LFO (American band)

{{Short description|American pop and hip-hop band}} {{for|the British band|LFO (British band)}} {{pp-blp|small=yes}} {{cleanup rewrite|date=February 2023}} {{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = LFO | image = | caption = | background = group_or_band | alias = Lyte Funkie Ones | origin = New Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|R&B|pop-rap|hip-hop|dance|pop rock|Europop||dance-pop}} | years_active = {{hlist|1995–2002|2009–2010|2017–2018|2024–present}} | label = {{hlist|Arista|J|LFO}} | website = {{URL|http://www.myspace.com/lfomusic}} | current_members = * Brad Fischetti | past_members = * Rich Cronin * Brian Gillis * Devin Lima }}

'''LFO''' (an acronym for '''Lyte Funky Ones''') is an American pop and hip-hop band formed in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1995. The band's original lineup consisted of Brad Fischetti, Rich Cronin, and Brian "Brizz" Gillis.<ref name="BGillisobi">{{cite web |url=https://www.dolanfuneral.com/obituaries/brian-a-gillis/|title=Obituary For Brian A. Gillis|date=|accessdate=April 20, 2023|website=dolanfuneral.com}}</ref> In 1998, Gillis left the group and was replaced by Harold "Devin" Lima.<ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/lfos-devin-lima-dies-at-41-report-1163281/|title=LFO's Devin Lima Dies at 41 (Report)|date=November 21, 2018|accessdate=August 7, 2022|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> After Cronin’s death in 2010, the group disbanded; but briefly reunited with Fischetti and Lima as a duo in 2017 before Lima's death a year later.

LFO's single "Summer Girls" reached number 3 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and the band had sold over four million records worldwide.

In 2025, Jeff Mezydlo of ''Yardbarker'' included the band in his list of "20 underrated bands from the 1990s who are worth rediscovering".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mezydlo |first=Jeff |date=2022-11-02 |title=20 underrated bands from the 1990s who are worth rediscovering |url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/20_underrated_bands_from_the_1990s/s1__38070360 |access-date=2025-12-21 |website=Yardbarker |language=en}}</ref>

==History== ===1995–1998: Origins and Gillis's departure=== In 1995, New Bedford, Massachusetts, Rich Cronin and Brad Fischetti met Brian "Brizz" Gillis. LFO had marginal success with the remake of the Yvonne Elliman song "If I Can't Have You", which missed the Top 40, reaching No. 54 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 335}}</ref> In 1997, they released a cover of the 1990 New Kids on the Block hit "Step By Step" as a single. In 1999, Gillis left the group to pursue a solo career. Gillis died of undisclosed causes on March 29, 2023, at age 48.<ref name="LATobi">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2023-03-30/brian-brizz-gillis-boy-band-lfo-dies|title=LFO co-founder honors Brian 'Brizz' Gillis, the third member of '90s boy band to die|first=Emily|last= St. Martin|date=March 30, 2023|accessdate=April 20, 2023|website=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

===2000–2002: ''Life Is Good'' and first split=== They appeared on ''The Amanda Show'' as guest stars, singing a song while Amanda Bynes danced in the background with the show's signature "dancing lobsters". At the end, LFO described Amanda as "the most beautiful girl in the world".

In the summer of 2001, the group released their sophomore and final album, ''Life Is Good'', with the release of only two singles, "Life Is Good" and "Every Other Time", which was the only commercial release from the album.

After lackluster record sales of the album and the late-1990s/early-2000s boyband trend nearing its end, LFO parted ways in February 2002. Brad Fischetti recalled years later that the band didn't initially end on good terms. "When we walked out of the room in 2002, it was like a weight was lifted off of our shoulders."<ref name="tragedylfo">{{cite web |last1=Finn |first1=Natalie |title=The Heartbreaking Tragedy Surrounding Pop Group LFO |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/1370216/the-heartbreaking-tragedy-surrounding-pop-group-lfo |website=EOnline.com |access-date=12 October 2023 |date=4 April 2023}}</ref>

=== 2002–2009: Initial breakup === In an attempt to form a pop group without it being labeled as a boy band, Cronin founded Bad Mood Mike in 2003.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} The project failed, as it never produced an album, and ended after a few months. Cronin was later in a group called Loose Cannons, with Doug Ray. He was also part of the TV show ''Mission: Man Band'', which aired on VH1.

