Joseph Mulrey McIntyre (aka Joe McIntyre, Joey McIntyre), born December 31, 1972 in Needham, Massachusetts, is a singer-songwriter and actor. He is best known as the youngest member of the 1980s-1990s group New Kids on the Block (NKOTB).
At the age of 12, McIntyre joined
New Kids on the Block. Since the other four members of the group were already
long-time school friends, he initially found it difficult to mesh with the
group. The New Kids on the Block became one of the most successful boy bands to
date, producing three number one albums on the US Billboard charts. In 1991,
Forbes magazine listed the band as the highest-earning entertainers, beating the
likes of Madonna and Michael Jackson. The band eventually disbanded in 1994
following a media backlash and thus the declining sales. The band's music
continues to sell overseas and the band itself is regarded as a pioneering act
today.
Following the group's split, Joey sought a record deal. He made his acting debut
in the film The Fantasticks, which was based on the long-running off-Broadway
musical.
Unable to find a recording contract, Joey used his own money to record his first
solo album Stay the Same and sold it on his website. He then took his first
single also entitled Stay the Same from the album to local Boston DJs, which
eventually garnered the song national airplay. The combination of airplay and
website sales for the single led to McIntyre signing a recording contract in
1999 with Sony Music USA, under the Columbia label which had previously been
home to New Kids on the Block.
The album Stay the Same was re-released on the Sony's Work Records and sold more
than a million copies around the world. The single 'Stay The Same', rose the
Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number 10. The second track of the
album I Love You Came Too Late was a decent follow-up. Also in 1999, Joey
recorded the song Remember Me for the film Southie, which starred former band
mate Donnie Wahlberg.
In 2001, he released his second solo album Meet Joe Mac, a far more serious
affair than his previous release. The album however, wasn't well received and
did not chart. There was only one single released from this album, 'Rain', which
did not chart.
McIntyre played Jon in Jonathan Larson's Tick, Tick... BOOM! for both the
off-Broadway (Fall 2001) and national tour (2003) versions of the play. In 2002,
he appeared for a season on the popular television show Boston Public. The
following year, he released the live acoustic album One Too Many with Emanuel
Kiriakou.
Joey and his wife Barrett married on August 9, 2003, exactly a year after they
had met. His fourth solo album 8:09, released in 2004, was largely influenced by
his wife. Also in 2004, McIntyre starred in the film Tony n' Tina's Wedding,
which co-starred Mila Kunis.
In 2004, he played Fiyero, the leading male role in the Broadway musical Wicked.
He replaced Norbert Leo Butz on July 20th 2004 and remained with the show until
January 9th 2005 where he was later replaced by David Ayers. He also competed on
the first season of the reality television show Dancing with the Stars, winning
third place with dance professional partner Ashly DelGrosso.
He appeared as Fonzie in Happy Days, a musical based on the hit TV show at the
Falcon Theater in Los Angeles from February 15 to March 12, 2006 and a second
run from June 23 to August 13, 2006.
He is also a Co-Owner of Semi-Private NY Nightclub The Plumm, along with Chris
Noth, David Wells, Noel Ashman, among others.
To the surprise and delight of many fans it has recently been announced (May
2008) that New Kids on the Block have in fact reunited for a new album (due out
in August 2008) and a tour to follow in September.