Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD) is an R&B ensemble from Boston, Massachusetts, and comprises Ricky Bell (born September 18, 1967), Michael Bivins (born August 10, 1968), and Ronnie DeVoe (born November 17, 1967). The trio were original members of the New Jack Swing R&B ensemble, New Edition.
As individual members of New Edition launched their own careers, Bell Biv DeVoe decided to continue as a trio. They released their debut album Poison in 1990. It reached no. 19 on Billboard Hot 200 album chart, stayed on the chart for 15 weeks, and sold more than four million copies. The album was nominated for the MTV Video Music Awards for the “Best New Artist in a Video.”
The trio also released in 1990, the album Do Me which reached no. 56 on the Billboard Hot 200. The single of the same name peaked at no. 3 on Billboard Hot 100. In 1991 the trio released the single, “BBD (I Thought it was me),” which peaked at no. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1992 BBD won the Soul Train Award for “Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album of the Year – Group, Band, or Duo” for the album Poison as well as “Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Single – Group, Band or Duo” for the single, “Poison.”
In 1993 Bell Biv DeVoe released “Something in Your Eyes” which peaked at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and remained charted for 19 weeks. The album of the same name was released later in 1993 and peaked at no. 60 on the Billboard 200 Album chart. It also sold more than 500,000 copies.
BBD had a 23-year hiatus from releasing new music until 2016 when their single, “Run” debuted and peaked at no. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and stayed charted for 21 weeks. The following year, 2017, the trio released the studio album Three Stripes which reached the Top 10 on the Urban Adult Contemporary Music Chart.
In 2020, Bell Biv DeVoe presented a live performance at the American Music Awards at The Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California. At the 10th Annual Legendary Awards in 2021 BBD was named the Trailblazer Honoree by the City Council of Atlanta for their lifetime contributions to the arts.
Otis D. Alexander, Library Director at Saint John Vianney College Seminary & Graduate School in Miami, Florida, has also directed academic and public libraries in the District of Columbia, Indiana, Texas, and Virginia. In addition, he has been a library manager in the Virgin Islands of the United States as well as in the Republic of Liberia. His research has appeared in Public Library Quarterly, Scribner’s Encyclopedia of American Lives, and Virginia Libraries journal. Alexander received the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from the University of the District of Columbia and the Master of Library & Information Science degree from Ball State University. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree from International University and studied additionally at Harvard Graduate School of Education Leadership for Academic Librarians, Oberlin Conservatory of Music Voice Performance Pedagogy, and Atlanta University School of Library & Information Studies.
