BACKSTREET BOYS

Comprised entirely of white, middle-class Americans, backstreet boys sang a hybrid of new jack balladry, hip-hop R&B; and dance-club pop that originally found its greatest success in Canada and Europe, with their 1996 debut album charting in the Top 10 in nearly every country on the continent; The core of the Backstreet Boys is cousins Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell. Two of the other remaining members, Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean, were natives of Orlando, Florida who met each other -- as well as transplanted New Yorker and fifth Backstreeter Nick Carter -- through auditions for local commericials, theater and television. At one audition, the three discovered that they shared an affection for classic soul and could harmonize together. In no time, they were singing as a trio.

Shortly after the trio had formed, Richardson moved to Orlando, where he became a tour guide at Disney World. He met Dorough, Carter and McLean through a co-worker, and the four decided to form a group, naming themselves after an Orlando fleamarket; Littrell was invited to join to make the band into a quintet. Through a friend, record producer Louis J. Pearlman, the band secured management from Donna and Johnny Wright, who put the group out on the road and had several A&R; reps come see the Boys perform live. The group's eponymous album was released throughout Europe and North America in late 1995. The record was a success in Europe, spending several weeks in the Top 10 in most continental countries where it charted.

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