Biographic - Sunday August 24, 2008 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

One of the most successful "Boy Bands" in pop history, Backstreet Boys formed in Orlando, Florida, in the early 1990s. Child actors Nick Carter, A.J Mclean and Howie Dorough had become friends after meeting up at numerous auditions. Nick was a veteran of TV commercials and small roles in the likes of "Edward Scissorhands" who had been featured vocalist at Tampa Bay Buccaneer's pre-game shows. AJ had made numerous appearances in Disney and Nickelodeon productions, and Howie's movie credits included "Cop And A Half" and "Parenthood" They were soon joined by Kevin Richardson, a musician who was working as a tour guide at an Orlando theme park. It was quickly decided that they needed a fifth member to round out their sound, so Kevin's cousin, vocalist Brian Littrell, was summoned to Orlando from Kentucky. The band debuted with a concert for 3,000 teens at Sea World, and under the guidance of managers Johnny and Donna Wright, who had worked with New Kids On the Block, the boys were signed to Jive Records in 1994. Europe was the first to succumb to the charms of Backstreet Boys, with Asia and Canada soon following suit. By 1997, the boys had conquered America and were global superstars. Success, however, was tempered by setbacks. The group was involved in litigation with a financial backer, they changed management, Brian had to undergo open-heart surgery, and Howard's sister passed away. But the boys soldiered on, reaching even greater heights of success. "Millenium" was the best-selling album of 1999, while 2000s "Black And Blue" sold 5 million copies in the first week although the greatest hits album was released in 2001, it would be 2005 before the band issued another studio album. After a lengthy hiatus "Never Gone" sold 10 million copies worldwide. By the time "Unbreakable" was released in 2007. the group had been reduced to a quartet, following Kevin Richardson's departure. The 2008 world tour, which takes the band through the U.S. and Canada this summer is the band's first without Richardson.

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