Brian Littrell
Encyclopedia
Brian Thomas Littrell is an American
singer-songwriter
, 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.
, United States. He has one older brother and he is the cousin of former 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 originally planned on entering school to become a music minister. Littrell, while a senior in high school, changed plans and accepted the offer to join what would become the very successful new boy band, the Backstreet Boys
.
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
.
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.
, 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." Littrell, who has been a born again Christian since age 8 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.
Littrell decided to make a Christian album and become a contemporary Christian singer, 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 #1 on the Christian Charts on July 4 and Littrell was the winner of the 2006 GMA Music Award
for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year, "In Christ Alone," which won both the 1993 award in this category and the 1994 Song of the Year at the GMA Music Awards.
Brian's 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 #74 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Christian Charts, and has currently sold over 100,000 copies http://wkrn.com/nashville/news/brian-littrell-looks-to-reconnect-as-dove-cohost/91559.htm. Three singles were released from the album. The first single "Welcome Home (You)" reached #2 on the US Christian Charts and #1 on Reach FM's Top 40 chart and the R&R Christian Inspirational Chart staying there for 3 weeks. The second single from the album was "Wish" and in 2007 the third single "Over My Head" was released.
, Sesame Street
, and Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Littrell also performed with The Backstreet Boys on Saturday Night Live
.
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. In 1998, after their separation, she released the book What You Wanna Know: Backstreet Boys Secrets Only a Girlfriend Can Tell, about their relationship and the Backstreet Boys.
Two months after Brian split from Samantha, he met model
/aspiring actress Leighanne Wallace
at the June 15, 1997 video shoot for their single "As Long As You Love Me
." He proposed to her in 1999 and they were married on September 2, 2000. Both are committed Evangelical
Christians. They have one child, son Baylee Thomas Wylee Littrell.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, best known as a member of the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, 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
The Independent Music Awards
The Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 50 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories....
to support independent artists' careers.
Biography
Brian Littrell was born in Lexington, KentuckyLexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, United States. He has one older brother and he is the cousin of former Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
member Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson (musician)
Kevin Scott Richardson is an American singer and a former member of the Backstreet Boys, model, actor, and composer. He was the oldest member of the band during his tenure.- Early years :...
.
He first started to sing in the choir of his Lexington Baptist church. Music was always important to him, and originally planned on entering school to become a music minister. Littrell, while a senior in high school, changed plans and accepted the offer to join what would become the very successful new boy band, the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
.
Backstreet Boys
Brian's cousin Kevin RichardsonKevin Richardson (musician)
Kevin Scott Richardson is an American singer and a former member of the Backstreet Boys, model, actor, and composer. He was the oldest member of the band during his tenure.- Early years :...
called on him to join the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, 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
Lou Pearlman
Louis Jay "Lou" Pearlman is a former impresario of the successful 1990s boy bands such as The Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Take 5, O-Town and US5. In 2006, it was discovered that Pearlman had perpetrated one of the largest and longest-running Ponzi schemes in American history, leaving more than $300...
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
Backstreet's Back
Backstreet's Back is an album by the Backstreet Boys released internationally in 1997, but not in the United States. It was a follow-up to their successful self-titled international debut. Some songs from this album, and the prior release were compiled into a second self-titled album whose release...
, Millennium
Millennium (Backstreet Boys album)
Millennium is the third album by American boyband Backstreet Boys. It was a highly anticipated follow-up to both their United States debut album, and their second internationally released album. It was their first album to be released in both the U.S...
and Black & Blue
Black & Blue
Black & Blue is the follow-up album to the Backstreet Boys' 1999 studio release Millennium. It is their fourth album and their third American release. In the United States, Black & Blue sold 1.6 million discs in its first week of release, making them the first group in Soundscan history to have...
followed by a greatest hits album, The Hits: Chapter One
The Hits: Chapter One
The Hits – Chapter One, also known as Greatest Hits – Chapter One internationally, is the first Greatest Hits compilation released by American boyband, Backstreet Boys. The album features fifteen of the group's classic hits, as well as one new song, "Drowning"...
. After a three-year gap, they released their comeback album, Never Gone
Never Gone
Never Gone was the eagerly awaited comeback album by US vocal group Backstreet Boys. Originally to be released in 2004, the release date was pushed back to June 14, 2005 for unknown reasons. The album varies musically from their previous albums, with a rock sound to the album...
followed by Unbreakable
Unbreakable (Backstreet Boys album)
Unbreakable is the Backstreet Boys' sixth studio album, fifth in the United States. It was released on October 24, 2007 in Japan and October 30 in the United States by Jive Records...
and This is Us
This Is Us
This Is Us is the debut album of Greensboro, North Carolina rock band The Necessary. It was released on June 22, 2004 on Forsaken Recordings...
