Cousins Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell, both of whom came from Lexington, Kentucky, initially began singing in local church choirs and festivals while they were children.^[6] Howie Dorough and A.J. McLean were natives of Orlando, Florida, who met each other and later discovered Nick Carter through auditions who joined the two for local commercials, theater, and television.^[6] The three, realizing at one audition, that they all shared a great affection for classical soul which they were able to harmonize together, decided to form a trio.^[6] Meanwhile, Richardson moved to Orlando, where he took several jobs at Disney, including a tour guide, and the roles of Aladdin and a Ninja Turtle and concentrated on music at nights. Eventually, he met Dorough, Carter, and McLean through a co-worker, and the four decided to form a group.^[6] Brian Littrell was later invited to join, turning the group into a quintet.^[7] In the course of all this, Lou Pearlman, in early 1992 had placed an ad in Orlando Sentinel announcing auditions to compose a boy band.^[8] A.J., who was the first to audition for Pearlman in his living room, became the group's first member.^[8] In January 1993, Pearlman held an open casting call during which hundreds of young performers danced and sang at his blimp hangar in Kissimmee, south of Orlando.^[8] Eventually, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Howie Dorough were selected after meeting Pearlman's expectations. Brian Littrell was added to the group after Richardson had him audition for the group over the telephone. ^[9] Pearlman decided to call the group Backstreet Boys, naming it after Orlando's Backstreet flea market.^[8] The group had its very first performance at SeaWorld Orlando in May 1993.^[8]

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