Jonas_Brothers

Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers are a VMA-nominated American boy band. They gained their popularity solely from the television network, Disney Channel. Hailing from Wyckoff, New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Kevin Jonas, Joe Jonas, and Nick Jonas and has gained fans from all ages. They have released three albums: It's About Time (2006), Jonas Brothers (2007), and A Little Bit Longer (2008).

Band biography

Nick Jonas: Discovery and solo album (1999–2005)

The band started as a solo project of Nick Jonas. When Nick was six years old, he was discovered while singing at a barber shop and was referred to a professional show business manager. At the age of 7, Nicholas began performing on Broadway. He has 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). After Les Misérables closed, he performed in The Sound of Music (as Kurt) at the Paper Mill Playhouse.

In 2002 while performing in Beauty and the Beast, Nick had written a song with his 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. In November 2003, INO Records received a demo copy of "Joy To The World (A Christmas Prayer)". The label released the song to Christian radio, where it quickly became popular on Record & Radio's Christian Adult Contemporary Chart. While Nick was working on his solo project, Joe followed in his footsteps to Broadway, appearing in Baz Lurhmann's production of La Boheme.

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". A second single, a new solo recording of "Joy to the World (A Christmas Prayer)", was released on November 16. It was supposed to be followed by a December release of a self-titled solo album Nicholas Jonas, but the album had been pushed back; it did, however, get a limited release. 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. After meeting with Nick and hearing the song, "Please Be Mine," written and performed by the brothers, Daylight/Columbia Records decided to sign the three as a group act.

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 "Jonas Brothers.

Throughout 2005, the Jonas Brothers went on several tours, including being the opening act of Kelly Clarkson, Jesse McCartney, the Backstreet Boys, and The Click Five. They spent the latter portion of the year on an anti-drug tour with Aly & AJ and The Cheetah Girls. 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" on the album. 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. Its music video was shown on MTV's Total Request Live on February 22, 2006 and reached number four. Another song, "Time for Me to Fly," was released on the Aquamarine soundtrack, also in February. In March, "Mandy" was featured in the Nickelodeon television film Zoey 101: Spring Break-Up and the Zoey 101: Music Mix soundtrack album, with Nicholas Jonas listed as the artist name. The group's music was also featured on Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoon Fridays. 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. Over the summer of 2006, the Jonas Brothers went on tour with Aly & AJ. 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.

It's About Time was finally released on August 8, 2006. According to the band's manager, it was only a "limited release" of 50,000 copies, so the album can be bid on auction sites like eBay for up to $200-$300 USD. 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. 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-disc special-edition release of The Little Mermaid soundtrack. The second single from It's About Time was "Year 3000." The song became popular on Radio Disney, and the music video debuted on Disney Channel in January 2007.

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

Jonas Brothers (2007–2008)

After shortly being without a label, the Jonas Brothers signed with Hollywood Records in February 2007. Around the same time, brothers began appearing in commercials for Baby Bottle Pops, singing the jingle. On March 24, 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.

The Jonas Brothers made their first appearance at the White House on Monday, April 9, 2007, during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll where they sang the National Anthem. They returned on Wednesday June 27, 2007, during a Celebrating Women in Sports Tee Ball game on the South Lawn. They sang the National Anthem and after the game, the Jonas Brothers entertained at the picnic-reception with a selection of their hits.

Their self-titled second album, Jonas Brothers, was released on August 7, 2007. It reached number five on the Billboard Hot 200 chart in its first week. Two singles with music videos were also released around this time - "Hold On" two weeks before, and "S.O.S." 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 premiered after High School Musical 2 and was viewed by 10.7 million people that night. On August 24, the Jonas Brothers performed two songs at the Miss Teen USA contest. The following day, the closing ceremonies of the Disney Channel Games aired, featuring a performance from the Jonas Brothers. The games were taped on April 27, 2007 in Orlando, Florida. On August 26, the Jonas Brothers co-presented an award with Miley Cyrus at the Teen Choice Awards.

