Jonas Brothers

•
Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers

Background information
Origin Wyckoff, New Jersey, USA
Teen pop
Genre(s)
Pop rock
Years active 2005 - present
Columbia (2005)
Label(s)
Hollywood (2007-)
Associated
Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato
acts
Website JonasBrothers.com
Members
Kevin Jonas - guitar, vocals
Joe Jonas - vocals, percussion, guitar, keyboards
Nick Jonas - vocals, guitar, piano, drums
John Taylor - lead guitar
Greg Garbowsky - bass guitar
Jack Lawless - drums, percussion
Ryan Liestman - keyboards
 The Jonas Brothers is an American pop-rock band from Wyckoff, New Jersey
made up of three brothers: Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. They have released two
albums - It's About Time in 2006, and Jonas Brothers in 2007, and will release A
Little Bit Longer in 2008.

Band biography

Nick 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.[1][2][3] At the age of 7, Nicholas began
performing on Broadway.[4][5] 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).[5][6][7][8] After Les Misérables closed, he
performed in The Sound of Music (as Kurt) at the Paper Mill Playhouse.[9]

In 2002 while performing in Beauty and the Beast, Nicholas 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.[10][11][12] In November 2003, INO Records received a demo copy
of "Joy To The World (A Christmas Prayer)."[13] The label released the song to
Christian radio, where it quickly became popular on Record & Radio's Christian
Adult Contemporary Chart.[11] While Nicholas was working on his solo project,
Joseph followed in his footsteps to Broadway, appearing in Baz Lurhmann's
production of La Boheme.

"Dear God" single

 "Joy to the World (A Christmas Prayer)" single

By September 2004, an executive at Columbia Records found out about Nick's

song.[10][11] Nick was soon jointly signed to INO Records and Columbia Records
and released the single "Dear God."[14][15] A second single, "Joy To The World (A
Christmas Prayer)" (a new solo recording), was released on November 16.[16] It
was supposed to be followed by a December release of a self-titled solo album,
but the album had been pushed back;[17] it did, however, get a limited release.[18]
Nick, along with Kevin and Joe, had written several other songs for the album.[10]

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. [19]
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. [10][20][21]

Track listing of Nicholas Jonas's solo album:

1. "Dear God" - 3:12

2. "Time for Me to Fly" (Nick Jonas Version) - 3:31
3. "Appreciate" - 3:08
4. "When You Look Me In the Eyes" (First Version) - 4:01
5. "Higher Love" - 3:54
6. "Please Be Mine" (Nick Jonas Version) - 4:04
7. "I Will Be the Light" - 4:16
8. "Don't Walk Away" - 3:35
9. "Joy to the World (A Christmas Prayer)" - 3:58
10. "Crazy Kind of Crush On You" - 2:54
11. "Wrong Again" - 3:55
 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."[22]

Throughout 2005, the Jonas Brothers went on several tours, including Kelly
Clarkson, Jesse McCartney, the Backstreet Boys, and The Click Five.[1][23] They
spent the latter portion of the year on an anti-drug tour with Aly & AJ and The
Cheetah Girls.[23][24] Additionally, they opened for The Veronicas in early 2006.[10]

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).[24] The album was
initially supposed to be released in February 2006, but was pushed back several
times.[10][20][23][24] 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". [19]

The Jonas Brothers' first single, "Mandy," was released on December 27,
2005.[25] Its music video was shown on MTV's Total Request Live on February 22,
2006[3] and reached number four. Another song, "Time for Me to Fly," was
released on the Aquamarine soundtrack, also in February.[26] 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.[26] The group's music was also featured on Cartoon Network's
Cartoon Cartoon Fridays.[1][26] 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.[27] Over the summer of 2006, the Jonas Brothers went on tour with Aly &
AJ. [28] 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.[26][29]

It's About Time was finally released on August 8, 2006.[30] 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.[31] 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.[32] 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.[33][34] Around the same time, brothers began appearing
in commercials for Baby Bottle Pops, singing the jingle.[34] On March 24, two
additional songs on two different albums were released: "Kids of the Future" from
the Meet the Robinsons soundtrack[35] (Based on Kim Wilde's "Kids in America"),
and "I Wanna Be like You" from DisneyMania 5.[36]

Their self-titled second album, Jonas Brothers, was released on August 7,

2007.[37] 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 "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 premiered
after High School Musical 2 and was viewed by 10.7 million people that night.[38]
On August 24, the Jonas Brothers performed two songs at the Miss Teen USA
contest.[39] 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, Florida.[40] 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 on November 18, 2007,
performing the song "SOS."

