98 DEGREES IS ON TOUR HEATING THINGS UP AGAIN WITH A PERFORMANCE SEPT. 29 AT CACHE CREEK CASINO AND RESORT IN BROOKS, CALIFORNIA

By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs, Editor-In-Chief

From 1997 to 2002, the Cincinnati based quartet, 98 Degrees sold a staggering 10 million records, scored a chart-topping single, "Thank God I Found You," with Mariah Carey and Joe, and collaborated with their collective idol, Stevie Wonder, on "True to Your Heart," for the 1998 animated Disney film, "Mulan."

Their four-million-selling album, "98° and Rising" (1998, Motown), spawned the Top-5 favorites "Because of You," "I Do," and "The Hardest Thing," while 2000's "Revelation" (Universal Records), which sold two million copies, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and yielded a trio of hits, "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)," "My Everything" and "The Way You Want Me To.”

The group, which consists of Drew Lachey, his brother Nick, along with Jeff Timmons and Justin Jeffre, proved to all the haters that they weren't just some flash-in-the-pan. Now, 26 years later, the "boy band" is back together and on tour giving their faithful fans a reason to love the 1990s all over again.

98 Degrees will perform at Cache Creek Casino And Resort in Brooks, California on Sept. 29.

In 1999, I wrote a feature story on 98 Degrees for the Bay Area ANG Newspaper Group. It was titled "The Heat is On." I interviewed the very personable Drew Lachey. He was 22 years old then. The guys were embarking on their "The Heat It Up Tour" which rolled into the sold-out Berkeley Community Theater.

Lachey discussed what he believed separated 98 Degrees from other groups like The Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync. He said although those groups were all lumped together, 98 Degrees' sound had a definite R&B edge to it. Lachey added if 98 Degrees had to be compared to any other group, it would be Boyz II Men because they've always been their idols.

He added, he considered them pioneers because they brought harmonizing back to the forefront. Lachey mentioned that when Boyz II Men performed in their hometown, they wanted to meet them so badly that they snuck backstage. It was a major moment. Not only did they meet their idols, but that opportunity led to their big break. While backstage they met Paris D'Jon who was at the time, the co-manager for singer Montell "This Is How We Do It" Jordan. D'Jon gave them his card and told him to call him if they needed a manager. Lachey called the next day and said within weeks they were opening for Montell Jordan. Six months later, they had a deal with Motown Records (1997) and they never looked back.

The group's blue-eyed soul singing style was nurtured at Motown and they produced their first self-titled CD (1997) that spawned the gold hit single, "Invisible Man." But, that was just a warmup for bigger and better things to come. Their sophomore album, 98 Degrees and Rising" (Motown 1998), truly resonated with audiences.

It featured an eclectic mix of producers and songwriters from LL Cool J, Stevie Wonder and Will Smith, to Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige and The Trackmasters. The cut, "True to Your Heart" with Stevie Wonder, was also featured on Disney's "Mulan" soundtrack.

They lucked out with the song "True to Your Heart." It was supposed to be done with the Temptations, but management thought it would work better with one group and an artist singing." "When Stevie Wonder heard about the project he just walked in the studio and wanted to make it happen," said Lachey. "Like Magic, it happened. Singing with Stevie was the absolute bomb. If our careers ended after that, they would have been complete."

I saw 98 Degrees in concert back in the day. They put on quite a show then. I'm told the guys can still bring the heat on stage. It just shows that good talent never goes out of style, and that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Editor's Note: Don't miss 98 Degrees Sept. 29 at Cache Creek Casino Resort in Brooks, California. Doors open at 8 p.m. Show starts at 9 p.m.

For tickets and more information log on to www.cachecreek.com/events/98-degrees. Some information used in this report provided by Cache Creek Casino Resort publicity department.