Robert Barisford Brown, an American singer, composer, and dancer, was born on February 5, 1969. Brown is credited as being one of the creators of new jack swing, a fusion of hip hop and R&B, along with Teddy Riley, a regular partner. From the group’s formation in 1978 until his departure in December 1985, Brown began his professional career with the R&B and pop group New Edition.
In his second album Don’t Be Cruel (1988), which produced five Billboard Hot 100 top 10 songs, including the number one hit “My Prerogative” and the Grammy Award-winning “Every Little Step,” Brown found commercial and critical success after launching a solo career. Brown’s next album, Bobby (1992), produced several singles, including “Humpin’ Around,” “Go Away,” and “Good Enough.” Brown contributed two songs to the Ghostbusters II soundtrack in 1989. Bobby went three times platinum, but its sales did not match those of its predecessor. Almost 50 million copies of Brown have been sold worldwide. A daughter named Bobbi Kristina Brown was born to Brown and Whitney Houston, who were married in 1992.
Brown has made appearances in the movies Two Can Play That Game and A Narrow Line Between Love and Hate. In 1996–1997, he rejoined New Edition for a reunion album and tour, and he did so once more in 2005, this time with all six members. Being Bobby Brown, a reality television program from 2005, featuring Brown and Houston. Houston, who divorced two years later in 2007, passed away in 2012, and their daughter did too in 2015.