This is a great book. Even if you're not a much of a Nick fan, you should pick this one up. It's written by his mom (Jane Carter), and you get an in-depth look at his life before he was a Backstreet Boy ( even if some of it IS a little cheesy). Plus, it's got 32 pages of Nick pictures, from birth to about 18, and who doesn't want to see that?!?
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some of my favorite exerts... " On one evening in particular [at the Yankee Rebel], Bob was spinning records in our DJ sound booth. I brought Nick downstairs. Fresh out of his bath and dressed, Nick was raring to go. Everyone danced away under the mirrorball, a huge silvery disco ball just like the one in the movie 'Saturday Night Fever', making the dance floor a magical setting. Strobe lights flashed, capturing my pint-sized Nick's image, as well as his fascination. The music boomed. Bob led Nick inside the booth. He took off his headset and put it on Nick so he could hear the next scheduled song. Suddenly Nick grabbed both sides of the headset with his little hands and began pressing hard on his ears. I started to panic, thinking he was trying to free himself from the private concert playing into his head. I was afraid it might have been too loud. As I moved to take the head phones off, Bob stopped me. He said ' No, wait a minute. I think he's enjoying it!' This was one of those ' Father knows best ' moments. Nick flashed a smile that got bigger and bigger . He apparently loved the music funneling into his ears! I ran and got our camera, recognizing this as one of those Kodak moments. Nick really grooved- and drooled, too, as most toddlers do - to that music. You could just tell he loved this experience. He must have kept those headphones on for a good forty minutes before Bob was able to get them back for himself. I think most toddlers would have tired of this within seconds and taken off the headphones, but not my Nicky. Whenever I'm at one of Nick's recording sessions, I flash back to that night! I see him as a toddler with those headphones on. When I hear him sing 'Hey, Mr. DJ, play that song for me,' I always recall my baby DJ the night Daddy played that song for him"
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"I told Nick that I just loved " Bridge over troubled water" [by Simon and Garfunkel]. In a heartfelt way he told me he did too. I remember feeling pleased that he appreciated the kind of music I liked. What I call 'real music' is music with a moving melody and a passion that lasts forever. The artist who sings real music must take a song and infuse it with feeling, using no less than all his of his body and soul. I remember telling Nick, 'Honey, if you could sing like that, you'd be a superstar.' Later on, I happened to go out and buy that tape. I never saw Nick reach for it. He must have picked it up, though, and learned it on his own. A few days later, I stood at the sink in our kitchen, washing the breakfast dishes. The window was open, and I heard music. i stopped, turned off the faucet, wiped my hands on a dish towel, and went over to the window. I glanced out to find the source of the sounds filtering in. The voice was strong and beautiful. It had perfect pitch. As I looked out, I saw Nick. He sat in our backyard, perched on one of those tree stumps, singing. He treated me to the most stirring version of 'Bridge over troubled water' that I had ever heard. My nine-year-old son passionately performed and blew Art Garfunkel out of the water! I dropped everything. I listened with true joy in my heart. Nick saw me. Obviously, he had planned this. He watched as I beamed proudly the whole time he sang. When he finished holding the last note, I applauded ecstatically. I had tears in my eyes. I saw the tears forming in the corners of his blue eyes as well. When I hugged Nick and pressed his face against my cheek, our tears of happiness and mutual understanding mingled. Right then and there I took my son's talent seriously.
