Over the course of his brief music career, Aaron Carter has managed an impressive feat: He has become a teen idol before actually becoming a teen. Carter, age 12 (and three fourths), is the younger brother of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter.

Aaron began singing at age six, forming a band, Dead End, with two of his Florida elementary-school classmates. After two years, however, Aaron left Dead End, citing artistic differences. He decided to pursue a solo career and began working with a vocal coach. At the same time, brother Nick's group was taking off in Europe. Aaron performed occasionally with the Backstreet Boys, gaining international exposure that Dead End's gigs at the local library just couldn't provide. Aaron soon landed a contract with the German label Edel Records and issued his first European single, "Crush on You," in August 1997. One of very few Jets covers recorded anywhere in the world, "Crush on You" reached the Top 10 in several countries.

Following a European tour, Aaron released his first full-length album worldwide in 1998. His self-titled debut brings to the world Carter's European singles ("Crush on You," "Crazy Little Party Girl") and continues his tradition of ground-breaking covers with "Please Don't Go Girl," probably history's first New Kids on the Block cover. The album has gone gold in Spain, Denmark, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Taiwan, Indonesia and Thailand. In the Philippines, Aaron Carter has achieved platinum sales.

Andrew Fraker