Kevin Richardson
Kevin Richardson was born in Lexington, Kentucky. He is the youngest of three brothers. He has been singing in church choir since he was a child and he started acting in high school.
As a youth, he was a chess club member and acted in school plays such as "Bye, Bye Birdie" at his school in Kentucky, Estill County High School. He was also a football captain.
In Florida, he worked as a cast member in Walt Disney World. He was a backstage tour guide and costume characters, most notably as Aladdin and one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There he also met his future wife Kristin Willits, who was playing the character of Belle from "Beauty and the Beast." He worked at Walt Disney World until he joined the Backstreet Boys in 1993.
As a youth, he was a chess club member and acted in school plays such as "Bye, Bye Birdie" at his school in Kentucky, Estill County High School. He was also a football captain.
In Florida, he worked as a cast member in Walt Disney World. He was a backstage tour guide and costume characters, most notably as Aladdin and one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There he also met his future wife Kristin Willits, who was playing the character of Belle from "Beauty and the Beast." He worked at Walt Disney World until he joined the Backstreet Boys in 1993.
In 1993, Richardson joined a new group called Backstreet Boys. After he joined, the group was still looking for one more member so Richardson called Brian Littrell, who was Richardson's maternal first cousin, to ask him to audition for the group. Littrell was immediately accepted, and the very next day he officially joined the group. After Littrell joined, the quintet officially took shape.
Richardson was part of the group until 2006, when he announced his departure to pursue other interests and "move on with the next chapter of [his] life." He recorded a total of five albums with the group in the span of 13 years. On June 23, 2006 he issued the following statement on the band's website:
"After 13 years of what can only be described as a dream come true, I have decided that it is time to leave the Backstreet Boys. It was a very tough decision for me but one that was necessary in order to move on with the next chapter of my life. Howard, Brian, Alex and Nick will always be my little brothers and have my utmost love and support. I would like to thank the Backstreet fans for all the beautiful memories we have shared together and look forward to including you in the next phase of my life. I wish my brothers continued success and look forward to their new album."
Richardson was part of the group until 2006, when he announced his departure to pursue other interests and "move on with the next chapter of [his] life." He recorded a total of five albums with the group in the span of 13 years. On June 23, 2006 he issued the following statement on the band's website:
"After 13 years of what can only be described as a dream come true, I have decided that it is time to leave the Backstreet Boys. It was a very tough decision for me but one that was necessary in order to move on with the next chapter of my life. Howard, Brian, Alex and Nick will always be my little brothers and have my utmost love and support. I would like to thank the Backstreet fans for all the beautiful memories we have shared together and look forward to including you in the next phase of my life. I wish my brothers continued success and look forward to their new album."