.
In 1997 Littrell was instrumental in bringing a lawsuit against the group's managers Lou Pearlman
Lou Pearlman
Louis Jay "Lou" Pearlman is a former impresario of the successful 1990s boy bands such as The Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Take 5, O-Town and US5. In 2006, it was discovered that Pearlman had perpetrated one of the largest and longest-running Ponzi schemes in American history, leaving more than $300...
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.
Career in Christian music
A faithful ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, Littrell has stated that he believes it is the duty of Christians to be open about their faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
, 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." Littrell, who has been a born again Christian since age 8 has said that he attributes his success in life to God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, and that his faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
has always been "the utmost important thing" in his life.
Littrell decided to make a Christian album and become a contemporary Christian singer, while maintaining his duties as a member of the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys...
. In the summer of 2005 Brian's solo single "In Christ Alone" went to #1 on the Christian Charts on July 4 and Littrell was the winner of the 2006 GMA Music Award
GMA Music Awards
The Gospel Music Association Dove Awards are presented annually by the Gospel Music Association for outstanding achievements in the Christian music industry. The awards are usually presented during a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, that features performances by a number of the industry's newest...
for Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year, "In Christ Alone," which won both the 1993 award in this category and the 1994 Song of the Year at the GMA Music Awards.
Brian's first solo album, Welcome Home was released on May 2, 2006, which like the Backstreet Boys projects, is a Sony BMG
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment was a recorded music company, which was a 50–50 joint venture between the Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann AG...
release. The album peaked at #74 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Christian Charts, and has currently sold over 100,000 copies http://wkrn.com/nashville/news/brian-littrell-looks-to-reconnect-as-dove-cohost/91559.htm. Three singles were released from the album. The first single "Welcome Home (You)" reached #2 on the US Christian Charts and #1 on Reach FM's Top 40 chart and the R&R Christian Inspirational Chart staying there for 3 weeks. The second single from the album was "Wish" and in 2007 the third single "Over My Head" was released.
Special TV appearances
Littrell made appearances with The Backstreet Boys on ArthurArthur (TV series)
Arthur is an American/Canadian animated educational television series for children, created by Cookie Jar Group and WGBH for the Public Broadcasting Service...
, Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, and Sabrina The Teenage Witch. Littrell also performed with The Backstreet Boys on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
.
Personal life
Brian 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 that assists children with heart conditions through medical, financial and practical help.Two months after joining the Backstreet Boys
Backstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The band originally consisted of A. J. McLean, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, Nick Carter and Kevin Richardson. They rose to fame with their debut international album, 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. In 1998, after their separation, she released the book What You Wanna Know: Backstreet Boys Secrets Only a Girlfriend Can Tell, about their relationship and the Backstreet Boys.
Two months after Brian split from Samantha, he met model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
/aspiring actress Leighanne Wallace
Leighanne Wallace
Leighanne Reena Wallace Littrell is a former American model and actress.Wallace met Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell in June 1997, when she appeared in the Backstreet Boys' music videos "As Long As You Love Me" and "I'll Never Break Your Heart". Littrell proposed on Christmas night 1999, and they...
at the June 15, 1997 video shoot for their single "As Long As You Love Me
As Long as You Love Me
"As Long As You Love Me" is the second single by the Backstreet Boys from their debut album in the United States and the second single from Backstreet's Back internationally. It was released in September 1997 internationally and in October of the same year in the United States. It is one of the...
." He proposed to her in 1999 and they were married on September 2, 2000. Both are committed Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christians. They have one child, son Baylee Thomas Wylee Littrell.
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak positions | Certifications (sales threshold Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... ) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US Christian |
|||
| 2006 | Welcome Home Welcome Home (album) Welcome Home is the debut solo album by Backstreet Boys member Brian Littrell. The album was released on the Reunion Records label. The album peaked on the Billboard 200 at #74 and #3 on the Christian Charts. Four singles have been released from the album: "Welcome Home ", which charted at #1 in...
|
74 | 3 |
|
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Christian Hot Christian Songs Christian Songs is a Billboard chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.... |
|||
| 2005 | "In Christ Alone" | 1 | Welcome Home |
| 2006 | "Welcome Home (You)" | 2 | |
| "Wish" | 20 | ||
| 2007 | "Over My Head" | 17 |