Brian Littrell
| Brian Littrell | |
|---|---|
 Littrell in June 2011 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian Thomas Littrell |
| Born | February 20, 1975 |
| Origin | Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop, CCM |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, actor |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Labels | Reunion Jive |
| Associated acts | Backstreet Boys, NKOTBSB |
| Website | brianlittrell.com |
Brian Thomas Littrell (born February 20, 1975[1]) is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actor, best known as a member of the Backstreet Boys. He is also a contemporary Christian recording artist and released a solo album, Welcome Home, in 2006. Brian has 4 Top 20 solo singles in the US Christian chart.
Littrell was also a judge for the 8th annual Independent Music Awards to support independent artists' careers.[2]
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Biography [edit]
Brian Littrell was born in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. He has an older brother, and is the cousin of fellow Backstreet Boys member Kevin Richardson. He first started to sing in the choir of his Lexington Baptist church. Music was always important to him, and he originally planned on entering school to become a music minister. While a senior in high school, Littrell changed plans and accepted the offer to join what became the very successful vocal harmony group, the Backstreet Boys.
Littrell was born with a heart defect that brought him several times into hospital with life-threatening conditions - for two months alone when he was 5 years of age because of a bacterial infection. An open heart surgery in 1998 closed the hole he had in his heart, as he said on his "Hour of Power" interview in 2007. After that he founded the Brian Littrell's "Healthy Heart Club" for kids, a non-profit organization that assists children with heart conditions through medical, financial and practical help. In October 2009, Littrell became infected with the H1N1 virus, causing the cancellation of the Backstreet Boy's This Is Us promotional tour.[3][4]
Career [edit]
Backstreet Boys [edit]
Brian's cousin Kevin Richardson called on him to join the Backstreet Boys. After the joining of Brian Littrell, the quintet officially took shape. In the beginning, there was no success in the United States, even though the first single had been a hit on Orlando radio stations. The band manager Lou Pearlman marketed the Backstreet Boys in Europe, where they became commercially successful in 1995. They became hugely popular in Europe, Latin America and the United States in the late 1990s and the early 2000s. During this time they released four albums, Backstreet Boys, Backstreet's Back, Millennium and Black & Blue followed by a greatest hits album, The Hits: Chapter One. After a three-year gap, they released their comeback album, Never Gone followed by Unbreakable and This is Us. As of July 2012, they are recording a new album in London which is expected to be released by the end of 2012.
In 1997 Littrell was instrumental in bringing a lawsuit against the group's managers Lou Pearlman and Trans Continental claiming that Pearlman has not been truthful about the earnings made by the group. In the following year, McLean, Richardson and Dorough joined the lawsuit which eventually resulted in a number of settlements, details of which were not disclosed.[5][6]
Christian music [edit]
For a long time Littrell had wanted to record Christian music—what he calls "pop positive" music.[7] His first solo album, Welcome Home was released on May 2, 2006, which like the Backstreet Boys projects, is a Sony BMG release. The album peaked at No. 74 on the Billboard 200 and No. 3 on the Christian charts, and has currently sold over 100,000 copies.[8] Three singles were released from the album. The first single "Welcome Home (You)" reached No. 2 on the US Christian charts and No. 1 on Reach FM's Top 40 chart and the R&R Christian Inspirational Chart staying there for three weeks. The second single from the album was "Wish" and in 2007 the third single "Over My Head" was released.while maintaining his duties as a member of the Backstreet Boys. In the summer of 2005 Brian's solo single "In Christ Alone" went to No. 1 on the Christian charts on July 4 and Littrell was the winner of the 2006 GMA Dove Award for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year for "In Christ Alone".
Special TV appearances [edit]
Littrell made appearances with The Backstreet Boys on Arthur, Sesame Street, and Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Littrell also performed with The Backstreet Boys on Saturday Night Live.
Personal life [edit]
Two months after joining the Backstreet Boys, Brian started dating Samantha Stonebraker, a relationship that continued for four years (1993–1997). Brian even lived with Samantha's family for two years.[9] In 1998, after their separation, she released the book What You Wanna Know: Backstreet Boys Secrets Only a Girlfriend Can Tell,[10] about their relationship and the Backstreet Boys.[11]
In 1997, Littrell met model and actress Leighanne Wallace at the video shoot for their single "As Long as You Love Me". He proposed on Christmas Eve night of 1999 and they were married on September 2, 2000 at Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta, Georgia.[12] Both are committed evangelical Christians. Their first child, son Baylee Thomas Wylee Littrell, was born on November 26, 2002.
Religious belief [edit]
A faithful Christian, Littrell has stated that he believes it is the duty of Christians to be open about their faith, saying, "I think as Christians we need to join hands and mount up together and lift God up and talk about our faith publicly and talk about all of the things God has done for us in our life to touch other people."[13] Littrell, who has been a born again Christian since age 8[14] has said that he attributes his success in life to God, and that his faith has always been "the utmost important thing" in his life.[15]
Discography [edit]
Albums [edit]
| Year | Album details | Peak positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US Christian |
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| 2006 | Welcome Home
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74 | 3 |
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Singles [edit]
| Year | Single | Peak | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Christian |
|||
| 2005 | "In Christ Alone" | 1 | Welcome Home |
| 2006 | "Welcome Home (You)" | 2 | |
| "Wish" | 20 | ||
| 2007 | "Over My Head" | 17 |
See also [edit]
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References [edit]
- ^ Netter, Matt (January 1999). Backstreet Boys * Aaron Carter. New York: Pocket Books. pp. 43–44. ISBN 0-671-03539-8.
- ^ Independent Music Awards - Past Judges
- ^ "Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell Has Swine Flu". Huffington Post. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
- ^ "Brian Littrell Has Swine Flu". People. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
- ^ Bryan Burrough (November 2007). "Mad About the Boys". Vanity Fair.
- ^ "Backstreet Boys Sue Pearlman, Trans Continental". Billboard. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
- ^ Ross, Dena. "'Give Glory Where Glory is Due'". Beliefnet, Inc. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
- ^ a b "Brian Littrell Looks To Reconnect As Dove Co-Host". April 25, 2007. Archived from the original on April 29, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ Stonebraker, Samantha. What You Wanna Know: Backstreet Boys Secrets Only a Girlfriend Can Tell
- ^ Amazon.com
- ^ "Samantha Stonebraker interview bonus". USA Weekend. Nov 21, 1999. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Ross, Dena. (October 23, 2006). "'Give Glory Where Glory Is Due'". BeliefNet.com. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
- ^ "Christianity Today - Brian Littrell". Christianity Today. Archived from the original on October 10, 2007. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
- ^ Millar, Sarah. "Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell Goes Solo". andPOP.com. Retrieved November 22, 2007.
External links [edit]
- Official website
- Official Backstreet Boys website
- Brian Littrell on Myspace
- Brian Littrell at the Internet Movie Database
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