Jonas Brothers - Musicians

Summary

The "Jonas Brothers" are an American pop rock band from Wyckoff, New Jersey headed up by three brothers, Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. They have released two albums - "It's About Time" in 2006 and "Jonas Brothers" in 2007.

Band biography

Nicholas Jonas: discovery and solo album (1999-2005)

The band started as a solo project of Nicholas Jonas. When Nick was 6 years old, he was discovered while singing at a barber shop and was referred to a professional show business manager. (MTV: More Blink-182 Than Hanson, It's Time For The Jonas Brothers) (Jonas Brothers - CCMmagazine.com) (MTV News: Jonas Brothers) At the age of 7, Nick began performing on Broadway. (Jonas Brothers: It's About Time) (Clubhouse Magazine) He had acted in several plays, including "A Christmas Carol" (in 2000 as Tiny Tim and Scrooge at eight), "Annie Get Your Gun" (in 2001 as Little Jake), "Beauty and the Beast" (in 2002 as Chip), and "Les Misérables" (in 2003 as Gavroche). (Playbill News: Beauty and the Beast Becomes 8th Longest-Running Show Aug. 4) (Playbill News: Photo Call: Les Misérables: Leading Mann) (Playbill Biography: Nicholas Jonas) After Les Misérables closed, he performed in "The Sound of Music" (as Kurt) at the Paper Mill Playhouse. (Playbill News: Meg Bussert Joins Paper Mill Sound of Music; Complete Casting Announced)

In 2002 while performing in "Beauty and the Beast", Nick had written a song with father called 'Joy To The World (A Christmas Prayer).' With background vocals from the "Beauty and the Beast" cast, Nick performed the song on the 2002 annual Broadway 'Equity Fights AIDS' album, "Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Vol. 4". (Kansas City Star: Band interview: The Jonas Brothers, on the road, promoting their first CD) (Allentown Morning Call: The Jonas Brothers: hearththrobs of the Hanson kind) (Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Vol. 4) In November 2003, INO Records received a demo copy of 'Joy To The World (A Christmas Prayer).' (INO Records: Nicholas Jonas - Dear God) The label released the song to Christian radio, where it quickly became popular on Record & Radio's Christian Adult Contemporary Chart.

By September 2004, an executive at Columbia Records found out about Nick's song. Nick was soon jointly signed to INO Records and Columbia Records and released the single 'Dear God.' (Dear God by Nicholas Jonas) (About.com: INO Records Signs 12-Year Old Singer/Actor Nicholas Jonas) A second single, 'Joy To The World (A Christmas Prayer)' (a new solo recording), was released on November 16. (Joy To The World (A Christmas Prayer) by Nicholas Jonas) It was supposed to be followed by a December release of a self-titled solo album, but the album had been pushed back. (About.com: Jonas Brothers It's About Time) But did get a limited release. (WalMart.com: Nicholas Jonas) Nick, along with Kevin and Joe, had written several other songs for the album.

In early 2005, Columbia Records' new president Steve Greenberg, listened to Nick's record. While Greenberg did not like the album, he did like Nick's voice. (Jonas Brothers deliver squeaky clean 'punk' music) After meeting with Nick and hearing the song, 'Please Be Mine,' written and performed by the brothers, Daylight/Columbia Records had decided to sign the three as a group act. (New Haven Register: Brothers In Arms) (The Boy Choir & Soloist Directory: Nicholas Jonas) However, on May 17, 2005, one song from the original album, 'Crazy Kind of Crush on You,' was released on the "Darcy's Wild Life" soundtrack. (Darcy's Wild Life (soundtrack))

"It's About Time" (2005-2006)

After being signed to Columbia, the brothers considered naming their group 'Sons of Jonas,' before settling on the name the 'Jonas Brothers'. (MTV - The New Boy Bands) (Jonas Brothers Biography at AceShowBiz.com)

Throughout 2005, the Jonas Brothers went on several tours, including Kelly Clarkson, Jesse McCartney, the Backstreet Boys, and the Click Five. (Get Out the Red Bull...Here Come the Jonas Brothers) They spent the later portion of the year on an anti-drug tour with Aly & AJ and The Cheetah Girls. (The Montclair Times: 'It's About Time' the Jonas Brothers come to Montclair) Additionally, they opened for the Veronicas in early 2006.