In March 2005, Cronin sought treatment for constant headaches, and was diagnosed with leukemia. He underwent chemotherapy in Boston, and by January 2006, his leukemia was in remission. In 2008, Cronin launched his first solo studio album, entitled ''Billion Dollar Sound''.

Lima released his first solo track back in 2006, it being a cover of the Sly & the Family Stone song “If You Want Me to Stay” for the tribute album ''Different Strokes by Different Folks''. This led to him performing as part of a tribute to Sly Stone, on the 2006 Grammy Awards, alongside Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Maroon 5, Joss Stone, John Legend and will.i.am.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1647524/rich-cronins-former-lfo-bandmates-continue-their-music-careers/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813142027/http://www.mtv.com/news/1647524/rich-cronins-former-lfo-bandmates-continue-their-music-careers/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 13, 2014|title=Rich Cronin's Former LFO Bandmates Continue Their Music Careers|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=September 10, 2010|work=MTV News|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref>

Lima formed a new band, The Cadbury Diesel, and released their debut record, ''Mozart Popart'', in July 2008. Cadbury Diesel performed a song entitled "Rocky Road" for the film ''American Pie Presents Beta House'' (2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0510648|title=Devin Lima|work=IMDb}}</ref> Lima later performed music under the alias Live From Orlando.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=32775&string=Diesel|title=Devin Lima & The Cadbury Diesel Announce The Details Of Their Upcoming Release: Mozart Popart|date=May 15, 2007|work=Top40-Charts.com|type=Press release|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/7491091/a/Mozart+Popart.htm|title=Devin Lima - Mozart Popart CD|access-date=November 23, 2018|website=Cduniverse}}</ref>

Brad Fischetti has since become an anti-abortion activist. During a 2012 religious group protest he was live tweeting from outside an abortion clinic. Included in his tweets were the doctor's name, and an apparent quote from a nurse claiming financial motives for the services offered there. In a statement to E! News, Fischetti denied harassing any women outside the clinic, but adamantly stood by his views and said he regrets not speaking out more when LFO was at the height of its fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/319260/lfo-s-brad-fischetti-defends-anti-abortion-tweets-says-he-s-never-harassed-clinic-patients|title=LFO's Brad Fischetti Defends Anti-Abortion Tweets, Says He's "Never Harassed" Clinic Patients|last1=Finn|first1=Natalie|last2=Drury|first2=Sharareh|date=May 25, 2012|website=Eonline.com|access-date=2014-05-09}}</ref> He is also the music director for a church.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://guslloyd.com/blogs/seize-the-day/wednesday-january-24-2018|title=Seize the Day|date=January 24, 2018|work=Gus Lloyd Catholic Apologetics|access-date=2018-11-21|language=en|quote=...Gus is joined by Brad Fischetti, Corpus Christi music director...}}</ref>

===2009–2010: Reunion and Cronin's death=== On June 3, 2009, LFO posted a blog entitled "LFO is Back" on their unofficial MySpace page which announced that they had reunited and were going on the Malcolm Douglas Tribute tour beginning September 23, 2009, with Rookie of the Year, Go Crash Audio, and Kiernan McMullan.<ref name="reunionblog">{{cite web|url = http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=38046454&blogId=492651964|title = LFO is back|date = June 3, 2009|publisher = Myspace Blogs|access-date = 2009-06-14|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121106084947/http://www.myspace.com/lfomusic/blog/492651964|archive-date=November 6, 2012 }}</ref> A new song, titled "Summer of My Life," was also announced in association with the reunion.<ref name="somlblog">{{cite web|url=http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=38046454&blogId=493871338|title=LFO Update June 9, 2009|date=June 9, 2009|publisher=LFO via Myspace Blogs|access-date=2009-06-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207065936/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view|archive-date=February 7, 2009}}</ref>

