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Creating Massive



                                                            Success With 98


                                                            Degrees And Living


                                                            His Dream



                                                                             by Brian K. Wright










        I had the honor of interviewing Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees recently, and we talked about how he formed
        the group, how they differentiated themselves from similar artists, the importance of building relationships,
        and more!

         Brian:  Welcome,  Jeff!  Did  you  Jeff:    While I  was academically  And  that  was  it  for  me.  I  had  a
         envision early in  your life that  successful  in high school and  semester  left  before  I  graduated,
         you would be where you are right  grade school,  when I got to  but I knew I needed to do this for
         now?                                college, I went to play football and,  a living.
                                             of course, I wasn’t very good at it. I
         Jeff:   I don’t think I envisioned it.  just kept trying at it.          So, I dropped out  of school and
         I always had a knack for the arts.                                       drove to LA. There was no internet
         I’m from a very small town in Ohio  And I bounced around from school  at  that  time,  and  there  was  no
         that is world renowned, believe it  to school, and really  wasn’t into  YouTube, Instagram, or any of the
         or not, as a football hub.          college besides the scene. I loved  social  media  outlets. You  actually
                                             being away from home and getting  had  to  go  to  LA,  New  York,  or
         I fell into singing, musicals, plays,  to party and be around girls. But  Nashville to pursue this.
         and  speech/debate.  All  of  that  the  educational  part,  I  just  didn’t
         stuff always came easy, but I was  have the attention for it.            We  went  to  LA,  and  those  guys
         trying to be cool. I was trying to be                                    ultimately  missed  home  and  quit
         a football player.                  I was on my fourth school when I  the group. I decided to stick with
                                             was  finally  about  to  graduate,  to  it and met someone else out  in
         So, while that stuff came naturally  my parents’ joy. I was at a party,  LA who went to school with Nick
         to me, I never expected that I would  and some girls were there talking  Lachey. I heard Nick’s  voice on
         be sitting here being able to enjoy  about how  some guys impressed  tape and recruited him to come
         a  job  where  I  get  to  be  creative  them  by  singing.  And  I  just  took  out and join my group.
         every day. I’m very thankful for it.  some of my friends that I went to
                                             high school with, and I ended up  Then, he brought his brother
         Brian:  What  was life like before  reconnecting with them in college.  and their good friend, Justin, and
         98 Degrees? How did  you  guys  And we sang a four-part harmony  that’s how we got started. And we
         find each other?                    to the song, My Girl. They loved it  just kicked it around LA and sang
                                             and thought we were cool.            for  our  supper,  literally,  until  we
                                                                                  got  discovered at  a Boyz II Men
                                                                                  concert. They were our idols.


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