Way back in the early 90's, AJ, Howie, and Nick were striving for a career in the entertinment industry. Despite their young ages (high school at that time) each had had a fair amount of success as a singer or actor or both. AJ had studied dance-everything from jazz to ballet--for years, and was an acoomplished puppeteer who'd worked on a cable tv series.

Howie first hit the theater stage as a grammar schoolage kid and had even appeared in the films PARENTHOOD adn COP AND A HALF. Nick, meanwhile was a featured vocalist for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers halftime show during the 1991 and 1992 seasons and had won the 1992 New Original Amateur Hour for his singing skills.

"Me and AJ met up with each other in Orlando through a talent competition," remembers Howie. "we had a vocal coach that i used to work with who was, at that time, his vocal coach. He itroduced the two of us." Being Orlando-based performers, its no surprise that Howie and AJ frequently saw each other at auditions for a new Nickelodeon series which always use lots of young performers. "we were always auditioning for Nickelodeon shows," recalls howie. To pass the time waiting for their appointments, Howie and AJ would sing a capella. One time, Nick who was auditioning also for the same projectm heard them joined in.

Pretty soon it became apparent to the trio that their sound was pretty exciting. They decided to form a group and seek out someone who could help them. That person was Louis Pearlman, a successful Florida business man w/ great love of music. "He was looking fo talent so we went in and auditioned for him," says howie. "He suggested we extend the group to 5 members.

Meanwhile, Kevin, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, had moved down to Orlando to pursue a dream of his own. working days at disney MGM studios playing Aladdin for tourists, Kevin spent hisnights frequenting hot music spots. Armed w/ his keyboards, he dreamed of becoming a singer/songwriter. Kev heard about the soon-to-be Backstreet Boys search for 2 new members through the Orlando grapevine andauditioned for the budding group. "There wer two other members who didn't work out and I replaced one of them," he reveals. "then we needed another member. Brian's my cousin, andi called him up and he came down to Florida... and he auditioned." Needless to say Brian, who'd been singing in church his entire life, was perfect. Naming the group after a popular market in Orlando--the backstreet market--backstreet boys were formed.

"we were inthe group and then we got management, then management got us some shows, and then shows got us some recognition and we were able to get in to see some record labels," explains Kevin of the long climb toward success. Their persistence paid off when they caught the ear of the folks of Jive records.

So that brings you up to date on BSB--until the next chapter is ready to be written...