On November 22, 2007, 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 "SOS" 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 3rd studio album, A Little Bit Longer.

A Little Bit Longer (2008-present)

After the Look Me In The Eyes Tour had ended on March 22, 2008, the Jonas
Brothers announced that they will be opening up for Avril Lavigne along with
Boys Like Girls, but will only be going for the second leg of the tour in Europe.
 The band had filmed a film for Disney Channel, called Camp Rock, where they
play a band called "Connect Three". Joe plays the lead role, "Shane Gray", love
interest of Demi Lovato; Nick plays the role of "Nate", and Kevin plays "Jason." A
soundtrack for the movie is scheduled for a release on June 17. The movie will
premiere on June 20 in the USA on Disney Channel and Canada on Family
Channel. It will air around the world throughout the summer and in September for
some other countries.

In the summer, the Jonas Brothers will start their tour, Burning Up Tour,
promoting Camp Rock, their first film, and their third studio album, A Little Bit
Longer, the tour kicks off July 4th 2008 at Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto,
Ontario. A Disney Digital 3D production crew will be filming the two shows in
Anaheim, CA on July 13 and 14 [41], which will be made into a theatrical movie
and will be released in theatres as a 3D concert movie in late January or early
February 2009.[42]

Touring

Jonas Brothers Fall 2005 Promo Tour

Jonas Brothers's first tour, Jonas Brothers Fall 2005 Promo Tour, began on
November 5, 2005 and ended on December 17, 2005.

Jonas Brothers American Club Tour

From January 28, 2006 to March 3, 2006, the Jonas Brothers were on their
Jonas Brothers American Club Tour, promoting their debut album with Columbia
Records, titled It's About Time.

Marvelous Party Tour

On June 25, 2007, the Jonas Brothers began their prom-themed tour, Marvelous
Party Tour in Lodi, NJ. The tour lasted for several months, ending in October 21
in Columbia, South Carolina. [43]

Best of Both Worlds Tour

From October 18, 2007 to January 9, 2008, the Jonas Brothers opened for Miley
Cyrus on her 54-date Best of Both Worlds Tour. The brothers started in St. Louis,
Missouri and ended in Albany, New York.[44]

The Jonas Brothers also appeared in the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best
of Both Worlds Concert film which was released on February 1, 2008. In the 3D
movie, the brothers performed When You Look Me In the Eyes, Year 3000, and
their duet with Hannah Montana, We Got the Party.
 Look Me In the Eyes Tour

The Look Me In The Eyes Tour kicked off on January 31, 2008 at the Tucson
Convention Center Music Hall in Tucson, Arizona and finished on March 22, 2008
at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. At the end of the last show,
the Jonas Brothers brought their family, friends, the opening bands, and crew
members from the tour out on stage and sang Queen's "We Are the Champions."
Opening acts included Rooney for every show, and Valora and/or Menudo for
select shows.

Best Damn Tour

The Jonas Brothers are currently opening up for Avril Lavigne in Europe on the
second leg of her Best Damn Tour, which kicked off on May 26, 2008 in Glasgow,
Scotland.

Burning Up Tour

The Jonas Brothers will start their Burning Up Tour, on which they will be
promoting their third studio album A Little Bit Longer, on July 4th, 2008 at Molson
Amphitheatre in Toronto, Ontario.

Future projects

Because of their major success with Disney and Hollywood Records, Disney has
signed the brothers to a movie (Camp Rock - premieres June 20, 2008), TV
series [45], a 3D concert movie, and a behind-the-scenes book.

• 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 the
fall of 2008.

• Another Disney Channel Original Series, Jonas Brothers: Living the

Dream premiered on May 16. It follows the Jonas Brothers on their Look
Me In The Eyes Tour. [46] [47]

• A Disney Digital 3D production crew will be filming the two shows in

Anaheim, CA on the Burning Up Tour on July 13 and 14 [48], which will be
made into a theatrical movie and will be released in theatres as a 3D
concert movie in late January or early February 2009.[49]

• 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.[50]
 Band In a Bus

Band In A Bus shows footage of the Jonas Brothers recording their third album, A
Little Bit Longer, on their Gibson tour bus on the Best of Both Worlds Tour. It will
be released as a DVD sometime in spring of 2008.

