Boyz II Men: Wayna Morris, Nathan Morris and Shawn Stockman
‘Philadelphia Hometown Icons Boyz II Men’
Philadelphia natives and members of the Grammy Award-winning R&B group Boyz II Men, Nathan Morris, Wayna Morris and Shawn Stockman, joined the city’s dedication ceremony on June 24, 2017 outside where they were once aspiring young musicians with big dreams at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.
The signage marking Philadelphia’s official “Boyz II Men Boulevard” was presented at Broad and Christian streets. The street signs will be shown at a portion of the Avenue of the Arts South side at the sections of South Broad Street from Christian to Carpenter streets.
Boyz II Men member Shawn Stockman, from Southwest Philly, said they were humbled to have the city that gave them so much and the school that brought them together from their respective parts of town recognize them.
“It’s a real, real honor to know that the city that raised us, this city that practically brought us up musically and otherwise were gracious and kind enough to give us this honor.” “We thank Creative and Performing Arts for teaching us and for putting us together.”
Another member, Nathan Morris, said Philadelphia is what the group is about, that the city has been a part of their career for the past 25 years.
“It’s really, really special for me because I literally lived three blocks away, and before this was a school I used to come down here and sit up on the steps and write songs. And every now and then I’d tell myself that I was going to buy this place and make it my house.”
Philadelphia City Councilmen Kenyatta Johnson said the vocal group’s success is an aspirational message for all young Philadelphians.
“They show you that every young person here in the City of Philadelphia can follow their goals, their dreams and aspirations despite their zip code, despite their neighborhood, despite anything that they may be going through in their personal lives or their family lives. If Boyz II Men can do it, every last young person out here in this crowd and every young person that attend this school can do it.”
Here are Boyz II Men singing MotownPhilly at the Wawa Welcome America 4th of July concert outside of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on July 4, 2017.
Philadelphia hometown icons Boyz II Men, the best-selling R&B group of all time with an astounding 64 million albums sold. The trio has earned four Grammy Awards, nine American Music Awards, nine Soul Train Awards, three Billboard Awards, a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2011 a MOBO Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music throughout their 25-year career
Above the CAPA vocal students performed an Acapella rendition of “Motown Philly,” and then a signature CAPA mashup, “Medley America” with the hometown Boyz II Men joining in.
A street sign that reads ‘Boyz II Men Blvd’ hangs at Broad and Carpenter streets.
Photos & Video By Jeff Belonger for MyPhillyAlive
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