Biography
Ronald Boyd DeVoe Jr. (born November 17, 1967), also known by nicknames such as Ronnie, RBDJr, RD, Ronnie D, and Big Ron, is a member of the R&B/pop group New Edition and the R&B/hip hop group Bell Biv DeVoe.
DeVoe was the second-to-last addition to New Edition, with Johnny Gill being the final member, recruited by his uncle and the group's choreographer, Brooke Payne. In 1981, New Edition placed second in a talent show, attracting the attention of record producer Maurice Starr, who signed them to his Streetwise label. The group went on to become the top-selling boy band of the mid to late 1980s.
Following New Edition's breakup in 1990, DeVoe teamed up with fellow members Ricky Bell and Michael Bivins to form the R&B/hip-hop group Bell Biv DeVoe. Their debut album, Poison, released in 1990, sold over 5 million copies and produced five hit singles, including "Poison" and "B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me)?". They have released four albums to date, with DeVoe continuing to perform and record with both Bell Biv DeVoe and New Edition.
In 2018, DeVoe began making guest appearances on Bravo's series The Real Housewives of Atlanta, frequently seen alongside his wife Shamari, who became a regular cast member starting with Season 11 on November 4, 2018. Shamari was part of the 1990s singing group Blaque.
DeVoe is also co-owner of DeVoe Broker Associates, a real estate agency based in Atlanta, Georgia.
