If you saw The New Edition Story, you probably recall the “Home Again” album photoshoot scene when Mike Bivins and Ronnie Devoe were feeling bad for Ralph after he’d lost his mother just before all six of the N.E. members were preparing for their 1996 “Home Again” album release/tour.
Andre said he was just 16 years old when he and Ralph’s Mom died and that he’d been living in California with her since he was seven (after they’d moved there from Boston). His world was turned upside down when Patricia died- he was left alone in Cali. to fend for himself at just 16 years old, without any family there to help him (they were mostly still living in their hometown of Boston).
WHY WAS RALPH TRESVANT’S BROTHER ON HIS OWN AT 16?
At that time, Ralph had a ton of weight on his shoulders. He had to fulfill his contractual obligations on the road so he couldn’t be there with Andre. He was also needed the money (as a result of their jacked N.E. up contract), and he had three small children to feed with his then-wife, Shelly, whom he was going through a nasty divorce with. FYI: Shelly was apparently referred to as “Zena” in the N.E. biopic.
WHERE WAS HIS DAD?
Andre revealed that he’d “never got to shake my dad’s hand” because he never met him- a reality that became even more real when he had to instantly learn how to survive as a man at only 16.
Andre eventually got a one bedroom apartment at 16 years old, and it was there that he leaned on his religious beliefs for guidance:
Andre Tresvant: “I just knew on the inside that God could fill that void and make up for who I lost…so one day I began to go on a 3 day fast and seek God for the HolySpirt fullness, I did this in my 1 bedroom apt., cut off the phone,closed the blinds and began to pray like never before & study the word of God.”
THE GOOD NEWS
The good news is that after the extreme hardships and heartbreak, Andre Tresvant made it through and although Ralph couldn’t physically be there for him when they were both grieving their mother’s death, he was always there in spirit and just a phone call away if Andre ever needed him.
Today, Andre has a daughter, Adora Patricia Tresvant, whom he named after his mother, Patricia. Adora graduated from high school in 2016. Andre is still very close to his big bro’ and the rest of the family, including Bobby Brown’s fam’…in fact, he was recently chillin’ with them at N.E.’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony on January 23, 2017…
WATCH ANDRE, RALPH, AND FAM’ AT N.E.’S HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME CEREMONY
Like we always say, here at ILoveOldSchoolMusic, celebrities have accomplished great things in life, but they’re still human just like the rest of us, with real life problems to match.
