Msg# 2

 INTRODUCING - Before the Legend: The Rise of New Kids on the Block and a Guy Named Maurice Starr by Tony Rose - On Sale Now!! - amberbooks

  Before the Legend:  The Rise of New Kids on the Block and... a Guy Named Maurice Starr - The Early Years " by Tony Rose (Colossus Books, ISBN# 978-0-9790976-7-6, $15.00, 184 Pages, Trade Paperback, Photos) - SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY SALE ENDS OCTOBER 1 - JUST $10 (click here) http://www.newkidsbook.com/  ARTICLES     BAY STATE BANNER New bio looks back at New Kids' Hub origins Reunited after a 14-year hiatus, the New Kids on the Block have returned to the pop music scene. In his new book “Before the Legend: The Rise of the New Kids on the Block and a Guy Named Maurice Starr, The Early Years (An Unauthorized Biography),” author Tony Rose looks at the group’s beginnings, including their Roxbury connections. (Photo courtesy of Interscopre Records) Banner Staff After a 14-year hiatus, 1980s pop icons The New Kids on the Block reunited earlier this year, releasing a new single called “Summertime” and a new album, “The Block.” With its first new material since breaking up in 1994, the group hopes to reprise some of the glory of their halcyon years when they were the most successful young musical group since the Jackson Five, starring Michael Jackson. While all five members of the group are white — Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Danny Wood and Joey McIntyre — some readers might not understand that they are still homeboys. In the recently published “Before the Legend: The Rise of the New Kids on the Block and a Guy Named Maurice Starr, The Early Years (An Unauthorized Biography),” author Tony Rose provides an encyclopedic history of the music industry in Boston. Rose was once a card-carrying member of Roxbury’s society of music promoters. Without question, the most musically talented member of the society was Maurice Starr, formerly Lawrence “Larry” Johnson. After the enormous commercial success of the Jackson Five, Starr realized that youth groups would always eventually age out, leaving the market open to a successor. Starr’s first discovery was New Edition, a group from Roxbury’s Orchard Park in Roxbury that featured Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. The group was successful, but they jumped to a major national label before Starr could benefit from his mastery. Rose points out that the requirement for racial integration in the Boston schools brought white youngsters from Dorchester and Jamaica Plain into contact with the black musical culture. After an intense audition, Starr recruited the five young teenagers to form the new group. It took two years of hard work, and many long hours spent at the 27 Dudley Street studio, before success dawned in 1986. Eight years later, predictably, the NKOTB had aged out. Rose has written an interesting and compelling story of how the music business works, and how five lads from Dorchester and Jamaica Plain became international stars, from the perspective of someone who was actively involved in the saga.  CVN NEWS  Big time record producer and book publisher Tony Rose releases his biography of Before The Legend: The Rise of  New Kids on the Block and...A Guy named Maurice Starr-The Early Years The story of the sensational teenage pop group from Boston that went to the top page 11   GANNETT NEWS SERVICE - 10 MILLION READERS   Boy band guru Maurice Starr content to sit out New Kids reunion By CHRIS JORDAN • Staff Writer • September 19, 2008 It all came back to Tony Rose when saw the New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo perform the new New Kids song "Single" on the "Today" show in April. It was a case of the New Kids' "Starr" — as in Maurice Starr — training in action. "They were trained to always defer to the writers and producers because that's who's responsible for your hits," said Rose, a Boston music insider who penned the book "Before the Legend: The Rise of New Kids on the Block and a Guy Named Maurice Starr — The Early Years." "So when they came back after a commercial break, they stood by and deferred to (collaborator) Ne-Yo while he was being interviewed." "Maurice trained them from A to Z." The legacy of Starr — the former Boston-based music guru who founded Beantown's New Edition and the New Kids on the Block, which ultimately begot the teen pop rage of the late '90s — is largely being overlooked as the press touts the New Kids' comeback, Rose said. That's fine with Starr. "It's not a big deal to me," said Starr about whether or not he was getting the appropriate recognition. "It doesn't bother me in