When Nick and Drew Lachey were growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, they always knew they could sing. Their parents encouraged their vocal talents, and the guys took singing seriously enough to enroll in Cincinnati's School for the Creatice and Preforming Arts, a high school for budding actors, artists, dancers, and vocalists. That's where Nick met Justin Jeffre, who was also an aspiring singer. Meanwhile, Jeff Timmons, who lived in Massillon, Ohio (across the state from the other three guys), was a sports fanatic with plans to become a pro football player. He had absolutely no idea he'd end up singing to sold-out crowds all over the world!
In fact, if you go back just a few years, none of them could have predicted they'd even be together in a singin group, let alone one as successful as 98 degrees. Their story is a circuitous one.
Nick and Justin:
Best Buds
During high school, Nick and Justin became the best of friends. They sang in choir together and even preformed in a barbershop quartet at a nearby amusment park called King's Island. After graduation, Justin and Nick joined an oldies band called the Avenues, in which they played horns as well as sang. But success -- in terms of making a living at it -- eluded them.
Eventually, they both opted for college and "fallback" careers. Nick attented the University of Southern California and then transferred to Miami University of Ohio, where he majored in sports medicine. Justing enrolled in the University of Cincinnati and went for a degree in history.
Drew's Path
Drew, two and a half years younger than his big bro, loved music, too. But not exclusively -- he had other aspirations. When high school was over, he joined the army. His dream was to end up working for a search and rescue team in Colorado. So, after his stint in the military, he moved to New York and utilized his army medic training, working as an EMT (emergency medical techinican).
Jeff's Journey
The guy least likely to become a singer was definitely Jeff Timmons. Convinced that he had a shot at a career in sports, Jeff entered Kent State University with gridiron fantiasies. His academic major was psychology, but he played football every chance he could. And then, he changed directions entirely.
One day, while kidding around with some college friends, Jeff sang for a few girls. They immediately complimented him on his amazing tenor voice and gave him and idea: Why not make singing a career?
Intrigued with the idea, Jeff moved out to Los Angelos. He put together a singing group that included his older brother Mike. They called themselves Just Us. Though they sounded great, two of the guys quit the band to pursue other projects. While trying to get another group going, Jeff decided to try his luck at acting. He scored a commercial for the U.S. Navy.
During the audition rounds, Jeff met John Lippmann, another young singer/actor wannabe. John was a fellow Ohioan, who'd attended Cincinnati's School for the Creative and Preforming Arts. At first, that meant nothing to Jeff, but it soon would. Along with Jeff's brother, Mike, a new group was forming. It would take just one more person to complete it.
Nick and Justin:
Together Again
That's where Nick came in. John knew Nick from high school and thought Nick's tenor voice would blend perfectly. In 1995, Nick jumped at the opportunity to return to his first love, singing. He flew to Los Angelos almost immediately! When Jeff's brother Mike quit, Nick called his old buddy Justin, who also loved the idea of giving music a second shot.
Still using the name Just Us, they were far from an overnight success. The foursome made ends meet by working as security guards, busboys, delivery boys, and other odd jobs. Appearances at talent shows adn practice, practice, practice were how they honed their four-part harmony sound. They even snagged a gig singing the national anthem at an L.A. Dodgers baseball game.
The Big Break
Their major break arrived the day Boyz II Men came to town. In the naive hope that they'd get to sing for the boyz, they snuck backstage adn crooned "In the Still of the Night." It didn't work --- exactly. The Boyz never got to hear them, but a talent scout from an L.A. radio station did, and asked them to sing on the air. That, in turn, brought them to the attention of music manager Paris D'Jon, who promptly signed them up.
Drew, Take Two
Drew, meanwhile, was working in New York. He loved his job, but had never quite gotten over the desire to sing. So when, out of the blue, John up and quit the group, Drew jumped at the chace to join his brother. He recalls taht fateful call from Nick like it was yesterday. "I quit my job, closed my bank account, packed up my car, and picked up Nick at Newark Airport," Drew told Tiger Beat magazine. "I made the three-day trek out to L.A. where I learned the group's music. Two days after I got there, we opened for Montell (Jordan) at the House of Blues."