So THIS is What Happened to the 4th Member of Boyz II Men (Mike “Bass” McCary)

What Really Happened to Mike McCary of Boyz II Men?

Boyz II Men were once one of the biggest R&B groups in the world. In the 1990s, the Philadelphia quartet dominated the charts, won four Grammy Awards, and sold millions of albums.

Their smooth harmonies, emotional ballads, and polished image helped define an era of R&B. But by the 2000s, their sales had slowed, and one of the group’s most important members, Mike McCary, had vanished from the lineup.

For years, fans wondered what happened to the bass singer whose voice helped shape the group’s signature sound. The answer involves health struggles, a painful divorce, tension within the group, and a quiet battle with betrayal and identity.

Mike’s story is not just about leaving a famous group. It is about how fame, illness, and personal hardship can change everything.

From Philadelphia classrooms to music history

The story of Boyz II Men begins in Philadelphia in the late 1980s. Nathan Morris was attending the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts when he began singing in class instead of paying attention.

When a teacher told him to be quiet, he sang louder. That rebellious moment led to him being kicked out of class, but it also changed his life.

Nathan met classmate Marc Nelson, and the two became fast friends. They began forming singing groups with other students over the next few years.

Eventually, they teamed up with Shawn Stockman and Wanya Morris to form a group called Unique Attraction.

The group rehearsed on street corners, but one of their favorite places to harmonize was the boys’ restroom at school because the acoustics were so good. It was there, in those humble and unusual spaces, that the foundations of Boyz II Men were built.

Then, one day, while they were singing New Edition’s “Can You Stand the Rain,” Mike McCary walked in.

He joined in, and the others were blown away by the deep bass in his voice. They invited him to become part of the group, and he accepted. That decision gave Boyz II Men the final sound that would later make them famous.

How the name Boyz II Men was born

At first, the group was still known as Unique Attraction, but Nathan and Shawn felt the name needed to change. They thought it sounded too cheesy and too tied to Philadelphia slang.

Around that time, New Edition’s song “Boys to Men” was playing on the radio, and that inspired them to adopt a version of the title for themselves.

The name Boyz II Men was born.

It may have sounded simple, but it soon became one of the most recognizable names in R&B.

Their big break

The group wanted someone in the industry to hear them sing, so they planned an unusual approach. Michael Bivins of New Edition was hosting a radio showcase in Philadelphia.

Boyz II Men secured backstage passes and performed for him in front of a crowd that included stars like Will Smith, Keith Sweat, and Kid ‘n Play.

Their performance earned a standing ovation.

Bivins was impressed, but not fully convinced right away. Still, he gave Nathan his hotel number in Los Angeles and stayed in touch. Nathan and the group kept calling him, determined not to be forgotten.

Eventually, Bivins agreed to manage them under his Biv Entertainment company.

Their original group member Marc Nelson, however, had a solo contract issue that made it impossible for him to join the new arrangement.

He ultimately left the group and signed as a solo artist, though he and Nathan remained close friends.

Motown and the group’s polished image

As a quartet, Boyz II Men signed with Motown Records. Michael Bivins took a very hands-on approach, developing their image as carefully as their sound.

He wanted them to look different from other Black male groups of the time, so he dressed them in cardigans, shorts, and bow ties.

The look was nicknamed “Alex Vanderpool,” after a character from Bivins’s favorite soap opera, *All My Children*.

Nathan also went by the nickname Alex Vanderpool, while Mike became known as Bass, Shawn as Slim, and Wanya as Squirt.

The group wrote many of the songs on their debut album and worked with producer Dallas Austin. They finished *Cooleyhighharmony* in just six weeks.

Released in 1991, the album became a breakthrough success. Songs like “Motownphilly,” “End of the Road,” and “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” helped push the album to platinum status by 1992.

Boyz II Men were now stars.

Tragedy on the road

The success came with heartbreak.