the least — I'm just doing my thing." Despite the attention grabbing last name, Starr is a reserved star, Rose said. "Maurice didn't go to Hollywood and he didn't go to Beverly Hills because he's a laid back, country guy," Rose said. "He loved helping people and he loved showing how to do the thing real professionally. Maurice was the Roxbury (Mass.) scene and he grew up in a band and he had the dance steps and the musicianship. He knew that the suit had to be pressed and the shoes had to be spit-shined. And when you hit the stage, you had to be ready and on time, that's how Maurice was. "He's overlooked now, but he's the type of guy who would be overlooked." Recent Starr projects include a new boy group, the Heartbeat Boys and a Florida-based Internet radio station, http://www.starr98.com/ which played nothing but Starr-related music. It's no longer broadcasting. Starr, 54, is now living comfortably in DeLand, Fla. The town where he grew up is where he returned to after making music history in Roxbury. "Life is good," Starr said. "I'm enjoying my fried chicken, mashed potatoes and coleslaw." THE BOSTON HERALD   Building Block: Author Rose tells story of New Kids’ ‘Rise’ By Jed GottliebWednesday, September 24, 2008 Jed Gottlieb writes about music, film and pop culture for local, regional and national publications.   Great boy bands come with great svengalis. The Backstreet Boys and ’N Sync had swindler Lou Pearlman; the Jackson 5 had father/taskmaster Joe Jackson; and New Edition and New Kids on the Block had Maurice Starr, a Roxbury-based musical genius and entrepreneur. Starr invented the modern boy band in the mid-’80s, when he applied his New Edition r & b formula to five white teens from Boston. Starr was the man behind New Kids - who return as grown men to play the TD Banknorth Garden Friday and on Sunday - but Tony Rose was the man behind Starr. OK, not quite behind, but next to. Rose secured Starr’s first major label record deal and later recorded early New Kids material at his Boston studio. Both Rose and Starr parted ways with the New Kids before the group disbanded in 1994. Retired from the music business, Rose is now an Arizona-based publisher and author. He spoke with the Herald about his new book, “Before the Legend: The Rise of New Kids on the Block and . . . a Guy Named Maurice Starr-The Early Years.” Herald: Obviously the book capitalizes on the New Kids reunion, but it’s clear from what you write that you really wanted to tell Starr’s back story. Rose: Yes, it’s in the moment. But it’s also a history of the black Boston music scene that came out of Roxbury. New Edition, Maurice, all of us. It was a great time. A lot of girls, a lot of money going around, a lot of records were being made. When did Maurice realize he could create a white New Edition? New Edition was basically a younger version of (Starr’s) first band with his brothers. He always wanted to replicate what the Jackson 5 had. And he did in New Edition. (Sings) “Candy Girl.” “A-B-C.” You hear that similarity? (laughs) With the New Kids his template was more the Osmonds, with Joey (McIntyre) being his Donny. Were there any problems with Maurice crossing the racial divide from black r & b to white pop? In 1988 or ’89, Maurice and I were standing on Lansdowne Street outside a club and Gov. Dukakis showed up and almost knocked Maurice down. He and his staff were trying to get through to meet the New Kids. Maurice was right there, ready to shake his hand, but nobody knew it was Maurice behind the band. It just couldn’t be this guy. Before anybody had a chance to make a negative noise about black and white issues, it was already done. The records were selling, the video was on MTV and the band was about to be big all over the world. Do you see Maurice’s influence in the reunited, now grownup New Kids? Sure. When you go to the Maurice Starr school of music you learn how to sing and dance and be a gentleman. It’s “Yes, sir. No, sir” with shoes shined and clothes clean. You were trained heavily. I saw the New Kids on the “Today” show with Ne-Yo. When it was time for Ne-Yo to talk they stepped back and were respectful. That’s Maurice’s doing. Is Maurice done or will we ever see another boy band project? Oh, it’s coming. For a while Maurice (who left Boston in 1993 and now lives in Florida) went into gospel in Atlanta, but he’s coming back into the pop world with a new band called the Heartbeat Boys. Don’t worry. He’ll be back. New Kids on the Block, with Natasha Bedingfield, at the TD Banknorth Garden, Friday and Sunday. Tickets: $35-$75; 617-931-2000. Advertisment The New Kids on the Block      

Msg# 1

