LFO

This hip-hop orientated boy band was formed in 1996 in Orlando, Florida, USA by Boston-based musician Rich Cronin (b. 30 August 1974, Boston, Massachusetts, USA) and aspiring model Brad Fischetti (b. 11 September 1975, New Jersey, USA). After meeting Fischetti, Cronin relocated to Orlando where the duo worked hard on their songs and choreography. Naming themselves the Lyte Funky Ones, they recruited a third member, Brizz, and signed a deal with Logic Records. In April 1998, they released their debut single "(Sex You Up) The Way You Like It", a dance-orientated reworking of the KC And The Sunshine Band classic "That's The Way (I Like It)". Their second single, released in November, was a cover version of Yvonne Elliman's US chart-topper "If I Can't Have You". The song barely scraped into the Billboard Top 100, and Brizz subsequently left to embark on a solo career. Recruiting new member Devin Lima (b. Harold Lima, 18 March 1977, New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA), the band shortened their name to LFO and began pursuing a more hip-hop orientated musical style. Their breakthrough single, Cronin's "Summer Girls", was an infectious slice of easy listening hip-hop with a memorable chorus. The song climbed steadily up the US charts, eventually reaching number 3 in August 1999, and also broke into the UK Top 20. The follow-up single, "Girl On TV", was less successful.