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Robert Barisford Brown (born February 5, 1969)is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Brown, alongside frequent collaborator Teddy Riley, is noted as one of the pioneers of new jack swing: a fusion of hip hop and R&B. Brown started his career in the R&B and pop group New Edition, from its inception in 1978 until his exit from the group in December 1985.

Once he started a solo career, Brown enjoyed commercial and critical success with his second album Don’t Be Cruel (1988) which spawned five Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles, including the number one hit “My Prerogative”, and the Grammy Award-winning “Every Little Step”.  In 1989, Brown contributed two songs to the soundtrack of Ghostbusters II. In 1992, Brown married the superstar singer Whitney Houston, with whom he later had a daughter named Bobbi Kristina Brown. The couple’s drug issues and domestic disputes made them tabloid fodder.

1. Ron Galella Archive – File Photos 2011

Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2011 Source:Getty

Singer Bobby Brown and singer Whitney Houston attend the 15th Annual MTV Video Music Awards on September 10, 1998 at Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) vertical,celebrities,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,music,film industry,singer,whitney houston,bobby brown – singer,amphitheater,mtv video music awards,universal city

2. Ron Galella Archive – File Photos 2011

Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2011 Source:Getty

Singer Whitney Houston, singer Bobby Brown and daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown attend the Fourth Annual International Achievement in Arts Awards on October 11, 1998 at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) vertical,color image,photography,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,music,film industry,singer,males,females,daughter,child,girls,whitney houston,award,the beverly hilton hotel,annual event,bobby brown – singer,three quarter length,achievement,bobbi kristina brown – television personality,beverly hills – california,1998

3. Ron Galella Archive – File Photos 2011

Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2011 Source:Getty

Singer Ronnie DeVoe, singer Bobby Brown, singer Ricky Bell, singer Michael Bivins and singer Johnny Gill of New Edition attend the Seventh Annual Billboard Music Awards on December 4, 1996 at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts, Aladdin Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) arts culture and entertainment,attending,horizontal,usa,music,film industry,singer,new,las vegas,bobby brown – singer,casino,performing arts event,michael bivins,ronnie devoe,ricky bell,johnny gill,aladdin theatre,billboard music awards,new edition – band

4. Bobby Brown In ‘A Thin Line Between Love and Hate’

Bobby Brown In 'A Thin Line Between Love and Hate' Source:Getty

Bobby Brown in a scene from the film ‘A Thin Line Between Love and Hate’, 1996. (Photo by Savoy Pictures/Getty Images) vertical,arts culture and entertainment,movie,film industry,1990-1999,bobby brown – singer

5. Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston…

Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston... Source:Getty

NEW YORK, NY – CIRCA 1994: Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston circa 1994 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty Images) vertical,photography,arts culture and entertainment,usa,new york city,males,1990-1999,whitney houston,bobby brown – singer

6. Ron Galella Archive – File Photos 2011

Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2011 Source:Getty

Singer Bobby Brown and daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown attend the Eighth Annual Soul Train Music Awards on March 15, 1994 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) vertical,color image,photography,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,music,film industry,singer,city of los angeles,males,females,daughter,child,girls,bobby brown – singer,carrying,celebrity sightings,red carpet event,shrine auditorium,soul train music awards,1994,bobbi kristina brown – television personality

7. THE AMERICAN SINGER BOBBY BROWN IN PARIS

THE AMERICAN SINGER BOBBY BROWN IN PARIS Source:Getty

THE AMERICAN SINGER BOBBY BROWN IN PARIS (Photo by Eric Robert/Sygma/Sygma via Getty Images) photography,people,horizontal,paris – france,portrait,singer,1990-1999,bobby brown – singer,human interest

8. Bobby Brown

Bobby Brown Source:Getty

Bobby Brown on 08.10.1992 in München / Munich. (Photo by Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty Images) vertical,photography,arts culture and entertainment,musician,music,singer,1990-1999,germany,eyeglasses,bobby brown – singer,munich,soul music