 INTRODUCING Before the Legend - The Rise of New Kids on the Block and a Guy Named Maurice Starr - The early Years - amberbooks

  Before the Legend:  The Rise of New Kids on the Block and... a Guy Named Maurice Starr - The Early Years " by Tony Rose (Colossus Books, ISBN# 978-0-9790976-7-6, $15.00, 184 Pages, Trade Paperback, Photos) - SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY SALE ENDS OCTOBER 1 - JUST $10 (click here) To Look Inside the Book Go to http://www.newkidsbook.com/  ARTICLES     BAY STATE BANNER New bio looks back at New Kids' Hub origins Reunited after a 14-year hiatus, the New Kids on the Block have returned to the pop music scene. In his new book “Before the Legend: The Rise of the New Kids on the Block and a Guy Named Maurice Starr, The Early Years (An Unauthorized Biography),” author Tony Rose looks at the group’s beginnings, including their Roxbury connections. (Photo courtesy of Interscopre Records) Banner Staff After a 14-year hiatus, 1980s pop icons The New Kids on the Block reunited earlier this year, releasing a new single called “Summertime” and a new album, “The Block.” With its first new material since breaking up in 1994, the group hopes to reprise some of the glory of their halcyon years when they were the most successful young musical group since the Jackson Five, starring Michael Jackson. While all five members of the group are white — Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Danny Wood and Joey McIntyre — some readers might not understand that they are still homeboys. In the recently published “Before the Legend: The Rise of the New Kids on the Block and a Guy Named Maurice Starr, The Early Years (An Unauthorized Biography),” author Tony Rose provides an encyclopedic history of the music industry in Boston. Rose was once a card-carrying member of Roxbury’s society of music promoters. Without question, the most musically talented member of the society was Maurice Starr, formerly Lawrence “Larry” Johnson. After the enormous commercial success of the Jackson Five, Starr realized that youth groups would always eventually age out, leaving the market open to a successor. Starr’s first discovery was New Edition, a group from Roxbury’s Orchard Park in Roxbury that featured Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins and Ronnie DeVoe. The group was successful, but they jumped to a major national label before Starr could benefit from his mastery. Rose points out that the requirement for racial integration in the Boston schools brought white youngsters from Dorchester and Jamaica Plain into contact with the black musical culture. After an intense audition, Starr recruited the five young teenagers to form the new group. It took two years of hard work, and many long hours spent at the 27 Dudley Street studio, before success dawned in 1986. Eight years later, predictably, the NKOTB had aged out. Rose has written an interesting and compelling story of how the music business works, and how five lads from Dorchester and Jamaica Plain became international stars, from the perspective of someone who was actively involved in the saga.  CVN NEWS  Big time record producer and book publisher Tony Rose releases his biography of Before The Legend: The Rise of  New Kids on the Block and...A Guy named Maurice Starr-The Early Years The story of the sensational teenage pop group from Boston that went to the top page 11   GANNETT NEWS SERVICE - 10 MILLION READERS   Boy band guru Maurice Starr content to sit out New Kids reunion By CHRIS JORDAN • Staff Writer • September 19, 2008 It all came back to Tony Rose when saw the New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo perform the new New Kids song "Single" on the "Today" show in April. It was a case of the New Kids' "Starr" — as in Maurice Starr — training in action. "They were trained to always defer to the writers and producers because that's who's responsible for your hits," said Rose, a Boston music insider who penned the book "Before the Legend: The Rise of New Kids on the Block and a Guy Named Maurice Starr — The Early Years." "So when they came back after a commercial break, they stood by and deferred to (collaborator) Ne-Yo while he was being interviewed." "Maurice trained them from A to Z." The legacy of Starr — the former Boston-based music guru who founded Beantown's New Edition and the New Kids on the Block, which ultimately begot the teen pop rage of the late '90s — is largely being overlooked as the press touts the New Kids' comeback, Rose said. That's fine with Starr. "It's not a big deal to me," said Starr about whether or not he was getting the appropriate recognition. "It