Boyz II Men, one of the most successful recording acts of the 1990s, is bringing a powerful catalog of smooth-flowing rhythm-and-blues hits to Horseshoe Casino in Hammond on Friday.
Their smash songs include 1992’s “End of the Road,” which stayed atop Billboard’s pop-singles chart for three months.
Likewise potent was 1994’s “I’ll Make Love to You,” which topped the same chart for 14 weeks.
Surpassing both was the multiplatinum “One Sweet Day,” a duet with Mariah Carey that was released in late 1995 and stayed at No. 1 for 16 weeks.
“We look at the ’90s as probably one of the last true musical eras. Everything has changed since the ’90s,” Nathan Morris, founding member of Boyz II Men, said in a phone interview. “We grew up hearing some doo-wop stuff from the ’50s and ’60s, and the real strong R&B from the Temptations, and Earth, Wind & Fire from the ’70s.”
The ’80s magic of Luther Vandross had an impact on Boyz II Men.
The ’90s glory days were good to the thoughtful, mainstream efforts of Morris and company, but that period is gone.
“We look at it as a great time for us, we also look at it as a great time for the music,” Morris said. “It’s kind of remorseful for us to look back now and realize that music will never be that way again.”
Boyz II Men began making the ’90s their own when they burst onto the national scene in 1991 with “Motownphilly,” which reached the Top 10. As a quartet, the group would notch 10 more hit singles before 1995 was over, eventually selling more than 64 million albums worldwide.
Boyz II Men is now performing as a trio that includes tenors Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris, no relation to Nathan Morris.
“People don’t realize our fourth member’s been gone for 17 years, almost 18 years now,” Morris said. “I mean, we’ve kind of adjusted.”
Having won multiple Grammy Awards, Boyz II Men announced late last year that they were extending their residency at the Mirage Hotel & Casino through December 2018. They perform at the Las Vegas tourist spot on select weekend dates.
“We love it,” Morris, 44, said of the residency. “It’s something that we’ve always wanted to do.”
He points to younger pop stars such as Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez as proof that playing Las Vegas is not just for older acts.
Boyz II Men has performed at the West Side Theatre in Gary.
“I love their music and their harmonies,” said Mark Spencer, artistic director of the West Side Theatre Guild. “Their sound transcends time and style. They are very talented and a timeless group.”
Wanya Morris is showing off a different kind of talent as one of the contestants on season 22 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Nathan Morris is expecting big things.
“I might be biased, but I think he’s going to win the whole thing,” Nathan Morris said. “I’m hoping that he’ll win, but I think he’ll do very well.”
Morris would like the public to remember the effort that he and his comrades put forth in building their legacy.
“We just want people to know that every time we were asked to perform, or any record that we ever sing on, we gave it everything we got and everything we had,” the Philadelphia native said. “We just pride ourselves on trying our best to become one of the best vocal groups ever.”
Boyz II Men
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Where: The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond
When: 8 p.m. Friday
Tickets: $60, $75 and $85; must be at least 21 to attend
Information: 219-473-7000
.
Bob Kostanczuk is a freelance reporter.