Kevin's Vital Stats

Full Name:Kevin Scott Richardson

Hair:Black

Eyes:Green

Height: 6'

Weight:155 lbs.

Shoe Size:11 and a half

Nicknames:Kev,Train,Kevvy-Kev,Pumpkin, and Boo

Birthplace:Lexington,Kentucky

Residence:Orlando,Florida

Birthdate:Oct. 3,1971

Astrological Sign:Libra

Family Status:Parents Ann and Jerald(who tragically died in 1991); older brothers Jerald and Tim

Kevin, the oldest member of the Backstreet Boys grew up almost like a modern pioneer. Until Kevin was nine years old, he and his family-lived on a ten-acre farm in Kentucky. After that, he and his family moved into a modern log cabin.

Kevin remembers his childhood with fondness, since he was very close to his family and spent his years as a young boy doing all sorts of fun things, like ride horses and play Little League Baseball.

From an early age he was a good singer and would spend lots of time in front of his bedroom mirror singing into a hairbrush. To encourage this natural talent, his parents gave him a set of keyboards when he was in high school, which he played at resturants and weddings. During high school he also joined the drama club and chorus, and he also entered local talent competitions as well. He had parts in productions of Bye Bye Birdie and Barefoot In The Park.

After graduating from high school, Kevin was torn between joining the Air Force and pursuing the music career. But his father told him he should follow what was in his heart, so Kevin dedicated himself to music and entertaining. Kevin was in a top 40 cover band for a while, but he didn't find it very satisfying, it wasn't getting him anywhere. So he realized he needed to go somewhere where the oppptunities were more seriuos.

So in late 1990 Kevin packed up his bags, said good-bye to his family and headed south to Orlando and Disney World. The first job Kevin landed was as a tour guide for Disney World. This job not only got him closer to what he was looking for, it also allowed him some time to do his songwriting and practice his music. Eventually he landed other jobs at Disney, such as playing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and Aladdin onstage and in daily parades.

When Kevin was about nineteen, his parents and two older brothers came down from Kentucky to visit him for vacation, which he says was great. What the family didn't know is that this would be one of their last happy times together.

Right after that Kevin's father,Jerald, who was only forty-nine years old, was diagnosed with colon cancer. At first his parents didn't tell Kevin the news. His dad had surgery to remove the tumor right away, and since the survival rate with early detection and treatment is pretty high, his dad didn't want to worry Kevin by telling him. Unfortunately, the surgery didn't do the trick, because the cancer had already spread through his father's entire body. Kevin was devastated by the news and moved back home to Kentucky to be with his dad. His older brother Jerald Jr.-named after their father-moved back home from Dallas, where he worked as a model.

By living at home, Kevin was able to help out around the house and care for his father. He also saw firsthand the toll the disease was taking on his father's health. The cheomotherapy his father was getting produced blood clots in his blood, which caused him to suffer a stroke. Luckily, his father lived through this experience, though it was a setback in his recovery.

Before he had gotten sick, his father had been a very active, outdoorsy guy. Jerald Richardson was tall and strong. He played football. He was very handy around the house, and he could fix anything. He was never a complainer, even if he was hurt or sick. He was strong and depenadble, so it was hard for Kevin to see his father is such an ill and weakened state.

Through the entire ordeal, his mom remained strong, although it was very tough for her, because she and Kevin's dad were high-school sweet hearts!!

Kevin's family were and is very close. So they were very supportive of each other throughout Jerald's ordeal. But, Kevin admitted, "I was very angry. I felt like he had been cheated of his golden years. My brothers and I were growing up, sorting out our own lives. He should've finally been able to sit back, get ready to retire, and do whatever he wanted. But he was taken away, he was only 49."

Sadly, Kevin's father only lived ten months after his ignitial diagnosis and died on August 26, 1991.

Eight years later, Kevin still misses his dad in many ways, especially during the holidays, which were always happy times for the Richardson Family. His father had encouraged Kevin to persue his interest in music, even though originally Kevin thought he should be practical and join the air force after high-school. His father believed it was important that Kevin do whatever he wanted to do.

As Kevin moves forward and lives his life, he thinks of his dad and tries to do things that would make his dad proud.

In honor of his late father, Kevin dedicated the U.S. album to him. Kevin wrote in the last part of his thanks in the liner notes about his father's death in a frank and heartfelt way that clearly shows Kevin's continuing love and respect for his father. Calling him "the greatest man" he would ever know, he said, "If I can be half the man you were as a Father, a Husband, and as a Friend, then I will consider myself to be successful."

Kevin confesses that he wished he had A.J.'s voice, which he thinks has a cool, raspy, soul-funk quality to it. He also admires his cousin Brian's voice because he thinks it has a smoothness to it.

Kevin has a weakness for peanut butter. He likes peanut butter on almost anything, although his favorite combination is pretty traditional: PB&J on Ritz crackers.

Kevin adores children. He pays extra-special attention to his youngest fans; he will always give them an autograph or pose for a picture.

Kevin is an old-fashioned kind of guy when it comes to girls. He was brought up to be polite and respectful of women, so he believes in opening a car door for a woman and let her order first-just like a classic gentleman.

When Kevin was ninteen, he was engaged to a girl named Beth. But they eventually broke of the engagement because they both thought that they were too young for a marriage.

Kevins thinks that what would make him a good boyfriend is his honesty. He is not a game-player, meaning his will say what he thinks-though thoughtfully and respectfully. He wants to be with someone he can talk to. A nice smile doesn't hurt either, he adds.

More Info On Kevin

Favorite Color:Blue

Favorite Foods:His moms home cooking and Asian and Mexican foods.

Instruments:Piano and keyboard

Favorite Music:Prince,Elton John,R. Kelly,Babyface,Michael Jackson,Teddy Riley,Billy Joel, and Brain McKnight

Favorite Movies:Top Gun and The Shawshank Redemption

Favorite Actress:Nicole Kidman

Dream Women:Liv Tyler,Demi Moore, and Michelle Pfeiffer

Favorite Actors:Tom Cruise and John Travolta

Favorite TV Shows:Roseanne and Martin

Favorite Book:Interview With The Vampire by Anne Rice

Favorite Colognes:Paco and XS by Paco Rabanne

Favorite Hobbies:When he is not working, he can be out club-hopping, dancing, or doing all kinds of outdoor sports

Worst Habit:Sleeping Late

What He Looks For In A Girl:Kevin is attracted to women who are accepting of him the way he is

Favorite Saying:"What's Up?"

He's Most Likely To:Encourage people to follow their dreams, because he believes that your dreams can come true

What He Thought He Was Going To Be Before BSB:A pilot

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