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Backstreet Boys Biography

Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys (BSB), the boy band and pop group, shot to considerable fame in the late 1990s. The 5-member team lines up Alexander "A.J." McLean (born on 9 January 1978), Howard "Howie D." Dorough (born on 22 August 1973), Brian Littrell (born on 20 February 1975), Kevin Richardson (born on 3 October 1972), and Nick Carter (born on 28 January 1980).Winner of 1998 Grammy Best New Artists Award, Backstreets have been a craze among young gals and sometimes considered a rival to a similar teen group, 'N Sync.

The real makers of Backstreet Boys are cousins Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell. The duo, hailing from Lexington, KY, began singing even while they were children. They used to perform in local church choirs, as well as festivals. They sang doo wop and new jack R&B in the style of Boyz II Men during such occasions. Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean, the natives of Orlando, FL, were the other two members. They met each other and the credit goes to them for transplanting New Yorker and fifth Backstreeter Nick Carter after he did prove his mettle through auditions for local commercials, theater, and television.

At one audition, the three realized that they nurtured a common passion for classic soul and could work together. Soon the trio began singing together. Shortly after this grouping, Richardson shifted to Orlando. There he worked as a tour guide at Disney World and at night concentrated on grooming his musical talent. On a later occasion, he got introduced to the Dorough, Carter and McLean through a co-worker. Soon the four decided to form a troupe and named themselves after an Orlando flea market. Egged on by his cousin, Richardson Brian Littrell joined the group through a phone audition. Thus the group etched out its final shape on April 19, 1993.

Soon after the formation, the BSB made their debut performance on May 8 in front of 3,000 teenagers. Incidentally, their Mercury Record deal failed, shattering there hopes, but in February 1994 Zomba/Jive approached the band in Cleveland, Ohio. By June, they recorded the first single "We've Got It Goin' On". The following year was unlucky for the band, as their single reached #69 on the Billboard charts. Comparatively, Europe brought more luck to them and it was in Germany they achieved the first Gold disc. 1996 brought them more fortunes and their European popularity was on the rise. By selling 500,000 CDs, the band earned the first platinum record in Germany. They also travelled Canada and Asia during this time.

By 1997 their album had hit a sale of 8.5 million discs worldwide. Now their eyes were on the American success, which would not be that too easy. They released "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)" as their new single, keeping the focus on America and it was quick to reach #2. Their first American album released in the middle of the year peaked at #4 on the Billboard charts. It sold nine million copies in 1997. By December 1997, the boys set off for a 60-city, 20-country tour.

In 1998, Littrell had to undergo a heart surgery and Dorough's sister succumbed to Lupus. The boys underwent a hard period, with rumours a breakup, and their manager moving legally against them. At the end of 1998, the boys attained an additional 8 million sale of copies for their self-titled album and a follow-up was worked out.

By February 1999, the boys bagged their first Diamond award by the RIAA. This was in recognition of 10 million copies of their album. After a strong first single, "I Want It That Way", the group's sophomore album, Millennium appeared. Making a record debut week sale, the number of copies finally sold reached more than 1.1 million. By the end of 1999, the Backstreet Boys declared their Jive contract null and void, only to make the largest record deal ever valued at $60 million with Jive.

At the end of 2000, the group brought out their new album Black & Blue. In 2001, A.J. McLean sought a rehab centre to battle his addiction to drinking, drugging, and depression. The 9/11 terror killed a Backstreet Boys friend, Daniel Lee, and the boys called off all foreign tours. In October 2001, the boys churned out Chapter One and a disc of their biggest hits, "Drowning". After a five-year apparent dormancy, the Backstreet Boys are making a comeback now. On March 28, 2005 the BSB's brand new single release "Incomplete" to radio stations was a phenomenal success.

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