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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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