Drew Lachey was born August 8, 1976, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He served in the United States Army and later worked as a camp counselor and an emergency medical technician. It was while working as an EMT that his brother phoned with an offer to join his newly formed band with Justin Jeffre and Jeff Timons. Accepting the offer, Drew, Nick, Justin, and Jeff formed 98 Degrees and then signed with Motown Records in 1995. The group released a total of five albums between 1997 and 2002. After the release of their first album, they switched labels to Universal Records and released the subsequent four, three of which went platinum. In 2002 the band took an extended break to pursue individual interests.
Those interests for Drew included starring in the Broadway musical hit Rent, television appearances on Sabrina the Teenage Witch and his brother’s MTV reality show Newlyweds, and landing a coveted spot on ABC’s second season of Dancing with the Stars. He and Cheryl stunned audiences and judges with three perfect scores for their performance of the tango, the Paso Doble, and their freestyle dance. Lachey also hosted the 2006 Miss USA pageant.
To many, Drew Lachey symbolizes American romanticism and the guy next door persona. Married to his high school sweetheart, Lea Dellecave, who served as choreographer for 98 Degrees, they are new parents to daughter Isabella Claire Lachey, born March 23, 2006.
Even as a new dad, Drew Lachey found time to help a cause he believed in. In June of 2006, in conjunction with Wrigley’s, Lachey placed himself up for auction to the female general public on eBay. The bidding was for a trip to New York to dance with Drew at the Extra Long Dance-a-Thon, a charity event to raise money for American Ballroom Theater’s "Dancing Classrooms," a program that is dedicated to bringing performing arts curriculum to public schools.
Drew Lachey and brother, Nick, have said that 98 Degrees will return with a new album to be released some time in 2007. It is rumored that the album will contain all new songs and feature guest artist Carly Simon, as well as others unnamed to date.
YUDDY