9. Ron Galella Archive – File Photos 2011

Ron Galella Archive - File Photos 2011 Source:Getty

Singer Bobby Brown and singer Whitney Houston attend the United Negro College Fund’s 46th Annual Awards Dinner/Frederick D. Patterson Award to Whitney Houston on March 8, 1990 at the Sheraton Centre in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) vertical,arts culture and entertainment,attending,usa,new york city,music,film industry,singer,whitney houston,bobby brown – singer,united negro college fund

10. Bobby Brown At The Apollo

Bobby Brown At The Apollo Source:Getty

Low-angle view of American singer and rapper Bobby Brown at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, New York, New York, February 9, 1990. (Photo by Rita Barros/Getty Images)

11. Bobby Brown Live In Concert

Bobby Brown Live In Concert Source:Getty

CHICAGO – JULY 1988: Singer Bobby Brown performs during the ‘Hal Jackson’s Talented Teens’ competition at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago, Illinois in July 1988. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) microphone,photography,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,waist up,music,concert,performance,singer,dancing,1980-1989,competition,black and white,archival,bobby brown – singer,artist,illinois,chicago – illinois,popular music concert,singing,compact disc,pop music,r&b,arie crown theater,stage – performance space,hip hop music

12. Bobby Brown Live In Concert

Bobby Brown Live In Concert Source:Getty

Singer Bobby Brown (Robert Barisford Brown) performs during the ‘Hal Jackson’s Talented Teens’ competition at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago, Illinois in July 1988. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) microphone,color image,photography,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,concert,performance,singer,1980-1989,competition,archival,bobby brown – singer,artist,illinois,chicago – illinois,three quarter length,popular music concert,singing,compact disc,pop music,r&b,dance music,arie crown theater,stage – performance space,hip hop music

13. New Edition Live In Concert

New Edition Live In Concert Source:Getty

MERRILLVILLE, IN – 1985: Singer Bobby Brown (Robert Barisford Brown) of New Edition poses for photos outside his hotel room at the Holiday Star Theatre in Merrillville, Indiana in 1985. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) photography,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,looking at camera,waist up,portrait,concert,singer,1980-1989,black and white,archival,bobby brown – singer,artist,popular music concert,compact disc,hotel,pop music,r&b,indiana

14. New Edition Live In Concert

New Edition Live In Concert Source:Getty

MERRILLVILLE, IN – 1985: Singer Bobby Brown (Robert Barisford Brown) of New Edition performs at the Holiday Star Theatre in Merrillville, Indiana in 1985. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) vertical,microphone,photography,people,one person,arts culture and entertainment,usa,concert,performance,singer,1980-1989,black and white,archival,bobby brown – singer,artist,three quarter length,popular music concert,singing,compact disc,pop music,r&b,indiana,stage – performance space

15. New Edition Promotional Visit In Gary, Indiana

New Edition Promotional Visit In Gary, Indiana Source:Getty

GARY, IN – JANUARY 1984: Singers Ralph Tresvant, Bobby Brown, Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell and Ronnie DeVoe of New Edition poses for photos backstage at Screamin’ Wheels Roller Rink in Gary, Indiana in January 1983. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) photography,people,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,looking at camera,portrait,singer,new,1980-1989,black and white,archival,bobby brown – singer,artist,three quarter length,compact disc,backstage,michael bivins,ronnie devoe,ricky bell,pop music,r&b,ice rink,ralph tresvant,indiana,small group of people,gary – indiana

16. New Edition Vs. California All-Stars In Chicago

New Edition Vs. California All-Stars In Chicago Source:Getty

CHICAGO – 1984: Singers Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant, Ronnie DeVoe (standing), Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins of New Edition poses for photos during a celebrity basketball game with The California All-Stars at Chicago State University in Chicago, Illinois in 1984. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images) photography,celebrities,people,arts culture and entertainment,horizontal,usa,portrait,singer,1980-1989,basketball – sport,black and white,archival,bobby brown – singer,artist,illinois,chicago – illinois,three quarter length,match – sport,compact disc,michael bivins,ronnie devoe,ricky bell,r&b,soul music,ralph tresvant,small group of people