For the album, titled "It's About Time", the band collaborated with several writers, including Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), Michael Mangini (Joss Stone), Desmond Child (Aerosmith, Bon Jovi), Billy Mann (Destiny's Child, Jessica Simpson) and Steve Greenberg (Joss Stone, Hanson). The album was initially supposed to be released in February 2006, but was pushed back several times. The delay was due to executive changes at Sony (the parent company of Columbia) and the executives' desire to have 'another lead single.' For the album, the Jonas Brothers covered two hit songs by UK band Busted - 'Year 3000' and 'What I Go to School For'.

The Jonas Brothers' first single, 'Mandy,' was released on December 27, 2005. (Mandy - Jonas Brothers @ SonyMusicStore) . Its music video was shown on MTV's "Total Request Live" on February 22, 2006 and reached number four. Also in February, another of the Jonas' songs, 'Time For Me To Fly,' was released on the "Aquamarine" soundtrack. (Fashion Show To Be Held In Rome (Greater Rome Times)) In March, 'Mandy' was featured in the Nickelodeon television film "Zoey 101: Spring Break-Up" and the "Zoey 101: Music Mix" soundtrack album (artist listed as Nicholas Jonas). The group's music was also been featured on the Cartoon Network's "Cartoon Cartoon Fridays" program. The band covered 'Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)' from Pirates of the Caribbean for the "DisneyMania 4" album, released on April 4, 2006. (Disneymania, Vol. 4) Over the summer of 2006, the Jonas Brothers went on tour with Aly and AJ. (Aly & AJ pump up the volume) The Jonas Brothers also created the theme song for the second season of "American Dragon Jake Long", airing from June 2006 to September 2007 on the Disney Channel. (American Dragon: Jake Long episode guide)

"It's About Time" was finally released on August 8 2006. (Billboard Discography - Jonas Brothers - It's About Time) According to the band's manager, it was only a 'limited release' of 50,000 copies. Because Sony was not interested in further promoting the band, the Jonas Brothers then considered switching labels.

On October 3, 2006, Nick's 2004 solo single, 'Joy to the World (A Christmas Prayer),' was re-released on "Joy to the World: The Ultimate Christmas Collection". (Joy To The World: The Ultimate Christmas Collection) Also in October, the Jonas Brothers covered 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' from "The Little Mermaid". Along with a music video, the song was released on a two disk special edition release of "The Little Mermaid" soundtrack. (Little Mermaid (special edition)) The second single released off of the album was 'Year 3000.' The song became popular on Radio Disney, and the music video debuted on the Disney Channel in mid-January 2007.

The band was ultimately dropped by Columbia Records in early 2007.

"Jonas Brothers" (2007-present)

After shortly being without a label, the Jonas Brothers signed with Hollywood Records in February 2007. (PR Newswire: The Jonas Brothers Sign Record Deal With Disney's Hollywood Records) (Topps' Baby Bottle Pop Sweetens Its Effort) Around the same time, brothers began appearing in commercials for Baby Bottle Pops, singing the jingle. On March 27, two additional songs on two different albums were released: 'Kids of the Future' from the "Meet the Robinsons" soundtrack (Based on Kim Wilde's 'Kids in America') and 'I Wanna Be Like You' from "DisneyMania 5". (Meet the Robinsons (soundtrack)) (Disneymania, Vol. 5) On June 16, 2007, the Jonas Brothers began their prom-themed summer tour at South Street Seaport in New York City.

Their self-titled second album, "Jonas Brothers" was released on August 7th 2007. (Billboard Discography - Jonas Brothers - Jonas Brothers) It reached number 5 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart its first week. Two singles with music videos were also released around this time - 'Hold On' two weeks before and 'SOS' just after the release of the album.