On November 18, 2007, they performed at the American Music Awards, performing the song "S.O.S." On November 22, the brothers appeared in the 81st annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. For their final performance of 2007, the three brothers performed their singles "Hold On" and "S.O.S." at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

The Jonas Brothers kicked off their Look Me In the Eyes Tour on January 31, 2008 in Tucson, Arizona. They performed several new songs on the tour that will be on their third studio album, A Little Bit Longer.

A Little Bit Longer (2008–present)

The Jonas Brothers' third studio album, A Little Bit Longer, was released in the United States on August 12, 2008, with CDVU+ technology, just like their second album, Jonas Brothers. On June 24, 2008, iTunes announced that it would release four songs from A Little Bit Longer, one roughly every two weeks. The purchase of each of the songs applies to the cost of the entire album, which could be purchased via iTunes' Complete the Album feature after release. Each song released also featured a podcast. The schedule: June 24, 2008 for "Burnin' Up"; July 15, 2008 for "Pushin' Me Away"; July 29, 2008 for "Tonight"; and August 5, 2008 for "A Little Bit Longer." Now that all of the singles have been released, all of them have occupied the number 1 spot on iTunes for at least 3 days.

After the Look Me In The Eyes Tour ended on March 22, 2008, the Jonas Brothers announced that they would be opening up for Avril Lavigne's Best Damn Tour along with Boys Like Girls, but only on the second leg of the tour in Europe which lasted from late May to late June 2008.

The band filmed a Disney Channel Original Movie called Camp Rock where they play a band called "Connect Three." Joe plays the lead male role and lead singer "Shane Gray"; Nick plays the role of "Nate," a guitarist; and Kevin plays the role of "Jason," also a guitarist. A soundtrack for the movie was released on June 17, 2008. It debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 with 188,000 copies sold in its first week. The movie premiered on June 20 in the USA on Disney Channel, and Canada on Family. It will air around the world throughout the summer and fall on the Disney Channel.

While filming Camp Rock, the Jonas Brothers wrote several songs for fellow Disney Channel star and close friend, Demi Lovato, for her upcoming album, Don't Forget. The album was released on September 23, 2008. The brothers also helped producing Lovato's album, and Nick was featured in the first single, "Get Back", from Lovato's album.

Their Disney Channel reality short series, Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream, premiered on Disney Channel on May 16, 2008. The show, which ran until September 5, 2008, documented their lives on the Look Me In the Eyes Tour.

During the summer of 2008, the Jonas Brothers started their North American tour, the Burning Up Tour, promoting A Little Bit Longer and Camp Rock Soundtrack, and performing songs from previous albums as well: It's About Time and Jonas Brothers. The tour kicked off July 4, 2008, at Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto, Ontario. A Disney Digital 3D production crew filmed the two shows in Anaheim, California on July 13 and July 14 with close friend, Taylor Swift, who sang a few singles from her album, Taylor Swift, for a theatrical movie that will be released in theatres as a 3D concert movie on February 22, 2009. On July 14, Nick Jonas announced onstage that the band had already written five songs for their fourth studio album (third with Hollywood Records).

The Jonas Brothers made history being the first group to sell more than 100,000 digital downloads for three consecutive singles: "Burnin' Up", 183,000+ first week sales, "Play My Music", 109,000+ sales, and "Pushin' Me Away", 116,000+ sales. In addition, "Burnin' Up", "Pushin' Me Away", "Tonight", and "A Little Bit Longer" all charted as #1 on the iTunes "Top Songs" Chart for several days, pushing off Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl".

The band was featured on the cover of the July 2008 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine.

On August 4, 2008, the brothers appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and performed Burnin' Up in front of an outdoor audience.

The Jonas Brothers visited downtown Cleveland, Ohio's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before their sold-out concert on the evening of August 22, 2008, at Blossom Music Center. The band presented the suits and pants they wore on the cover artwork of A Little Bit Longer to Jim Henke, vice president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The suits are part of the Right Here, Right Now! exhibit, which includes some of today's most popular artists. The band is eligible to be part of the Hall of Fame, but not until 2030.

