History Lesson

The Backstreet Boys: the hottest singing sensation today! But how did they get to be sooooo successful?? It wasn't easy for these five guys- but they've made it, and here's their story.

It all started with A.J. McLean, Howie Dorough, and Nick Carter always running into each other at acting auditions and talent competitions. They soon became good friends and decided to make their own music group. The trio thought they could make the harmonies richer by adding to more members. They started searching, and they met Kevin Richardson through a mutal friend. They were still inneed of a fifth members, and couldn't find anyone in Orlando. Luckily, Kevin remembered his cousin, Brian Littrell, from Lexington Kentucky. He could remember his voice from the church choir - and suggested that he could be their last member. They quickly phoned Brian, pulliing him away from class, and he agreed. He flew down to Orlando, Florida in the next week. The Backstreet Boys were born!!!!

The group had to choose a name, but had no ideas. Except that they wanted "boys" in the title, because it described them (and it was better than "men"). Kevin suggested the Backstreet Market, a place where teenagers used to hangout in Florida. Recently, a building was built overtop of it while the boys were on tour in Europe. The Backstreet Boys started off locally, and by 6 months, they were the most popular act in Florida!! They preformed everywhere: high schools, Grad Night, and even Sea World. Their manager, Donna Wright, was friends with a producer from JIVE Records (David McPherson). She pleeded with him to listen to the group, but he was too busy. She called David during one of their concerts - but she got the answering machine. So she held her phone up and let the machine record the boys' voice and the reaction of the crowd.