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As a member of Backstreet Boys, responsibility seem to just fall
naturally on Kevin's shoulders. He the one most often to tell people to
stop goofing around and start focusing when it comes to serious work.
Since he's a bit of a perfectionist it's a weight he gladly bears, but
there's more to Kevin than just to drive and succeed.
For example, did you know that Kevin totally adores children? He loves
taking time out to give auto-graphs or take pictures with the Backstreet
Boys littlest fans. He admits he's looking forward to being a father
himself one day. Did you also know he craves peanut butter? He's 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 BSBs fellow Howie.D at the hottest clubs. When
ever Backstreet Boys are visiting a new city or country, Kevin insists
on taking some time out to do some sightseeing with the boys. He loves
to explore culture and sample exotic foods.
Born in Lexington, Kevin has always known what he wanted to do with his
life. He discovered his love for music at an early age. "Me and Brian
are both cousins and both our families are really musical" He explains.
"I grew up singing in church. Me and my mom- who is Brian's fathers
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 day cabin. "I has a great
childhood" enthuses Kevin. "I loved school, played little league
football, rode horses and dirt bikes and sang into a hairbrush in front
of my bedroom mirror." Receiving his first set of keyboards as a high
school freshman was an important landmark for Kevin growth in music and
as an artist. He eventually became skilled enough as a solo act to
entertain patrons in restaurants and weddings.
Musically, Kevin is inspired by who also know how to play the piano as
well as vocal groups the specialize in heartfelt R&B. "My influences are
Elton John, Billy Joel, Sting, Prince and all the other groups like Boyz
II Men and the Temptations" he says "I really respect Elton John and
Billy Joel- and those guys- especially Prince, I think he's a musical
genius. He's 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 to small for Kevin's sizable talent and
he bravely set out for Orlando, Florida hoping for a break in the fierce
competitive entertainment industry. Once established in the land where
Mickey Mouse reigns, Kevin's striking good looks and outgoing
personality landed him a job to play the part of Aladdin on stage and in
daily parades. While doing the disney gig, a friend that Kevin had met
at a dance club told him about a new vocal group called Backstreet Boys.
Needless to say, Kevin's gorgeous voice landed him a place in the
budding group. Soon after Kevin called his cousin Brian to get him into
the mix.
Backstreet Boys have been an incredible learning experience for Kevin,
who in all the guys, has taken interest in the technical and business
part of their organization. "It's been a great experience. We've learned
so much and we're learning everyday," he says "Just the whole process of
how the radio stations and the record industry works. And I've learned
so much about production in the studio, I mean, I was just soaking it up
like a sponge."
For all these reasons, the other guys look up to Kevin as a big brother
and the voice of reason of the group-- even when their not always with
what he has to say sometimes. "Kevin's a perfectionist" confirms cousin
Brian "He's got a lot of positive aspects, but he lets his perfectionist
side get in the way sometimes because he wants everything to be too
perfect. He knows he need to lighten up-- sometimes he look at people
and they think he's going to rip their heads off!"
As time goes on, Kevin's learned to ask for support of other members to
make things go easier "Sometimes we'll get together and talk to the
other guys because he doesn't want to come across as the one telling
everyone what to do," reveals Howie, who appreciates Kevin's strong role
in the group. "He's mature, responsible, professional and knows what he
wants... He's the authoritative one. You need someone like that, who has
leadership qualities, to get the guys together."
For his part, Kevin doesn't mind being placed in the big brother
position because of Backstreet Boys is the most important goal for all
it's members. "Backstreet Boys is our life now. Right now we're pretty
much eating, sleeping, and living it," he says a tad wearily. "And in
the time that's our own, we're sleeping in our hotels after the shows
and the rest of the day is riding on the bus"
But all the sacrifice and hard work paid off each time they were on
stage and the crowds begin to roar. "When your a singer on stage, of
course you can see the reaction of the people, and that's the greatest
feeling of all. That's what were here for," he says. "It's a natural
high. When you see someone singing your song, it's pretty wild. It can
almost make you want to cry"
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