The Originator

Background:

Famous as a member of boy band ‘N Sync, Chris Kirkpatrick is also the founding father of the then-international singing group. Together with J.C. Chasez, Justin Timberlake, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass, he became a musical phenomenon thanks to such hit albums as No Strings Attached (2000) and Celebrity (2001). Kirkpatrick and the band also won three Grammy Awards.

Since the band members parted ways, Kirkpatrick has struggled with his career with a band called Nigel’s 11. In addition, Kirkpatrick founded the now-defunct clothing design company FuMan Skeeto and formerly had a relationship with Skeeto’s vice president Danielle Raabe.

Kirkpatrick was mentioned unflatteringly in Eminem’s song “Without Me.” Later, after hearing about Eminem’s arrest for gun possession and assault, the singer commented, “His arrest is karma. It’s really sad when people have to put everybody else down to make themselves look good. The guy’s digging himself a grave, and soon he’s not gonna have any friends.”


Christopher

Childhood and Family:

Christopher Alan Kirkpatrick, who would later be famous simply as Chris Kirkpatrick, was born on October 17, 1971, in Clarion, Pennsylvania. When he was 16, Chris worked in a grocery store early in the morning before school began. He also once became a DJ.

“I’m like a bunch of college guys who got together and said, ‘Let’s make a dude, a crazy dude.’” Chris Kirkpatrick

Chris, who received the nicknames “Tricky” and “Lucky,” moved to Florida and attended Rollins College in Winter Park. Three years later, however, he left college to pursue music.


Chip Skylark

Career:

Chris Kirkpatrick, who musically enjoys anything from Michael Jackson to hard techno, met Brooklyn-born singer and dancer Joey Fatone, as well as senior cast members of Disney Channel’s “The Mickey Mouse Club” J.C. Chasez and Justin Timberlake. Last of all, basso singer Lance Bass rounded out the group’s harmony and soon ‘N Sync was born.

With help from manager/record company owner Lou Pearlman, the group headed to Europe and recorded their self-titled debut album (1998) with BMG Ariola Munich, which broke the charts through “I Want You Back,” “God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You” and “Tearing Up My Heart.” The album was released in the U.S. in the spring of 1998 and became an overnight success. Later that year, the group issued the holiday album Home for Christmas (1998).

Making an entrance to the screen world, Kirkpatrick and ‘N Sync guest starred as themselves in “Clueless” (1999) and “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” (1999). They also appeared as the street performers in the ABC series “Touched by an Angel” (1999).

After moving to the Jive Records label, the quintet broke sales’ records with the sophomore studio album No Strings Attached (2000), which spawned the best-selling singles “Bye, Bye, Bye” and “It’s Gonna Be Me.” The same year, Kirkpatrick could be seen as the pizzeria patron in the movie produced and written by Pearlman titled Longshot (2000), along with his band mates, and played himself in an episode of “Sesame Street” (2000).

‘N Sync enjoyed massive success with their next blockbuster album Celebrity (2001), which also won a Grammy. They then netted two other Grammys, one for their single “Gone,” another for their duet with Brian McKnight in “My Kind Of Girl.” However, the band members parted ways to pursue solo careers.

Kirkpatrick, who made a cameo appearance in the video for Good Charlotte’s “Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous” (2002) and co-hosted “Miss Teen USA 2002” with pop star Willa Ford, also attempted his own solo career with a band named Little Red Monsters. He later formed another band named Nigel’s 11 and released such tracks as “My World,” “Everybody Get’s Lost” and “Say You Will.”

Meanwhile, previously making an unaccredited performance in On the Line (2001), Kirkpatrick then provided his vocals for the recurring character Chip Skylark in the Nickelodeon animated series “The Fairly OddParents” (2002-2005) and the TV film The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour 2: When Nerds Collide (2006).


Awards:

- American Music: Best Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group, shared with ‘N Sync, 2002
- Grammy: Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals (Brian McKnight & Justin), “My Kind Of Girl,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2002
- Grammy: Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, “Gone,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2002
- Grammy: Best Pop Vocal Album, Celebrity, shared with ‘N Sync, 2002
- Much Music: Best International Video – Group, “Girlfriend Remix,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2002
- Much Music: People’s Choice, Favorite International Group, shared with ‘N Sync, 2002
- People’s Choice: Favorite Music Group, shared with ‘N Sync, 2002
- Teen Choice: Choice Hook Up, “Girlfriend Remix,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2002
- Teen Choice: Choice Single, “Girlfriend Remix,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2002
- American Music: Internet Artist of the Year, shared with ‘N Sync 2001
- Blockbuster: Favorite CD, No Strings Attached, shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- Blockbuster: Favorite Pop Group, shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- Blockbuster: Favorite Single, “Bye, Bye, Bye,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- People’s Choice: Favorite Musical Group/Band, shared with ‘N Sync 2001
- Radio Music: Best Pop Group, shared with ‘N Sync 2001
- Teen Choice: Choice Album, Celebrity, shared with ‘N Sync 2001
- Teen Choice: Choice Concert, shared with ‘N Sync 2001
- Teen Choice: Choice Single, “Pop,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- Video Music: Best Dance Video, “Pop,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- Video Music: Best Group Video, “Pop,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- Video Music: Best Pop Video, “Pop,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- Video Music: MTV House of Style - Most Stylish Award, shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- Video Music: Viewer’s Choice Award, “Pop,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- Billboard: Special Billboard Award for the biggest 1st week sales, shared with ‘N Sync, 2001
- American Music: Favorite Musical Group/Band, shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- American Music: Internet Artist Of The Year, shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Billboard: Album of the Year, No Strings Attached, shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Billboard: Artist-Duo/Group of the Year, shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Billboard: Special Billboard Music Award (Biggest 1st Week Sales in History), shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Much Music: Favorite International Group, shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Radio Music: Listener’s Choice for Song of the Year, “Bye, Bye, Bye,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Teen Choice: Choice Pop Group, shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Teen Choice: Choice Single, “Bye, Bye, Bye,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Teen Choice: Choice Summer Song, “It’s Gonna Be Me,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Teen Choice: Choice Video, “It’s Gonna Be Me,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Teen Choice Awards: Male Hottie, Justin, shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Video Music: Best Choreography, “Bye, Bye, Bye,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Video Music: Best Pop Video, “Bye, Bye, Bye,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- Video Music: Viewer’s Choice, “Bye, Bye, Bye,” shared with ‘N Sync, 2000
- American Music: Favorite New Artist, Pop/Rock, shared with ‘N Sync, 1999