While on tour with M.C. Hammer and Jodeci in Chicago, the group’s road manager, Roderick “Kief” Roundtree, was attacked outside a hotel.

The situation escalated into violence inside an elevator, and a weapon was drawn. Roundtree was shot in the knee, and although his injury was not fatal, he suffered a tragic fate. He was pronounced dead.

The suspects in the case faced serious charges. Two were acquitted of first-degree murder because prosecutors could not prove premeditation.

A third was convicted of second-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm and received two 14-year sentences.

The group was devastated. They took time off to grieve and offer condolences to Roundtree’s family before returning to the road. But the tragedy changed how they viewed the business and the people around them.

Eventually, they parted ways with Bivins and began managing themselves with help from Quadri El-Amin and John Dukakis.

The pressure of success

After their Christmas album in 1993, Boyz II Men began work on their next major release. But the process was not smooth.

According to Nathan, Motown brought in expensive producers like Babyface, but the group wanted more control over their music. They wanted to write their own songs and have those costs come out of their budget. Tension with the label began to build.

Producer Dallas Austin later said the group had changed after fame hit. He claimed they came into the studio with inflated egos, bragging about money and luxury watches.

He also said they disrespected Babyface when he brought them “I’ll Make Love to You,” dismissing it as a weak song before eventually recording it only after label pressure.

Nathan pushed back at those claims, calling out Dallas publicly and telling him to stop spreading lies.

Despite the drama, their 1994 album *II* was even bigger than their debut. “I’ll Make Love to You” spent 14 weeks at number one, and “On Bended Knee” replaced it at the top. “Water Runs Dry” also became a major hit. The album sold more than 11 million copies.

They were at the top of the world.

Mike’s hidden health battle

While the group was thriving, Mike McCary was dealing with a very personal struggle.

He later revealed that he had begun experiencing back spasms while performing and believed he had scoliosis. He kept the condition secret from his bandmates and even from his wife, Venus.

As the pain worsened, his cane—once used as a stage prop—became a necessity. At just 22, he was already dealing with serious physical limitations.

Later, he would be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 28. MS is a disease that attacks the protective covering of nerves, and it had a major impact on his life and career. He kept the diagnosis private for a long time and admitted he fell into deep depression.

The other members tried to support him. They gave him a stool during performances and continued paying him even when he stopped answering phone calls. But the strain was obvious.

In 2003, Mike left the group.

When asked later what he learned from his time with Boyz II Men, he answered with one word: betrayal.

Life after the group

After leaving, Mike returned to Philadelphia and opened a soul food restaurant called Majestic Ribs with Venus. But his personal life was also falling apart. Their marriage deteriorated, and in 2007 Venus filed for divorce after 14 years together.

Mike also became separated from his three children. He later said he had not seen them in years and described himself as “a man with kids” rather than a father. The pain of family loss seemed to echo the pain he had felt leaving the group.

Could he have returned?

In 2012, Boyz II Men received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Mike attended the ceremony. That same year, he asked about rejoining the group.

According to Shawn Stockman, the group was willing to welcome him back, but they wanted him to sign a contract protecting the other three members in case he left again.

Mike was reportedly uncomfortable with the terms, and after a tense phone call, the opportunity faded.

The original quartet never fully reunited.

A lasting legacy

Mike officially opened up about his medical condition in 2016, but by then Boyz II Men had already continued on as a trio.

Nathan, Shawn, and Wanya kept performing and releasing music. In 2020, Shawn said Mike was still not in contact with them, but his place in the group would always be waiting if he were ever ready to return.

For now, Boyz II Men remain a trio. But the fourth member’s story remains a powerful reminder that even the biggest stars can disappear quietly behind the scenes.

Mike McCary helped build one of the greatest vocal groups of all time. His voice is part of the soundtrack of 1990s R&B history. And while the drama, illness, and heartbreak changed his path, his contribution to the legacy of Boyz II Men will never be forgotten.