South 65

South 65 (also spelled South Sixty-Five) was an American country music boy band. The group was composed of vocalists Lance Leslie, Brent Parker, Stephen Parker, Jerimy Koeltzow, and Doug Urie. Between 1997 and its disbanding in 2001, South 65 charted five singles on the "Billboard" Hot Country Songs charts, in addition to recording two albums on Atlantic Records. In 2006, former vocalist Lance Leslie founded another group called Rio Grand.
Biography.
Delious Kennedy, a member of the R&B group All-4-One, wanted to form a boy band for country music. He first picked brothers Brenton and Stephen Parker, and later held a nationwide talent search to find the other three members. All five members were in place by 1997. Delious and Anthony L. Smith produced the band's 1998 self-titled debut album, which reached a peak of No. 70 on the "Billboard" Top Country Albums charts. Its singles included "A Random Act of Senseless Kindness," "No Easy Goodbye," and "Baby's Got My Number," which respectively reached No. 55, No. 56 and No. 60 on the Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts. In 2000, the band released "Love Bug (Bite Me)," which reached No. 72 on that chart and never appeared on an album.
South 65 released its second and final album for Atlantic Nashville in 2001. Titled "Dream Large", the album went to No. 63 on the country albums charts. Bobby Huff produced three tracks, and Buddy Cannon and Norro Wilson produced the other seven. This album included a cover of Charlie Rich's 1973 Number One hit "The Most Beautiful Girl," which South 65 took to No. 54 on the country charts. After the album's release, the members of South 65 parted ways due to the closure of Atlantic Records' Nashville division. Urie began a solo career, while Leslie joined Rio Grand, which he has since left.
Critical reception.
Charlotte Dillon of Allmusic gave four stars out of five to both of the band's albums. She said that the first album did not have a distinctively country music sound, but called the group "revitalizing" and said that the first album's songs were "mostly done in sweet harmonies sure to set young female hearts to fluttering." She said of the second album that it had a more country sound with some R&B influences. An uncredited review in "Billboard" gave a negative review, saying that the members had "anonymous, pretty voices" and that the songs "are not very convincing country." Jennifer Webb of About.com gave "Dream Large" a favorable review, saying, "South 65 amazes me with their harmonizing and vocal abilities."
"South Sixty-Five" (1998).
Musicians.
As listed on Allmusic.
"Dream Large" (2001).
Musicians.
As listed in liner notes.