In August, the Jonas Brothers made several appearances on television. On August 17, they guest starred in an episode of the Disney Channel Show Hannah Montana titled "Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas." They also performed 'We Got the Party' with Miley Cyrus in the episode, which appeared after the DCOM High School Musical 2 and was view by 10.7 million people that night. (Millions Sold on 'HSM2' - Multichannel News) On August 24, the Jonas Brothers performed two songs at the Miss Teen USA contest. (Miss Teen USA 2007) The following day, the closing ceremonies of the Disney Channel Games was aired, featuring a performance from the Jonas Brothers. The games were taped on April 27, 2007 in Orlando, FL. (Walt Disney World News - Disney Channel Games 2007 to Include Kid and 'Tween Favorites From Around the Globe Competing in Fun Games and Sporting Events to Benefit Charity) (Disney Channel Games 2007) On August 26, the Jonas Brothers co-presented an award with Miley Cyrus at the Teen Choice Awards.They also performed at the American Music Awards in November 18, 2007, performing the songS.O.S (Teen Choice 2007)

On 22 November 2007, the brothers appeared in the 81st annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Future Projects

Starting October 18, 2007 in St. Louis, Missouri, the Jonas Brothers will be opening for Miley Cyrus on her 54-date Best of Both Worlds North American concert tour. It will end on January 9, 2008 in Albany, New York.

Because of their major success with Disney and Hollywood Records, Disney is now set to create another one of their signature breakout stars. Disney has signed the brothers to a concert special, movie (Camp Rock, premieres January 2008), and TV Series. (Yahoo! News: Disney Channel in tune with Jonas Brothers) The fictional television series entitled "J.O.N.A.S!" (Junior Operatives Networking As Spies) starring the trio as a group of government hired spies was filmed, and is expected to debut on the Disney Channel in 2008. (IMDB - 'J.O.N.A.S!')

In addition to the opening act of the Hannah Montana concert, the Jonas Brothers are also set to appear in "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour" film set for 3-D release on February 1, 2008.

Band In A Bus

The Jonas Brothers will also be working on their 3rd Album on a state of the art Gibson Tour Bus

Members

Current members

Paul Kevin Jonas II (b. November 5, 1987) - guitar (usually a Gibson Les Paul) and background vocals (Photograph of Nick and Kevin playing their guitars)

Joseph Adam Jonas (b. August 15, 1989) - lead vocalist and tambourine

Nicholas Jerry Jonas (b. September 16, 1992) - lead vocals, guitar (usually a Gibson SG in the original red stain color), (drums in the song 'Australia')

John Taylor - guitar (Musiqtone- Concerts: Jonas Brothers steals show from Jesse McCartney in Florida concert)

Greg Garbowsky - bass guitar

Jack Lawless - drums

Kevin, Joe, and Nick also have a younger brother, Frankie Nathaniel Jonas, also known as the 'Bonus Jonas' and 'Frank the Tank,' who wants to play drums in the band when he gets older. (Video of Disney Channel's Bonus Jonas Time)

Former members

Alex Noyes - drums

Discography

Albums

A RIAA certification is based on total combined sales of original and bonus albums

Singles

The dash (-) means that the song did not chart.

TBA = To Be Announced

On August 7th 2007 The iTunes Music Store named the single 'Hold On' as number three on their 'Best of the Store' Playlist.

Trivia

All three brothers attended Eastern Christian High School in North Haledon, New Jersey.Chadwick, John.

('Wyckoff natives return to stomping grounds for concert') , "The Record (Bergen County)", March 9, 2007. Accessed September 22, 2007. 'The brothers -- Kevin, 19, Joseph, 17, and Nicholas, 14 -- are Wyckoff natives who attended Eastern Christian -- a pre-K-12 private school with three North Jersey campuses.'

In March 2007, Nick announced that he has Type 1 diabetes. (Type 1 Pop Star, Nick Jonas Tells His Story) (Jonas Brothers Band Member Reveals He Has Diabetes at Diabetes Research Institute Fundraiser)