New CD For Boyz II Men

(CBS)  When the group Boyz II Men debuted its first album in 1991, the performers showcased their ability to master ballads. Now after selling 60 million albums and winning four Grammys, Boyz II Men is back with its fifth CD, called Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya. It hit stores Tuesday.

The group members, Nathan Morris, Michael McCary, Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris, explained to CBS News Early Show Anchor Bryant Gumbel what they've been doing for the past three years since their last CD.

Mike has been involved with sports management, Shawn has a movie production company and Wanya has an entertainment company called Wanya Entertainment.

"But for the most part, we were doing the Boyz II Men album like getting our craft together, paying attention to our fans, finding out what they wanted, leaving no stone unturned," said Wanya .

The group members met at the Creative & Performing Arts High School of Philadelphia in 1988. They honed their singing at school, on street corners and subway platforms. When they felt confident about their a cappella act, they talked their way into meeting singer Michael Bivins of the group New Edition. So impressed was Bivins by their version of the New Edition song Can You Stand the Rain that he gave them his phone number. He ended up managing them and got them a deal with Motown.

Boyz II Men became Motown's best-selling act.

Nathan Morris explains why the name of the CD -- Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya -- stresses the individuality of the group rather than the group as a whole.

"We've been doing this for quite some time. Out of all the albums we have done, this is the first where we felt we had the majority of the individuality. They put you with a producer and you pretty much do what they want you to do," said Nathan. "After ten years or so, with this album, we didn't only write and perform these songs but stepped up as producers."

One problem for the group is that Michael has been diagnosed with scoliosis. He can no longer dance with the group, and will take a break to have surgery in October. But although "He won't be jumping on stage with us," say the group members, they'll continue performing all together.

Their albums:

• Evolution in 1997
  
• The Remix Collection, 1995
  
• Boyz II Men II, 1994
  
• II, 1993
  
• Christmas Interpretations, 1991
  
• Cooleyhighharmony, 1991

They have also worked on soundtracks for Prince of Egypt, Mr. Holland's Opus and Boomerang, among others.