doesn't bother me in the least — I'm just doing my thing." Despite the attention grabbing last name, Starr is a reserved star, Rose said. "Maurice didn't go to Hollywood and he didn't go to Beverly Hills because he's a laid back, country guy," Rose said. "He loved helping people and he loved showing how to do the thing real professionally. Maurice was the Roxbury (Mass.) scene and he grew up in a band and he had the dance steps and the musicianship. He knew that the suit had to be pressed and the shoes had to be spit-shined. And when you hit the stage, you had to be ready and on time, that's how Maurice was. "He's overlooked now, but he's the type of guy who would be overlooked." Recent Starr projects include a new boy group, the Heartbeat Boys and a Florida-based Internet radio station, http://www.starr98.com/ which played nothing but Starr-related music. It's no longer broadcasting. Starr, 54, is now living comfortably in DeLand, Fla. The town where he grew up is where he returned to after making music history in Roxbury. "Life is good," Starr said. "I'm enjoying my fried chicken, mashed potatoes and coleslaw." THE BOSTON HERALD   Building Block: Author Rose tells story of New Kids’ ‘Rise’ By Jed GottliebWednesday, September 24, 2008 Jed Gottlieb writes about music, film and pop culture for local, regional and national publications.   Great boy bands come with great svengalis. The Backstreet Boys and ’N Sync had swindler Lou Pearlman; the Jackson 5 had father/taskmaster Joe Jackson; and New Edition and New Kids on the Block had Maurice Starr, a Roxbury-based musical genius and entrepreneur. Starr invented the modern boy band in the mid-’80s, when he applied his New Edition r & b formula to five white teens from Boston. Starr was the man behind New Kids - who return as grown men to play the TD Banknorth Garden Friday and on Sunday - but Tony Rose was the man behind Starr. OK, not quite behind, but next to. Rose secured Starr’s first major label record deal and later recorded early New Kids material at his Boston studio. Both Rose and Starr parted ways with the New Kids before the group disbanded in 1994. Retired from the music business, Rose is now an Arizona-based publisher and author. He spoke with the Herald about his new book, “Before the Legend: The Rise of New Kids on the Block and . . . a Guy Named Maurice Starr-The Early Years.” Herald: Obviously the book capitalizes on the New Kids reunion, but it’s clear from what you write that you really wanted to tell Starr’s back story. Rose: Yes, it’s in the moment. But it’s also a history of the black Boston music scene that came out of Roxbury. New Edition, Maurice, all of us. It was a great time. A lot of girls, a lot of money going around, a lot of records were being made. When did Maurice realize he could create a white New Edition? New Edition was basically a younger version of (Starr’s) first band with his brothers. He always wanted to replicate what the Jackson 5 had. And he did in New Edition. (Sings) “Candy Girl.” “A-B-C.” You hear that similarity? (laughs) With the New Kids his template was more the Osmonds, with Joey (McIntyre) being his Donny. Were there any problems with Maurice crossing the racial divide from black r & b to white pop? In 1988 or ’89, Maurice and I were standing on Lansdowne Street outside a club and Gov. Dukakis showed up and almost knocked Maurice down. He and his staff were trying to get through to meet the New Kids. Maurice was right there, ready to shake his hand, but nobody knew it was Maurice behind the band. It just couldn’t be this guy. Before anybody had a chance to make a negative noise about black and white issues, it was already done. The records were selling, the video was on MTV and the band was about to be big all over the world. Do you see Maurice’s influence in the reunited, now grownup New Kids? Sure. When you go to the Maurice Starr school of music you learn how to sing and dance and be a gentleman. It’s “Yes, sir. No, sir” with shoes shined and clothes clean. You were trained heavily. I saw the New Kids on the “Today” show with Ne-Yo. When it was time for Ne-Yo to talk they stepped back and were respectful. That’s Maurice’s doing. Is Maurice done or will we ever see another boy band project? Oh, it’s coming. For a while Maurice (who left Boston in 1993 and now lives in Florida) went into gospel in Atlanta, but he’s coming back into the pop world with a new band called the Heartbeat Boys. Don’t worry. He’ll be back. New Kids on the Block, with Natasha Bedingfield, at the TD Banknorth Garden, Friday and Sunday. Tickets: $35-$75; 617-931-2000. Advertisment The New Kids on the Block