The Jonas Brothers are slated to start filming a Disney Channel Original Series created by Michael Curtis (of Phil of the Future) and Roger S.H. Schulman (Shrek), directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Bronx is Burning) starting in September. The show was previously titled J.O.N.A.S! (stands for "Junior Operative Networks as Spies"), but its unsure if the name will stay or not, since a new storyline was written, and they are not going to use the original filmed pilot. The original pilot was about a teenage rock band (Jonas Brothers) having double lives as government-hired spies. On Good Morning America, Nick stated that they have changed the story line and it is no longer having to do with the original story line. The New York Post later reported that the show will be like HBO's "Flight of the Conchords". The show will premiere in May or June 2009

Future projects

Because of their major success with Disney and Hollywood Records, Disney has signed the brothers to two Disney Channel Original Series', a 3D concert movie, a behind-the-scenes book, and a sequel to their hit Disney Channel Original Movie.

Their Disney Channel Original Series, J.O.N.A.S! is expected to debut on Disney Channel in May/June, 2009.

Their second Disney Channel Original Series, Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream premiered on May 16, 2008 and follows the brothers on their Look Me In the Eyes Tour.

A Disney Digital 3-D production crew filmed the two shows in Anaheim, California on July 13 and July 14, which will be made into a theatrical movie and will be released in theatres as a 3D concert movie on February 27, 2009.

The Disney Book Group will publish an exclusive behind-the-scenes book from the Jonas Brothers that will share never-before-seen photos along with exclusive commentary. The book will be published in fall 2008 and will give fans a backstage glimpse at the brothers.

The Jonas Brothers will be starring in the sequel to their successful hit Disney Channel Original Movie, Camp Rock. Disney has confirmed that they are currently writing the script, and it is said that Camp Rock 2 will start filming some time in late spring or summer 2009.

On a recent interview Chris Brown told JustJared.com that he is collaborating with The Jonas Brothers. Brown said' "I’m possibly doing something with them. If they want me on the record, I’ll stay on the record, but I just wanted to write a record for those guys.

Personal lives

The Jonas' are known for their wholesome, family-friendly image. The brothers are all committed Evangelical Christians, their father is a former pastor, and they were homeschooled by their mother. In addition, they all famously wear purity rings on their left-hand ring finger and have vowed not to have premarital sex, which Russell Brand made fun of during the MTV Video Music Awards, although he later apologised for his comments. Joe has said that the rings symbolize "a promise to ourselves and to God that we'll stay pure 'till marriage," and Nick had stated that "it's purity rings pretty awesome, and the rings are just one of our ways of kind of like being different than everybody else out there." They reportedly started wearing the rings when their parents, Denise and Kevin Sr., asked them if they wanted to. They also reportedly abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.

Philanthropy

The Jonas Brothers earned about $12 million in 2007, and have donated 10% of their earnings to their charity, Change for the Children Foundation. Change for the Children Foundation is a foundation started by the Jonas Brothers, where people can donate to charities and places like "Nothing But Nets", "American Diabetes Foundation", "St. Jude Children's Research Hospitial", "Children's Hospital Los Angeles", and "Summer Stars: Camp for the Performing Arts". The band had said that:

We started The Change for the Children Foundation to support programs that motivate and inspire children to face adversity with confidence, determination and a will to succeed. And we think the best people to help children are their peers -- kids helping other kids who are a little less fortunate.

Since August 6, 2008, Bayer Diabetes Care has partnered with Nick Jonas as a diabetes ambassador to promote the idea for young people to manage their diabetes, as Nick was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 13.

Members

Current members

The Brothers

Paul Kevin Jonas (II) (born November 5, 1987) - Lead guitar (usually a Gibson Les Paul) and backing vocals. Paul, the eldest of the band, goes by Kevin rather than Paul. Kevin helped produce the bands' self-titled CD Jonas Brothers.

Joseph Adam Jonas (born August 15, 1989) - Lead vocals, percussion, guitar (in the song "A Little Bit Longer"). Joe originally had no intention of becoming a singer; he wanted to be a comedian and work on the show All That.

Nicholas Jerry Jonas (born September 16, 1992) - Lead vocals, rhythm guitar (usually a Gibson SG in the original red stain color), piano in the songs "When You Look Me in the Eyes" and "A Little Bit Longer," and drums in the song "Australia", Can't Have You", "Sorry", and "Video Girl". Nick is the youngest brother in the band. On November 16, 2005 he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Franklin Nathaniel Jonas (born September 28, 2000), also known as the "Bonus Jonas" and "Frank the Tank." He will debut with his brothers on J.O.N.A.S!, and might have a small appearance in Camp Rock 2.

