One of the most popular teen-affiliated
groups of the 2000s, the Jonas Brothers' craft hook-filled
power pop anthems in the vein of McFly, Hanson, and the
Modern Lovers. The young New Jersey natives (while readying
their 2006 debut, brothers Joseph, Kevin, and Nicholas
Jonas topped out at 16, 17, and 13, respectively) were
reared in the city of Wyckoff under the tutelage of musical
parents. Nicholas showed a particular flair for singing;
by the age of seven, he'd already begun a modest career
as a Broadway performer. The young performer also took
an interest in songwriting, even co-writing a Christmas
tune in 2002 alongside his father. Several years later,
his soulful voice had wowed enough executives at Daylight/Columbia
Records to warrant a solo album, and Nicholas began writing
original material with help from his two brothers. The
siblings' songs impressed the president of Columbia, who
ultimately signed the trio in 2005.
The Jonas Brothers' full-length debut, It's About Time,
was released in August 2006. Featuring the songwriting
talents of Desmond Child and Fountains of Wayne's Adam
Schlesinger, the album peaked at number 91 on the Billboard
charts and earned the siblings a modest audience, particularly
among fans of Radio Disney. Nevertheless, the Jonas
Brothers were dropped from Columbia's roster in early
2007. They bounced back by signing with Hollywood Records,
a Disney-owned label that helped the group exponentially
expand its fanbase. An eponymous sophomore album, Jonas
Brothers, arrived in August 2007, supported by a number
of Jonas Brothers appearances on the Disney Channel's
various programs. The band also toured in support of
the record, selling out shows coast to coast -- including
a stop at the Gibson Amphitheater in Los Angeles, which
was the fastest sold-out show in the venue's history.
The reality television show Jonas Brothers: Living the
Dream documented the band's life on the road, and the
band's TV presence was furthered along by Camp Rock,
a 2008 Disney Channel television movie that featured
the brothers and up-and-coming star Demi Lovato. The
movie was watched by 8.9 million viewers and launched
the Jonas Brothers' next single, "Burnin' Up,"
which helped whet demand for the release of A Little
Bit Longer later that year. In 2009 the trio released
Jonas Brothers 3D Soundtrack, along with the live concert
film of the same name. James Christopher Monger &
Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
.