98°

98 Degrees
98 Degrees performing in 2012
Background information
Also known as	98°
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B, soul, pop, adult contemporary, blue-eyed soul
Years active	1997–2002, 2012–present
Labels	Motown, Universal, Entertainment One
Associated acts	New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, Foo Fighters
Website	www.98degrees.com
Members	Jeff Timmons Nick Lachey Justin Jeffre Drew Lachey

98 Degrees (stylized as 98°) is an American pop and R&B boy band consisting of four vocalists: brothers Nick and Drew Lachey, Justin Jeffre, and Jeff Timmons. The group was formed by Timmons in Los Angeles, California, although all of its members originate from Ohio.

Unlike most boy bands, they formed independently and were later picked up by a record label, rather than being assembled by a label or a producer. They have sold over 10 million records worldwide and achieved eight top 40 singles in the U.S.

The group reunited for a one-time performance at Mixtape Festival in Hershey, PA in August 2012. After the performance, the reunion expanded into a new album and a spot on "The Package" tour in 2013.

The founding members of 98 Degrees met after Canton, Ohio native Jeff Timmons decided to quit university and pursue a music career with best friend Jeremy Volk. He studied psychology at Kent State University in his home state of Ohio, and planned on a career playing football in the NFL. In 1995 he sang at a college party with three friends, and received a positive reaction from the female audience about his voice. The following day he left college and headed out to Los Angeles, California. "It was a pretty hasty decision, looking back, but I was young and dumb. Sometimes ignorance is bliss," he said in 2004. He met a former student of the School for Creative and Performing Arts who passed his name on to another graduate, Nick Lachey, who was attending Miami University to study sports medicine. Lachey flew to Los Angeles and after hitting it off, decided to form a boyband. Lachey suggested inviting one of his friends, Justin Jeffre, to join them. Jeffre, a history student at University of Cincinnati, had attended SCPA with Lachey and they had performed together before in various outfits such as a barbershop quartet at the amusement park Kings Island and a cover band. The final member to join the band was Lachey's younger brother, Drew, who was working in New York City as an emergency medical technician.