The Rude Boys founding member Melvin ‘Boy Baby’ Sephus dies at 61

Melvin “Boy Baby” Sephus, a founding member of the R&B group The Rude Boys, has died at 61.

No cause of death was revealed.

Sephus helped shape the group’s sound during its rise to national prominence in the early 1990s. The Cleveland group scored two No. 1 R&B hits and built a following with its smooth harmonies and memorable ballads.

The group’s success began after music executive and singer Gerald Levert discovered the members in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Rude Boys found success with Atlantic Records

The original lineup included Sephus, Larry “Bingo” Marcus, Joe Little III, Edward “Buddy” Banks and Dwight Thompson. Levert helped the group secure a recording deal with Atlantic Records.

The Rude Boys released their debut album, Rude Awakening, in 1990. Its second single, “Written All Over Your Face,” became the group’s breakthrough hit.

Featuring Levert on lead vocals, the song climbed to No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B chart in 1991. The success established The Rude Boys as a prominent new act in R&B.

They soon proved that success was not limited to one song. Their ballad “Are You Lonely for Me” also reached No. 1 on the R&B chart.

With two chart-topping singles, the group took its music to international audiences. The Rude Boys toured alongside Levert and The O’Jays, further expanding their reach.

During that period, the group also had future soul star Frank McComb serving as its keyboardist and musical director.

The group continued recording after its early hits

The Rude Boys followed their debut with Rude House in 1992. The album included the single “My Kinda Girl,” but it did not reach the commercial heights of Rude Awakening.

Their run with Atlantic Records eventually ended, and the group split. However, several members reunited five years later to record Rude As Ever, which failed to regain their earlier commercial success.

Despite the changes in the group’s career, its connection to Levert remained strong. After his death in 2006, The Rude Boys reunited to perform at his funeral in tribute to the singer who helped launch their careers.

Sephus also worked as a songwriter and producer

Although fans knew him for his work with The Rude Boys, Sephus also contributed behind the scenes.

He was a singer, songwriter and musician who worked on projects involving Gerald and Eddie Levert. His credits included co-writing and co-producing “I Got Your Back” and performing backing vocals.

Sephus’ passing also marks another loss for the original Rude Boys lineup. Marcus died in 2016, followed by Banks in 2020. Sephus is now the third original member to die.

Family creates fundraiser

Meanwhile, Sephus’ family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his funeral and burial expenses.

The fundraiser, titled “A Beautiful Farewell for Melvin Sephus.” The money will help pay for funeral arrangements, a headstone, burial costs and a gathering for loved ones.

The family described Sephus as a gifted entertainer whose music and talent touched many people.

“He gave the world his voice, his music, his talent, and his heart. Now it’s our turn to give him the beautiful farewell he deserves,” the fundraiser reads.

Sephus was 61. His work with The Rude Boys helped leave a lasting mark on R&B, and the group’s music continues to reach listeners decades after its chart success.

Beyond the stage, the spotlight, and the music, his family remembers Melvin as a “kind, loving, and generous soul whose presence touched so many lives.”