Kevin Richardson may seem like heīs all work and no play, but the
perfectionist tendencies of the oldest member of Backstreet Boys
is only half of story!
As the senior member of Backstreet Boys, responsibility just seems
to fall naturally on the shoulders of Kevin Richardson. Heīs the
one who most often tells the other to knock off the silliness and
get focused when it comes time for serious work. Since heīs a
bit of a perfectionist itīs a weight that he gladly bears, but
thereīs a lot more to Kevin than just his drive to succeed! For
example, did you know that Kevin totally adores children? He loves
taking time out to give autographs or take pictures with
Backstreet Boysī little fans (I wanna be little, too!). He admits that heīs looking
forward to being a father himself someday. Did you also know that
he craves peanut butter? Heīs totally freaky for a snack of some
of the sticky stuff with jam on a cracker. Kevin also enjoys
night life and can often be found scooping out new dance floor
moves with fellow BSB's Howie at the hottest clubs. Whenever
Backstreet Boys are visiting a new city or country, Kevin insist
on taking some time out to organize a little sightseeing
expedition for the Boys. He loves to explore new cultures and
sample exotic food. Born in Lexington, Kentucky on October 3,
1972, Kevin has always known what he wanted to do with his life.
He discovered his love of music at an early age. "Me and Brian
are cousins and both of our families are really musical", he
explains. "I grew up singing in church. Me and my mom - who is
Brianīs fatherīs sister - I sang duets with her in church."
Kevin spent the first nine years of his life living on a 10-acre
farm and the next eight living in a modern log cabin. "I had
a great childhood," he says. "I loved school, played
little league football, rode horses and dirt bikes and sang into
hairbrush infront of my bedroom mirror."
Receiving his first
set of keyboards as a high school was an important landmark in
his evolution as an artist. He eventually became skilled enough
as a solo act entertain patrons in restaurants and at weddings.
Musically, Kevinīs inspired by artists who also play piano as
well as vocal groups that specialize in heartfelt R&B.
"My influences are Elton John (I like him, too!), Billy Joel, Sting, Prince and
all the groups like Boyz II Men and theTemptations," he
says. "I really respect Elton John and Billy Joel and those
guys - especially Prince, I think heīs a musical genius. Heīs
played every instrument known to man."
Kevin earned his
first stage experience with local theatrical productions of
famous musicals like Bye Bye Birdie and Barefoot In The Park.
While still living at home, his natural grace and affinity for
dance landed him a job as a ballroom dance instructor. But
eventually. Lexington became too small to hold Kevinīs sizable
talent and he bravely set out for Orlando, Florida hoping for a
break into the fiercely competitive entertainment industry. Once
established in the land where Mickey Mouse reigns,
Kevinīs striking good looks and outgoing personality convinced
Disney World to hire him to play the part of Aladdin on
stage and in daily parades. While doing the Disney gig, a friend
that Kevin met in a dance club told him about the auditions for a
new vocal group called Backstreet Boys. Needless to say, Kevinīs
gorgeous voice landed him a place in the budding group. Soon after,
he brought his cousin Brian into the mix. Backstreet Boys has
been an incredible learning experience for Kevin, who of all the
guys, has taken the greatest interest in the technical and
business sides of their organization. "Itīs been a great
experience. Weīve learned so much and weīre learning every
day," he says. "Just the whole process of how the radio
station and the record industry works. And Iīve learned so much
as far production in the studio, I mean, I was just soaking all
that in like a sponge."
For all these reasons, the other
guys look up to Kevin as a big brother and the voice of reason in
the group - even if theyīre not happy with what he has to say
sometimes! "Kevin is a perfectionist," confirms cousin
Brian. "Heīs got a lot of positive aspects, but he lets his
perfectionist side get in the way because sometimes he wants
things to be too perfect. He knows he need to lighten
up - sometimes he looks at people and they think heīs going to rip
their heads off!!"
As time goes on, Kevinīs learned to ask
the support of other members to make thing easier.
"Sometimes, he'll get together and talk to the other guys
because he doesnīt want to come across as the one telling
everyone what to do," reveals Howie, who especially
appreciates Kevinīs strong role in the group. "Heīs
mature, responsible, professional and knows what he wants.
Heīs the authoritative one. You need someone like that, who has
leadership qualities, to get the guys together." For his
part, Kevin doesnīt mind being placed in the big brother
position because the continued success of Backstreet Boys is the
most important goal for all it's members. "Backstreet Boys is
our life now. Right now weīre pretty much eating, sleeping and
living it," he says a tad wearily. "And in the time
thatīs our own, weīre sleeping in our hotels after the shows
and the entire day is ridding on bus." But all of the
sacrifice and hard work pay off each time Backstreet Boys get on
stage and the crowd begins to roar.
"When youīre a singer on
stage, of course you can see the reactions of the people, and
thatīs the greatest feeling of all. Thatīs what weīre here
for," he says. "Itīs natural high. When you see
someone singing you song, itīs pretty wild. It can almost make
you want to cry."
