It was at one the Philly outfit's concerts that 98 Degrees caught the ear of Paris D'Jon, co-manager of Montell Jordan. A local radio station broadcasting from the show had them sing on the air, and D'Jon liked what he heard. The influential manager secured them a spot on Jordan's tour, setting in motion a buzz that eventually led them to sign with Motown Records.
Formed by Jeff Timmons (tenor, born April 30, 1973), 98 Degrees has its roots in Cincinnati, more specifically the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA), where three of the four members attended high school. Following that Fame-like existence, Timmons went to Kent State to study psychology, but his performing background got the better of him and he followed the muse to Los Angeles.
Through a mutual SCPA alum, Timmons hooked up with Nick Lachey (tenor, born Nov. 9, 1973), who had been studying sports medicine at Ohio's Miami University. In no time flat he'd relocated to Los Angeles to meet Jeff, the pair hit it off, and Nick suggested that they invite his friend Justin Jeffre to join the burgeoning singing group.
Justin Jeffre (bass, born Feb. 25, 1973), another SCPA attendee, had been studying history at the University of Cincinnati when he got the call from Nick. He and Nick had an extensive history of performing together, including a stint in a barbershop quartet as well as in an oldies cover band.
Drew (baritone, born August 8, 1976) joined the band after another member didn't work out. Though he'd been working as an emergency medical technician in New York City, it didn't take much persuasion to get him to leave New York behind. Within two days, he was on the road with his brother Nick, who taught him the group's harmonies during the 3,000-mile cross-country drive.
Following Drew's arrival, the new and improved lineup began making the rounds at various talent shows and auditions — in between odd jobs, including nightclub bouncer and landscaper. Then came the infamous Boyz II Men appearance, which led to a gig at the Los Angeles House of Blues with Montell Jordan; six months later they were working on their first album for Motown.
The group's first self-titled CD originally came out in October 1997, but was reissued the following spring with an extra track — Diane Warren's "Was It Something I Didn't Say" — after the song was included on the Fame L.A. soundtrack. The song "Invisible Man" from that album was 98 Degrees' first big hit, eventually earning its first gold record in December 1997.
After a year of slow-burning success, the lads turned up the heat with the follow-up to 98 Degrees, the October 1998 release of 98 Degrees and Rising. On their sophomore effort, the guys contributed more to the songwriting and production process, with assistance from a host of big name producers, including Pras (The Fugees), Anders Bagge (Ace of Base, Robyn), Keith Thomas (Brian McKnight, Vanessa Williams), and the Trackmasters (Will Smith, Mariah Carey, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige). One of the highlights of the disc is a duet the band does with Motown legend Stevie Wonder. "When they sent the tape to us at home, I was almost in tears listening to it," said Nick of the performance. "It was an awesome feeling to hear your voice with Stevie Wonder exchanging riffs and singing harmony parts together. It was completely unreal."
Within two months, the single "Because of You" earned 98 Degrees its first platinum disc, signifying sales of over 1 million. In fact, the album 98 Degrees and Rising continues to scorch the charts, coming in just shy of 1 million in total disc sales. The band's increasing popularity was never more evident than at an April 1999 in-store appearance at a Los Angeles Sam Goody store. Over 4,500 adoring, screaming fans showed up to catch a glimpse of their idols. According to reports, the event drew more fans than previous appearances from 'N Sync and Hanson.
As for the band's teenybopper reputation, it's undeserved, says Timmons. In comparison to the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, etc., "We're altogether different from them," he explains. "We're older, and we have a live band with funk, a lot of live singing, and not as much choreographed dancing. Those guys are good singers and good dancers; as far as musicians, I don't know how they'll fare later in their careers, after the young audience goes home. Although we have a young audience, too, half of our fan club is over 25. That surprises a lot of people, but even though we get marketed as a teen act, a lot of older people buy our records, too."
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