At the age of 5, Brian Littrell, who his friends nick-named, "B-Rok", came real close to death. He considers it as a present from his Guardian Angel that he has survived.
Brian, who just celebrated his 22nd birthday on last February 20th, never doubted the success of the Backstreet Boys, nor did his parents. His mother recently confided, "I was always convinced that Brian was going exactly in the direction that the good Lord wanted..." This declaration can shock those who do not know the difficult test which Brian had to overcome at the age of 5. This moment of his life is rarely recalled and he must feel very comfortable to do so. He doesn’t want people to think that he is just looking for the attention to help his carrier.
This test is a malformation of the heart so serious that he came very close to dying.
He explains, "Even though I only have a vague memory of this episode - I was only 5 - I remember being very sick and having to spend a long time at the hospital. I didn’t know the seriousness of the situation. It wasn’t long ago, when my parents told me the entire story, that I understood the whole dimension."
Brian’s mother talks about the state of spirit during this time, "We really thought that Brian was going to die. Even today, we are convinced that his Guardian Angel saved him. Since, I know that, if he escaped death, it wasn’t without a reason. I was always convinced that he had something important to accomplish. When, years later, he told me his intentions of singing as a career, I new right away that he would succeed..."
We are not surprised that to see that Brian has adopted the morals and values which were transmitted since he was very young. "We were a small family, but there was a lot of love. Family was and still is very important, I will say even essential. I would like to pass the values which were instilled in me onto my own kids one day".
At the time, because of his age and occupation, Brain finds it hard to imagine a serious relationship in the near future. Love still remains one of his priorities: "If I can find someone that can put up with me", he says jokingly, and adds right after that he isn’t really that hard to put up with.
"Right now, it’s my carrier with the Backstreet Boys which comes first. I give it all my energy and I accept all the sacrifices I need to make to make the Backstreet Boys successful. I don’t forget the ideals which come first in my life, which is to say my spiritual values, my feelings, my sense of family, etc."
Brian’s dream, at the moment, after consisting of making his career successful, is to meet the girl of his dreams, the one who he will marry and make a family with.
When with this happen? He doesn’t know...but he’s not looking to rush things;" I leave up to destiny, it’s been good to me so far..."
Despite his success, stardom and money, he thinks he still has the same personality as when he first became a member of the Backstreet Boys: "I haven’t changed. Everyone who knows me will tell you. I am who I always was, which is to say someone who is open, personable and very sensible..."
Brian, as everyone knows, is Kevin Richardson’s cousin and was the last to become a member of the Backstreet Boys. However, the way in which he was called to join the group must have been the work of a fairy... at least a gift from destiny!!!
Brian started singing at a very young age, at the age of 4 or 5. With his brother Harold Jr., he listened to music and imitated the songs which he heard, usually Donnie Osmond of the Osmond Family. Later, around the age of 7 or 8, he started to be a comedian. " I always loved to entertain people, make them laugh. Even when I was young , I was aware of my talent for this type of exercise. It was something that came from my family, I guess... I remember I had an uncle who used to imitate Jim Varney, the man who played the role of Ernest in Ernest Goes To Camp and all those other films. My father went to school with that man."
Despite the success and the numerous compliments which he receives, Brian is far from dreaming of a singer career. In fact, his secret hope, which is no secret to anyone, id to become a professional basketball player. From his last years of primary school to a good part of his high school years, he was part of the football team, baseball team and basketball team at his school, but basketball gave him the most joy. At the end of his studies, he arrived at the conclusion that he didn’t have what it takes to become a basketball player. "I always loved sports and always had the secret hope that it would lead me to a professional career. Unfortunately, I was too frail for football, too small for basket and wasn’t talented enough for baseball!"
I came to this conclusion in only a couple of days. I must have been 15 or 16. I can remember telling my mother, who always knew when I was hurting: "Mom, sports, it’s over for me! You will have nothing to worry about after this."
His mother, Jackie, aware of the time and energy which her son dedicated to sports, did not have long to question Brain about what he would do with his spare time when he declared: "From now on, I’m going to concentrate on singing and school shows."
The success came, like Brian and the other Boys had always hoped for... Or, like they always knew would come. "Like I said before, success hasn’t changed me and popularity hasn’t frightened me. We have a busy job, little free-time, lots less freedom and a lot more pressure then before. But it isn’t a big price to pay to do something that we love and to experience the sensations of performing in front of thousands of people."
1) His nick-name "B-rok" was given to him at the beginning of the Backstreet Boys by vocal trainer who shared his passion for basketball. The word "Rok" comes from the American slang and means "basketball".
2) The first thing Brian does on tour and arrives at a hotel, is to set up a basketball net dans... his room. He always has his ball with hi, naturally.
3) When he returns from a your, his first priority in the first 24hrs, is to lay in his divan and do nothing but watch TV.
4) During his last visit to Quebec, Brian, who owned a cellular phone already, received a new, super model, from his recording company. He uses it everyday to call his mother.
5) Spirituality and Religion are very important to Brian. He is a Baptist and reads passages from the Bible everyday.
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