Heads of State also known as
BGT was formed at the end of 2008 by
New Edition members
Bobby Brown,
Johnny Gill and
Ralph Tresvant. During the Home Again tour in 1997,
Jam & Lewis, who suggested that the other three members of New Edition
Ricky Bell,
Michael Bivins and
Ronnie DeVoe form
Bell Biv DeVoe in 1990, also suggested that Bobby, Ralph and Johnny form a trio, but they were never able to accomplish their goal until 2008. They began touring in 2008 as a trio on the Summit Tour. On July 3, 2011, Heads Of State reunited with Bell Biv DeVoe as "New Edition" for the
Essence Music Festival in
New Orleans, Louisiana. As of 2011, Bobby, Ralph and Johnny were still touring as "Heads of State", as well as working on their solo projects.