Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown (born February 5, 1969) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, dancer and actor. Brown started his career as one of the frontmen of the R&B and pop group New Edition, from its inception in 1978 until his forced exit from the group in 1985 following a period of misbehavior and rebellious behavior on his part. Starting a solo career, he became a hit success with his second album in 1988, Don't Be Cruel, which spawned a number of hit singles including the self-penned "My Prerogative", which became his signature hit. Brown had a string of top ten hits on various Billboard charts between 1986 and 1993. Brown is noted as a pioneer of new jack swing, a fusion of R&B.
From 1992 to 2007 Brown was married to the pop artist Whitney Houston (1963–2012), with whom he had a child, late Bobbi Kristina Brown (1993–2015). The couple starred in the reality show Being Bobby Brown.