How Old Are The Members Of The R&B Group Boyz II Men?

One of the most successful R&B groups to date is Boyz II Men. The vocal quartet rose to prominence in the nineties bringing to fans a unique style of music. They are renowned for their singing prowess and soulful melodies, which have led to hits after hits that dominated charts across the world.

Initially, Boyz II Men consisted of Wanya Morris, Michael McCary, Nathan Morris, and Shawn Stockman, all equal, whose unprecedented contribution to the music industry kept them in the spotlight over the past three decades.

Their seamless blend of four-part harmonies, which enthralled fans for years, makes it slightly difficult to differentiate the members. More so, many have no idea about their age, who discovered the group, how they got their name, and many more juicy tidbits.

Read more about the music maestro group below.

For fans who have remained fascinated by their music, they would be hard-pressed to tell the difference in their ages. Clearly, their lush voices are so in sync that one might think they were born on the same day.

However, the oldest of the ensemble is Nathan and McCary. The pair shares the same year, 1971, and a June 18 and December 16 birthday. Stokman comes next, a year younger, on September 26, 1972. Wanya is the youngest, with his birth date on July 29, 1973.

In the past, speculations stirred that Nathan and Wanya were brothers due to their similar last name, Morris. After a careful check by the media, findings showed no blood ties, and the name issue was merely a coincidence.

In 2003, the quartet became a trio as McCary left the group after falling to the ill effects of multiple sclerosis. He could no longer keep up with the team's performance schedule and thought it wise to end his run with them.

The singing group started in 1988 at the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. Initially, the members kept evolving due to some graduating from the institution. However, the ensemble later stabilized, and together they started performing in street corners and other hangout spots in the city.

Their date with destiny came in 1989 when they attended a concert hoping to find superstar Will Smith and impress him with a song. Instead of meeting the rapper, they had a chance encounter with New Edition star Michael Bivens who subsequently decided to manage and produce their releases like "Motown Philly," "End of the Road," "On Bended Knee," and "I'll Make Love to You."

Bivens also discovered and manages other music acts, such as Another Bad Creation, MC Brains, and 702, all under his label, Biv 10 Records. He also serves as the producer and A&R man for his acts.

Very few music groups or artists get it right with their first stage name. Sometimes it undergoes so many changes before they stick to one that fits them.

Boyz II Men was called "Unique Attraction" in their early days. Stockman, a member, opined that he was glad they switched the name before their career blossomed. The change came when they got inspired by a song with a similar title as their current name.

"It all began when we heard New Edition's song 'Boys to Men' on the radio," Stockman recalled in an interview with People. "Nate and I were on the phone talking about changing our name because we thought the one we had sucked …Thank God that song came on. It was an evanescent moment."

Stockman also chipped in some jokes about their former stage tag, calling it gross, cheesy, and a Philadelphia name.

Boyz II Men was instrumental in reigniting the love for R&B after its long hiatus from mainstream music. The music acts have sold an eye-popping 60 million albums worldwide and currently hold the record for the best-selling R&B group of all time.

Their storied career has spanned over 20 years, consisting of a wide array of successful hits that sampled complex riffs and runs, popularized by female music maestros like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey.

Additionally, Boyz II Men can boast of being among the few music acts that have a cumulative 50 weeks as the amount of time their songs have topped the Billboard chart. They have received four Grammy Awards and recognition from Billboard magazine as the biggest boy band in the late nineties. The remaining trio still hosts performances worldwide.