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Born 57 Years Ago Today in Boston, the 80s Boy Band Heartthrob Whose Younger Brother Became One of Hollywood’s Biggest Movie Stars

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On this day in 1969, Donnie Wahlberg was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was first known as an original member of the boy band New Kids on the Block. Donnie was discovered at the age of 15. It was his rapping abilities that got him the role in the group, making him the first member to join. Record producer Maurice Starr, who had discovered New Edition, created New Kids on the Block as a counterpart. Initially, Donnie’s brother Mark also joined the group but left just a few months later.

New Kids on the Block formed in 1984 and released their debut album two years later, in 1986. Their debut was commercially ignored, and it would be their sophomore release that shot the band into stardom. In 1988, New Kids on the Block’s Hangin’ Tough was a massive commercial success, hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200.........

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