Most people are familiar with Boyz II Men, one of the most successful R&B groups of all time. But did you know that there was once a fourth member in the group? His name is Michael McCary and this blog post will take a look at what happened to him after his departure from the group.
What Happened to the Fourth Member of Boyz II Men?
Michael McCary first joined Boyz II Men in 1988 when he responded to an ad placed by Nathan Morris and Marc Nelson, who had been boyhood friends since they were eight years old. With Shawn Stockman completing the quartet, Boyz II Men went on to become one of the biggest acts of the 90s, selling over 60 million albums worldwide and winning multiple Grammys.
However, in 2003 McCary left Boyz II Men due to back spasms that were eventually diagnosed as multiple sclerosis. He then decided to retire from music altogether and focus on his health. In recent years he has made occasional appearances on social media and at events honoring his former bandmates, but he has largely stayed out of the spotlight.
McCary’s absence was deeply felt by both fans and members of Boyz II Men alike. Many have speculated about whether or not he would ever rejoin the group or return to music in some other capacity, but it seems unlikely at this point. However, whatever happens with McCary’s musical career going forward, he will always remain a beloved part of music history as one-fourth part of Boyz II Men.
Early Life & Career Beginnings of Boyz II Men’s Michael McCary
Born in Philadelphia on December 16th, 1971, Michael Sean McCary was diagnosed with scoliosis as a child and spent much of his youth in a full body brace. In spite of this physical impairment, he began to develop an interest in music while still a student at Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts, ultimately joining forces with Nathan Morris and Wanya Morris to form what would later become Boyz II Men. They went on to be enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania where they continued their musical pursuits.
The trio eventually caught the attention of producer Kenneth Gamble who signed them to Motown Records in 1991 under their new name “Boyz II Men”. This marked the start of their commercial success – they released several hit singles including “Motownphilly” which topped Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1991. The following year saw even more success when their single “End Of The Road” topped Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for 13 weeks straight – becoming one of the longest-running hits ever recorded.
In 1993, Boyz II Men brought Michael McCary back into the fold for their third studio album Cooleyhighharmony which was certified nine times platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA). It was also nominated for two Grammy Awards and featured some of their biggest hits such as “It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday” and “On Bended Knee.” They went on to release several more albums over the next decade before eventually taking an indefinite hiatus from recording new material in 2003 due to health issues experienced by both McCary and Stockman.
What is He Doing Now?
Since leaving Boyz II Men in 2003, McCary has led a relatively quiet life focused on taking care of himself and growing closer to God. In an interview on YouTube channel Fingers Crossed Productions published in 2019, he said that he spends much of his time praying and meditating while also focusing on physical therapy treatments for his MS symptoms. He also said that performing is still something he loves doing but it isn’t something he prioritizes anymore because of how physically demanding it can be for him due to his MS diagnosis.
Boyz II Men Today
Despite no longer having McCary as part of the group, Boyz II Men still perform together today although they have scaled back their touring schedule significantly since the early 2000s due to other commitments such as solo projects or family obligations. They recently celebrated their 30th anniversary with a special performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City featuring all four members including McCary who joined them onstage for one last song before taking his leave. It was an emotional moment for everyone involved—a reminder that even though things aren’t always going according to plan, it’s important to focus on what we can do instead of what we can’t and make each day count!
Boyz II Men And Their Awards
Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards are music’s highest honor, and Boyz II Men have won several throughout their career. In 1993, they took home the award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for their song “End Of The Road”, while in 1996 they won Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for their rendition of “One Sweet Day” alongside Mariah Carey. They also won Grammys in 1997, 1998 and 2002 for various categories including Album of the Year, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.
American Music Awards The American Music Awards (AMAs) were created to recognize excellence in music across all genres. Over the years, Boyz II Men have been nominated for numerous AMAs and have come away with several wins. In 1993, they won Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group as well as Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group. They went on to win AMA awards in 1996, 1997 and 2000 as well.
Billboard Music Awards Billboard Music Awards recognize achievements in music based on chart performance on Billboard magazine’s chart rankings over a one-year period. Boyz II Men had incredible success on Billboard’s charts over the course of their career, so it should come as no surprise that they have racked up numerous wins at the Billboard Music Awards since 1995. Some of their biggest wins include Top Hot 100 Artist (1995), Top Hot 100 Song (1995) and Top R&B Artist (1997).
Conclusion
Michael McCary’s departure from Boyz II Men left a void that cannot be filled—both for fans and for his former bandmates alike—but it also left behind an incredible legacy that will continue to live on through their timeless music. Whether or not we ever get another chance to see Michael McCary perform again remains to be seen, but no matter what happens we can be sure that he will always remain an important part of R&B history as one-fourth part of one of the most influential vocal groups ever created.