However, the reunion was short-lived as Cronin died at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts at the age of 36 on September 8, 2010, after suffering from leukemia.<ref>{{Citation |title=LFO Singer Rich Cronin, 35, Dies of Cancer |magazine=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956424/lfo-singer-rich-cronin-35-dies-of-cancer |access-date=2010-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=September 11–18, 2010 |title=Richard Cronin initiate |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/wickedlocal-kingston/obituary.aspx?pid=145229975 |access-date=October 18, 2016 |work=The Kingston Reporter; Legacy.com |location=Kingston, Massachusetts}}</ref> On September 28, 2009, LFO announced through their YouTube page LFOVIDEOS that they had permanently disbanded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-0cZJw8PG4|title=The End of LFO|last=LFOVIDEOS|date=28 September 2009|access-date=21 November 2018|publisher=YouTube}}</ref> The remaining two members of the band planned to continue making music with their various side projects.<ref name="The End of LFO">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-0cZJw8PG4|title=The End of LFO |date=2009-09-28|publisher=LFO via YouTube Video|access-date=2009-09-28}}</ref>

===2017–2018: Second reunion, new single, and Lima's death=== In late 2013, Lima formed a group with electronic artists DJ Shakka and Ayj as The Mack Pack, releasing two singles in 2014. The group later changed its name to Rogue Cherry with the addition of Alexandra Foster and produced a posthumous album, Harold Lima: Rockwell.

In July 2017, LFO released their first new song after 15 years and the only song as a duo and without Cronin, titled "Perfect 10". It featured then-surviving members Lima and Fischetti. On the reunion, Fischetti told ''Entertainment Weekly'' that "We're sincerely thankful and excited to have the opportunity to create new music and tour again. We miss the presence of our late great brother bandmate Rich Cronin. We will do our best to make him proud, carry on his legacy, and to usher LFO into the future."<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Lawrence|first1=Derek|title=It's summer, so here's a new song from LFO|url=http://ew.com/music/2017/07/17/lfo-perfect-10-exclusive|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref>

In October 2017, Devin Lima was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer and had one kidney removed. The news was confirmed by Fischetti.<ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/31/entertainment/devin-lima-lfo-cancer/index.html "LFO's Devin Lima has Stage 4 cancer"] CNN.com, October 31, 2017.</ref> Lima died of his cancer on November 21, 2018, at age 41.<ref name="hollywoodreporter"/><ref name="people">{{cite web |url=https://people.com/music/devin-lima-dead-41-cancer//|title=LFO Singer Devin Lima Dead at 41 Following 'Valiant' Cancer Battle|date=November 21, 2018|accessdate=August 7, 2022|publisher=People}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/lfo-singer-devin-lima-dead-at-41|title=LFO singer Devin Lima dead at 41: report|last=Savitsky|first=Sasha|date=2018-11-21|work=Fox News|access-date=2018-11-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/devin-lima-dead-lfo-member-dies-8486132/|title=LFO's Devin Lima Dies at 41: Report|website=Billboard.com|access-date=21 November 2018}}</ref>

===2019–present: O-Town reunion, Y2K Tour=== The final living member, Brad Fischetti, began touring with pop group O-Town in a series of dates during the Y2K tour. He performed LFO songs in memory of Cronin and Lima, and vowed to keep the LFO legacy alive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/lehigh-valley-music/mc-ent-otown-ryan-cabrera-lfo-aaron-carter-onecentresquare-easton-20190905-w4m2yyr5kjgz5opdk74ofrnp3m-story.html|title = Tour with O-Town, Ryan Cabrera, Aaron Carter and LFO singer coming to Easton's One Centre Square| date=5 September 2019 }}</ref>

==Members==

=== Current === * Brad Fischetti (1995–2002, 2009, 2017–2018; 2024–present)

=== Former === * Rich Cronin (1995–2002, 2009; died 2010) * Brian Gillis (1995–1998; died 2023) * Devin Lima (1999–2002, 2009, 2017–2018; died 2018)