Image

The three Jonas Brothers - Nick, Joe, and Kevin, all wear purity rings on their
left-hand ring fingers, signifying their promise to stay pure until marriage. [51][52]
They all started wearing the rings when their parents asked them if they wanted
to. [53] The brothers were interviewed by Details Magazine and Joe quoted that
the rings are "promises to ourselves and to God that we'll stay pure 'til marriage."
Nick stated the rings are "just one of our ways of being different than everybody
else out there."

Charity

The Jonas Brothers earned about $12 million total in 2007. They have been
donating 10% of their earnings to Nick's charity, Change for the Children
Foundation. [54]

Members

Current members

The brothers

• Paul Kevin "Kevin" Jonas Jr. (born November 5, 1987) - lead guitar
(usually a Gibson Les Paul) and background vocals. Kevin is the eldest of
the band. Goes by Kevin rather than Paul. Kevin helped produce the
bands' self-titled CD Jonas Brothers.[55]

• Joseph Adam "Joe" Jonas (also known as Lightning, or DJ

Danger/Danger) (August 15, 1989) - lead vocals, tambourine, guitar in the
song "A Little Bit Longer." Joe is the "middle Jonas." He originally had no
intention of becoming a singer; he wanted to be a comedian and work on
the show All That.

• Nicholas Jerry "Nick" Jonas (born September 16, 1992) - lead vocals,
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". Nick is the youngest brother in the band. On
November 16, 2005 he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
Kevin, Joe, and Nick also have a younger brother, Franklin "Frankie" Nathaniel
Jonas, also known as the "Bonus Jonas" and "Frank the Tank".

Backup band

• John Taylor - guitar. Helps produce for the boys as well as plays lead
guitar. Resident of LA.
• Greg "Garbo" 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.[56]
• Jack Lawless (also known as "Flawless Lawless") - drums. Joined the
band in early 2007. Born and raised in Monmouth County New Jersey.
• Ryan Liestman - keyboards.

Former members

• Alex Noyes - drums.

Discography

Main article: Jonas Brothers discography

• 2006: It's About Time

• 2007: Jonas Brothers
• 2008: A Little Bit Longer
 Filmography

Nick's Kevin's
Year Title Joe's role Notes
role role

2 Hannah Montana Joe Nick Kevin Guest

007 appearance

Disney Channel Games Joe Nick Kevin Themselves

2008

Best of Both Worlds Joe Nick Kevin Main Role

Concert

Jonas Brothers: Living Joe Nick Kevin Main Role

2 the Dream
008

Camp Rock Shane Nate Jason TV movie

Gray

Band In A Bus Joe Nick Kevin DVD

J.O.N.A.S! Joe Nick Kevin Main Role

 Guest Appearances

Year Show Role Notes

 American Idol Guest Performance

Their mother appeared to talk

Rachael Ray Guest
about them

C-SPAN Guest Presidential Dinner

The Oprah Winfrey Show Guest Interview and performance

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Guest Interview and performance

2 Dancing with the stars (U.S. TV

Guest Performance
008 series)

Access Hollywood Guest Interview

Kids' Choice Awards Guest Won Best Group Award

The Tonight Show With Jay

Guest Performance
Leno

The Early Show Guest Performance

Jimmy Kimmel Live Guest Interview and performance

 Yo on E Guest Interview

What Perez Sez Guest Won an award

Macy's Thanksgiving Day

Guest Performance
Parade

The Ellen DeGeneres show Guest Interview and performance

Walt Disney Christmas Day

Guest Performance
Parade

Live with Regis and Kelly Guest Interview and performance

2
007 Access Hollywood Guest Interview

Good Morning America Guest Interview and performance

Total Request Live Guest Interview

New Year's Rockin' Eve 2008 Guest Performance

Early Show Guest Performance

Teen Choice Awards Guest Presented an award

American Music Awards 2007 Guest Performance

2
Total Request Live Guest Performance
006
 2
Early Show Guest Performance
004

Awards and nominations

Awards

• Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Award 2008: Favorite Music Group Winner

• What Perez Sez on VH1: Hottest Teen Sensation of 2007 Winner

Nominations

• Poptastic! Awards: announced in May 2008 issue; TBA winner [57]