Backstreet Story

THE BACKSTREET STORY Backstreet Boys formed in 1993 when high school students AJ McLean, Howie Dorough and junior high school student Nick Carter kept meeting at auditions, became friends, and decided to sing together. Kevin Richardson heard about the trio asked to be in the group. The four guys responded to an open ad in a local newspaper for a "boy band" audition, but the manager felt that they needed a fifth member. Kevin called his cousin Brian Littrell back in Kentucky and the group was set. They then named themselves the Backstreet Boys after a popular Orlando hang-out called the Backstreet Market. While trying to secure a record deal, the group resorted to performing a capella in the lobbies of local record label offices. After much persistence, they landed the management team of Johnny and Donna Wright who have worked with the New Kids On The Block. They became one of Florida's hottest live acts, playing high schools, Grad Night at Sea World and an opening slot for Brandy. In 1995, the Backstreet Boys released "We've Got It Going On," written by Denniz Pop and Max Martin, taking Europe by storm. AWARDS & RECORDS A Night Out With The Backstreet Boys (video) certified 3 million on 1/4/99. All Access Video ... 6 million on 12/23/99. Backstreet Boys ... 12 million on 12/16/99. Homecoming — Live In Orlando (video) ... 11 million on 12/23/99. Millennium ... 3 million on 12/22/99. Won 1996 MTV Europe Viewers Choice Award — beat out Spice Girls, Oasis and Jamiroquai. Won 1995 Smash Hits Award in London for Best New Tour Act Have received a total of six Grammy nominations so far in their career. The group won a 1995 Smash Hits Award in London for Best New Tour Act and performed their second single "I'll Never Break Your Heart" on British TV's Top Of The Pops. In April, 1996, the Backstreet Boys released their first full-length album in Europe and Canada and that summer headlined a sold-out 57 date European tour. By fall, Backstreet Boys fever had also swept Asia, the Pacific Rim and Australia. Their debut went six times platinum in Canada, hitting No. 1 the charts. They had yet to conquer the U.S. In early 1997, the group returned to Orlando and worked on new tracks for their U.S. debut. Released August 12, 1997, the self-titled album included all the international hits plus new songs recorded with Robert "Mutt" The U.S. hits off the album included "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)," "As Long As You Love Me," "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)," "I'll Never Break Your Heart," and "All I Have To Give." Performances include Storytellers With Tony Bennett, the Disney Channel's In Concert series, Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve 1999, and Shania Twain's Winter Break Featuring Elton John and the Backstreet Boys. In 1999, they released Millennium, this time featuring songs co- written by the Backstreet Boys themselves, with tracks produced by Max Martin, Robert"Mutt" Lange and Steve Lipson. The album entered the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart at No. 1 the week of June 5, selling 1,134,000 copies in its first week, shattering the previous SoundScan record held by Garth Brooks. They also held the most sales for an album's second and third weeks." Have sold 23 million total albums in the U.S. as of April 27, 2000, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. They were nominated for a "Best New Artist" Grammy Award in 1998 and received multiple nominations in 1999. They were named among Entertainment Weekly's "Best Entertainers of 1998." They were also among People magazine's 1998 "Men We Love," and "25 Most Intriguing People Of The Year."