Backup band

John Taylor - Guitar. Helps produce for the boys as well as plays guitar. Resident of Los Angeles.
Greg Garbowsky - Bass guitar. Been with the brothers since they started. Born and raised in New Jersey. Keeps a blog of life on the road with the boys.
Jack "Flawless Lawless" Lawless - Drums and percussion. Joined the band in early 2007. Born and raised in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Ryan Liestman - Keyboards.

Former members

Alex Noyes - Drums.

Discography

Filmography

Films

Year	Title	Joe's role	Nick's role	Kevin's role	Frankie's role	Notes
2008	Best of Both Worlds Concert	Himself	Himself	Himself	Doesn't Star	3D Concert film
2008	Camp Rock	Shane Gray	Nate	Jason	Doesn't Star	Made for television
2009	Jonas Brothers: Burnin' Up Concert	Himself	Himself	Himself	Himself	3D Concert film
	Band in a Bus	Himself	Himself	Himself	Himself	Reality DVD
	Camp Rock 2	Shane Gray	Nate	Jason	Unknown	Made for television

Television

Year	Title	Joe's role	Nick's role	Kevin's role	Frankie's role	Notes
2008	Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream	Himself	Himself	Himself	Himself	Reality series
2009	J.O.N.A.S!	Joe Jonas	Nick Jonas	Kevin Jonas	Frankie Jonas	Currently filming

Guest appearances

Year	Title	Joe's role	Nick's role	Kevin's role	Frankie's role	Notes
2007	Hannah Montana	Joe Jonas	Nick Jonas	Kevin Jonas	Doesn't Star	"Me and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas and Mr. Jonas" (Season 2, Episode 16)
2008	Disney Channel Games 2008	Himself	Himself	Himself	Doesn't Star	Third annual
	Studio DC: Almost Live	Himself	Himself	Himself	Doesn't Star	Disney Channel special
	Extreme Makeover: Home Edition	Himself	Himself	Himself	Doesn't Star	"The Akers Family" (Season 6, Episode 2)

Tours

2005: Jonas Brothers 2005 Fall Promo Tour
2005: Cheetah-licious Christmas Tour (opening act)
2006: Jonas Brothers North American Club Tour
2007: Marvelous Party Tour
2007–2008: Best of Both Worlds Tour (opening for Miley Cyrus)
2008: Look Me In the Eyes Tour
2008: Best Damn Tour (opening for Avril Lavigne)
2008: Burning Up Tour

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Result
2007	What Perez Sez on VH1	"Hottest Teen Sensation"	rowspan=8
2008	Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards	"Favourite Music Group"
	Teen Choice Awards	"Choice Breakout Group"
		"Choice Male[s] Red Carpet Style"
		"Choice Hottie"
		"Choice Music Single" "When You Look Me In The Eyes"
		"Choice Music Love Song" "When You Look Me In The Eyes"
		"Choice Summer Song" "Burnin' Up"
		"Most Fanatic Fans"	rowspan=3
	MTV Video Music Awards	"Best Pop Video" "Burnin' Up"
	MTV Video Music Awards	"Video of the Year" "Burnin' Up"
	Billboard Touring Award	"Concert Marketing & Promotion"	Nominated

International awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Result
2008	MTV Video Music Awards Latin America	"Mejor Artista Pop Internacional" (Best International Pop Artist)	Nominated
		"Mejor Artista Nuevo Internacional" (Best International New Artist)
		"Mejor Fanclub" (Best Fanclub)
		"Canción del Año" (Song of the Year) "When You Look Me In The Eyes"
		"Mejor Ringtone" (Best Ringtone) "When You Look Me In The Eyes"
	TMF Awards Belgium	"Best New Artist"
		"Best Pop"
		"Best New Album" Jonas Brothers
		"Best International Album" Jonas Brothers
		"Best Video" "S.O.S"
	Kids Choice Awards of Italy	"Migglor Band
	MTV Eurpoe Music Awards	"New Act"