Unless you are a 14-year-old, it is pretty hard to keep up with all the boy-groups out there. A new entry into the hormones-and-harmony derby is 98?.
Originally from Ohio, the quartet first surfaced in America last summer with the hit ballad Invisible Man. Their blue-eyed soul and bad-boy looks wowed the teenage set with swoon-inducing videos as well as promotional tours and appearances at cheerleading camps, theme parks, malls, and concerts.
Unlike most pin-up groups, though, 98? is not the manufactured product of a Svengali manager. The vocal soul unit started on its own as the members moved from Cincinnati to Los Angeles to pursue singing careers. And aside from cute looks and sweet voices, another thing 98? have is street cred.
They were signed to Motown by black-music mogul Andre Harrell, who started Uptown Records and, while he was there, launched the careers of Sean 'Puff Daddy' Combs, Jodeci and Mary J Blige. The band's debut includes tracks produced by Montell Jordan, as well as Mario Winans from gospel music's first family.
But how these midwestern white boys brought their four-part harmony to the music industry's attention was nothing short of pure chutzpah.
'We went to a Boyz II Men concert and we kind of sang our way backstage,' explained Nick Lachey of 98? during a visit to Hong Kong this week.
'And after the show we sneaked backstage again and ran into Paris D'Jon, who is now our manager and who was working with Montell Jordan at the time. He heard us and then hooked us up with Montell. He and his crew then helped us put our demo in order.
