Lou Pearlman, the manager of boy bands ousted died in prison – Paris Match

The American music producer Lou Pearlman, who launched including Backstreet Boys, died in prison Friday. He was 62.

Behind the success of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC hides a man Lou Pearlman. The manager and American music producer died Friday in a Miami prison, tells Entertainment Tonight. He was 62. He was serving there a sentence of 25 years in prison. The causes of death have not been clarified.

Inspired by the success of New Kids on the Block during the 80s and 90s, the businessmen, cousin of Art Garfunkel, had bet on five unknown boys physique who dreamed of becoming stars. Thus, the Backstreet Boys were born in 1993. The success was dazzling for training which is to date the boy band that has sold the most records in the world, 130 million copies. Two years later, Lou Pearlman had continued its momentum by finding the NSYNC, the group that launched the career of a certain Justin Timberlake.

But the thirst for profit had broke Lou Pearlman in full glory . In 2007, he found himself at the center of a financial scandal. He admitted having defrauded the form of Ponzi (fraudulent financial practice of paying customer investments primarily through funds provided by new entrants, ie) five banks in Orlando and thousands of individuals invited to invest funds in fictitious business aviation sector. The damage amounted to $ 300 million, reports “Variety.” At his trial, he had apologized to his victims. “During these nine months since my arrest, I became aware of the evil that has been done. I’m really sorry and I apologize for what happened, “he said. He was convicted of these facts in 2008 to 25 years in prison.

Some musicians with whom he worked reacted to his death on social networks, starting with Justin Timberlake. “I hope he has found peace. May God bless and rest in peace Lou Pearlman. ” The singer Aaron Carter, the younger brother of Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, he has published a bitter message on his Twitter account. “Lou Pearlman, my former manager died in prison … Rest in peace Lou, not the best businessmen, but he discovered. Karma exists, “he wrote. The member of boy band O-Town has paid tribute to her talent scout. “Love him or hate him, Lou has enabled many of us to start. It’s a shame he let greed take over. “

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