Jordan Knight
Photo: MTV News

Back in the '80s, Jordan Knight was plucked out of obscurity to join one of the most popular groups at the time, the New Kids on the Block, so he understands what it's like to have someone give you your big break. Now, Knight — who is busy traveling the country to record his next solo album — is hoping to give someone their chance at pop stardom.

"This idea of 'Jordan Idol' came up while I was in the recording studio in Boston, and a lot of fans showed up outside the recording studio, and I just went out there with a [video camera]," he told MTV News. "I said, 'Who here could sing? Maybe you could sing background on my record?' And a couple girls sang, and I posted it up on YouTube."

Since then, an overwhelming amount of fans have wanted that same chance. So Knight, who has already held a "Jordan Idol" in Nashville, is now in New York looking for that special someone.

"New York is one of the entertainment capitals of the world, so I'm sure there's a lot of singers here," he said about his next "JI," being held at Le Poisson Rouge club Saturday. "New York comes with a certain attitude — an attitude you can't get anywhere else in the country — so, hopefully, I'll meet some people who have that New York vibe to them."

Knight said he's holding these auditions because he's always wanted to help up-and-coming musical talent. "I want to have fun with the fans," he said. "I want to hear them sing, and who knows? Maybe there is someone out there who can really put it down, and if I have the connections to help them out, it's kind of always been a dream of mine to help somebody out."

What will it take to catch Knight's eye? "You don't really look for a certain something. Well, actually, you do look a certain something," he laughed. "They have to have it. They don't have to have the perfect look, the perfect voice, the perfect moves — they just have to have something special. It's hard to come by. I'm looking for it. It, are you out there?"

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Jordan Knight
Photo: MTV News

Former New Kid Jordan Knight's second album is a little Lawrence Welk, a little Boyz II Men and a whole lot of fun, uptempo pop.

"There's elements of everything from polka to doo-wop," producer Jimmy Jam said last week. "It's crazy — a very eclectic record." The falsetto-voiced pop star is working on the disc in the Minneapolis studio of Jimmy Jam and partner Terry Lewis, who were also among the producers on Knight's 1999 self-titled solo debut. The pair are producing six of the album's tracks and will probably mix the entire LP.

"Around the World" will likely be the disc's first single, and it also stands a good chance of being the album's title, Jimmy Jam said. The song takes an even bolder approach than "Give It to You," Knight's debut solo single, which mixed accordions, hefty grooves and waltz breaks.

"The only way that we've been able to figure out how to describe the song is it's sort of Dean Martin meets Sisqó. You know how 'Give It to You' was quirky? This is the next level of quirky." Knight has said the new material is on the whole more uptempo than his debut because he believes fans are craving fun, danceable music.

The singer also plans to do some recording in Los Angeles, but there was no word at press time who will produce the album's remaining tracks. The disc is expected in stores this spring.

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After assembling such platinum-selling teen groups as New Edition and New Kids On The Block, manager and producer Maurice Starr has put together a new act, 6 Piece, which he plans to unveil on an Atlanta radio station in March.

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• New Kids on the Block

Former New Kids On The Block singer Donnie Wahlberg has earned a role in the new $120 million World War II miniseries, "Band Of Brothers," tentatively scheduled to air on HBO later this year.

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• New Kids on the Block

Jordan Knight gave it to his fans, all right.

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• New Kids on the Block

• Jordan Knight
• New Kids on the Block

Boy band 'N Sync will put its five members to good use when the guys head up the "Challenge For Children" basketball benefit August 25 in Atlanta.

Busta Rhymes, Usher, Jordan Knight, Jermaine Dupri, members of Outkast and Blackstreet as well as the L.A. Lakers' Kobe Bryant are among the celebrity ballplayers who'll be on hand for the game which benefits the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children and the Atlanta Hawks Foundation.

Tickets for the benefit hoop-fest, which will be held on the grounds of Georgia State University, are on sale now.

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• *NSYNC
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• Usher

The self-titled debut album by Jordan Knight hit store shelves on Tuesday, no doubt satisfying fans who have helped his single "Give It to You" find a comfortable home in the "Billboard" Top Ten.

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• New Kids on the Block

Jordan Knight may be a hot commodity these days with his debut single, "Give It to You," climbing the charts. But to millions, the singer will always be one-fifth of New Kids on the Block.

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• New Kids on the Block

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New Kids On The Block And The Jabbawockeez Perform On The "Today" Show

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