==Discography==

===Albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications (sales threshold) |- style="font-size:smaller" ! style="width:30px;"| US ! style="width:30px;"| UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> |- | 1999 | style="text-align:left;"| ''LFO'' * Released: August 24, 1999 * Label: Arista | 21 | 62 | * RIAA: Platinum * MC: Gold |- | 2001 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Life Is Good'' * Released: June 26, 2001 * Label: Arista | 75 | — | |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="6"| Chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:35px;"| US <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lfo-mn0000101164/awards|title=LFO|author=Sean Cooper|work=AllMusic}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| AUS <ref>{{cite Ryan|page=172}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;"| CAN ! style="width:35px;"| GER ! style="width:35px;"| NZ ! style="width:35px;"| UK <ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> |- | rowspan="2"| 1997 | style="text-align:left;"| "(Sex U Up) The Way You Like It" | —{{Ref label|note_a1|A}} | — | — | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| Non-album singles |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Step by Step" | — | — | — | — | 79 | — |- | 1998 | style="text-align:left;"| "Can't Have You" (featuring Kayo) | 70 | — | — | — | — | 54 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="5"| ''LFO'' |- | rowspan="2"| 1999 | style="text-align:left;"| "Summer Girls" | 3 | 71 | 18 | 56 | 14 | 16 |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Girl on TV" | 10 | — | 39 | 80 | — | 6 |- | rowspan="2"| 2000 | style="text-align:left;"| "I Don't Wanna Kiss You Goodnight" | 61 | — | — | — | — | — |- | style="text-align:left;"| "West Side Story" | 84 | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2001 | style="text-align:left;"| "Every Other Time" | 44 | — | — | 98 | 18 | 24 | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Life is Good'' |- | 2002 | style="text-align:left;"| "Life Is Good" (featuring M.O.P.) | — | — | — | — | — | — |- | 2017 | style="text-align:left;"| "Perfect 10" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |}

===Music videos=== {|class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title !Director(s) !Note(s) |- |rowspan="2"|1997 |"(Sex U up) The Way You Like It" | None |Debut single |- |"Step by Step" |Unknown |Cover version of song by boy band New Kids On The Block |- |1998 |"Can't Have You" (feat. Kayo) |Unknown |Yvonne Elliman cover version. Features the Swedish singer Kayo. Final music video to feature Brian Gillis. |- |rowspan="2"|1999 |"Summer Girls" |Marcus Raboy |First music video to feature Devin Lima. |- |"Girl on TV" |Gregory Dark |Features a guest appearance by Rich Cronin's then-girlfriend and actress Jennifer Love Hewitt |- |rowspan="2"|2000 |"I Don't Wanna Kiss You Goodnight" |Gregory Dark | |- |"West Side Story" | None | |- |2001 |"Every Other Time" |Marcus Raboy | |- |2002 |"Life Is Good" |Unknown | |}

==Notes== {{refbegin}} * '''A''' {{Note|note_a1}} "(Sex U Up) The Way You Like It" did not enter the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, but peaked at number 3 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart, which acts as a 25-song extension to the Hot 100.<ref name="US-Bubbling-singles">{{cite magazine | url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=LFO|chart=Bubbling Under Hot 100}} | title=LFO – Chart History: Bubbling Under Hot 100 | publisher=Prometheus Global Media | magazine=Billboard | access-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref> {{refend}}

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0000824406|label=LFO}} * {{discogs artist|Lyte Funkie Ones}} * {{IMDb name|6902212}} * [https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/7/29/8934482/lfo-summer-girls-1999-music-abercrombie-fitch-song How "Summer Girls" Explains a Bunch of Hits—and the Music of 1999] * [https://pop2000tour.com/ Pop 2000 Tour w/LFO]

Category:American boy bands Category:American pop music groups Category:Vocal trios Category:Pop-rap groups Category:Musical groups established in 1995 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2002 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2009 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2010 Category:Musical groups reestablished in 2017 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2018 Category:Arista Records artists Category:J Records artists Category:1995 establishments in Massachusetts Category:2018 disestablishments in Massachusetts