1990, and then again three years later. 

Reuniting With New Edition

There has been some off-and-on fallout with New Edition group members, especially regarding Bobby Brown. However, these days, bygones are bygones and he’s back with the group. Together, they’ve toured, performed at the Essence Fest, and have a residency in Las Vegas. 

Ghostbusters II

Ghostbusters II is a cult classic, whether you love it or hate it, and Bobby Brown was a part of that in a surprisingly huge way. He had a cameo in the 1989 film as the mayor’s doorman in what became his first acting role. He also created the film’s lead single, “On Our Own,” which peaked at number one on US Billboard and charted highly in New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, and the UK.  

He’s the King of the Kitchen

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The late Whitney Houston famously declared Brown, “the King of R&B.” He has also been known as “the King of the Stage,” and for a long time, only people who were closest to him also knew him as “the King of the Kitchen.” That’s because he loves to cook and became known for his barbeque, actually, that’s “Bobby Q.” Eventually, he decided to share that talent with the world via Bobby Brown Foods, where you can purchase sauces, seasonings, accessories, and recipes.

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