Natural (band)

{{short description|American boy band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Natural | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Orlando, Florida, U.S. | genre = Pop | years_active = 1999–2004 | label = Sony Music / Transcontinental | associated_acts = Sarah Connor, Well Worn Zero | website = | past_members = Ben Bledsoe Marc Terenzi Michael "J" Horn Michael Johnson Patrick King }}

'''Natural''' was an American boy band that formed in 1999 and broke up in 2004 consisting of Ben Bledsoe, Marc Terenzi, Michael "J" Horn, Michael Johnson, and Patrick King.

They were best known for their debut single and signature song "Put Your Arms Around Me". They were successful in Germany and the Philippines, releasing two albums and nine singles.<ref name="Allmusic">[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p513229|pure_url=yes}} Biography], AllMusic</ref><ref name="Ben Bledsoe Site">{{cite web |url=http://press.benbledsoe.com/accomplishments.htm |title=Ben Bledsoe Site |publisher=Press.benbledsoe.com |accessdate=2013-07-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207032949/http://press.benbledsoe.com/accomplishments.htm |archivedate=2012-02-07 }}</ref>

== History == The band tried to get signed to a record label on their own but ended up being turned down by most of the major labels. They originally worked with manager Veit Renn<ref name="bizjournals.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2001/02/26/story1.html |title=Boy-band brouhaha lands in courts - Orlando Business Journal |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date=2001-02-26 |accessdate=2013-07-26}}</ref> and recorded several songs. The band eventually turned to Lou Pearlman,<ref name="Allmusic"/> who had had success with some of the biggest boy bands in the world. Renn was not pleased with this and sued.<ref name="bizjournals.com"/> The outcome of the case is unknown, though the band did eventually stay with Pearlman. The band was signed under Transcontinental Records and released albums under that label in the U.S. and Sony BMG abroad.<ref name="Allmusic"/><ref name="Claire's Press Release">{{cite web |url=http://www.clairestores.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=68915&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=462710& |title=Claire's Press Release |publisher=Clairestores.com |date=2001-05-07 |accessdate=2013-07-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016231857/http://www.clairestores.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=68915&p=irol-newsArticle&t=Regular&id=462710& |archivedate=2006-10-16 }}</ref>

Unlike most boy bands who are vocal groups, the members of Natural all played instruments. Renn claims he was the one who insisted they learn instruments, spending $75,000 on their training.<ref name="bizjournals.com"/> However certain members such as Horn and Terenzi had been playing since childhood.

In mid-2000, Pearlman hired Steve Kipner to write Natural's first single, "Put Your Arms Around Me". He also struck a deal with teenage accessories store Claire's. The store sold the single as an extra with a $12 or more purchase.<ref name="Claire's Press Release"/> A joint tour with the Monkees in conjunction with Claire's followed.<ref name="Claire's Press Release"/> However, the single never actually charted on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The single became No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Single sales chart<ref name="Ben Bledsoe Site"/> yet that had little impact on the general public.

In 2001, they provided singing voices for the boy band, Party Posse, in The Simpsons episode titled, "New Kids on the Blecch".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701190/|title=New Kids on the Blecch|website=IMDb.com|accessdate=2025-01-16}}</ref>

Natural attempted promotions in the U.S. several times in the next few years, though sporadically. Such promotions included several interviews and features in POPstar Magazine, performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2001, performing medley tribute to the Bee Gees as part of ABC's 'Disco Ball' in 2003, and at one point a mall tour with Saks Fifth Avenue. Yet they still never charted or had successful radio play outside of Orlando.<ref name="Ben Bledsoe Site"/>

Pearlman decided to wait on the U.S. release and the band went back to Germany where their first album ''Keep It Natural'' was released. The album exploded onto the top of the charts in many territories across the world, and debuted at No. 2 in Germany.<ref name="Allmusic"/> The band continued with 8 top 10 singles and multiple Number 1's. The tours grew from Club-sized venues to Arena Tours.<ref name="Ben Bledsoe Site"/>

The band began performing at NASA events in 2001. They sang at the launch of the Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'' at the start of its 16th flight.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zaslow |first1=Jeffrey |title=NASA Mission Probes Alien Terrain Of Pop Culture for Signs of Support |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB997216451927256340 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=August 8, 2001}}</ref> They also performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the crew of the Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' before it launched. They were planning to co-write a space-themed song with astronaut William C. McCool before his death in the Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' disaster.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jeffries |first1=Adrienne |title=That Time Lou Pearlman Tried to Send a Boy Band to Space |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/that-time-lou-pearlman-tried-to-send-a-boy-band-to-space/ |work=Vice |date=November 23, 2021}}</ref>

==Other projects== * Ben Bledsoe started a solo career in 2005 and released his own indie solo CD ''Insomniac's Guide to a Lonely Heart'', for which he wrote much of the music and lyrics. He toured the US and Germany in support of it. He has also acted in several television shows and films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2475029/|title=Ben Bledsoe|website=IMDb.com|accessdate=2020-04-25}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="width:2px;" rowspan="2" | Year ! style="width:267px;" rowspan="2" | Title ! colspan="3" | Chart positions |- ! style="width:36px;"|GER ! style="width:36px;"|AU ! style="width:36px;"|CH |- | 2002 | ''Keep It Natural'' * Released: September 23, 2002 * Formats: CD |{{center| 2}} |{{center| 9}} |{{center| 72}} |- | 2004 | ''It's Only Natural'' * Released: March 15, 2004 * Formats: CD |{{center| 31}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="width:2px;" rowspan="2"| Year ! style="width:267px;" rowspan="2"| Title ! colspan="4"| Chart positions ! rowspan="2" | Notes |- ! style="width:36px;"| GER ! style="width:36px;"| AU ! style="width:36px;"| CH ! style="width:36px;"| ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Singles sales charts |- | 2001 | "Put Your Arms Around Me" * Released: 2001 * Formats: CD |{{center| 12}} |{{center| 15}} |{{center| 39}} |{{center| 3}} |RIAA Certified Gold |- | 2002 | "Let Me Count the Ways" * Released: June 3, 2002 * Formats: CD |{{center| 11}} |{{center| 49}} |{{center| 57}} |{{center| -}} | |- | 2002 | "Will It Ever" * Released: September 16, 2002 * Formats: CD |{{center| 27}} |{{center| 38}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} | |- | 2003 | "Runaway" * Released: January 15, 2003 * Formats: CD |{{center| 40}} |{{center| 59}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} | |- | 2003 | "Paradise" * Released: March 2, 2003 * Formats: CD |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} | |- | 2003 | "What If" * Released: November 10, 2003 * Formats: CD |{{center| 34}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} |RIAA Certified Gold |- | 2004 | "Let Me Just Fly" * Released: February 16, 2004 * Formats: CD |{{center| 23}} |{{center| 52}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} | |- | 2004 | "Just One Last Dance" * Released: March 1, 2004 * Formats: CD |{{center| 1}} |{{center| 5}} |{{center| 8}} |{{center| -}} | |- | 2004 | "Why It Hurts" * Released: September 13, 2004 * Formats: CD |{{center| 49}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} |{{center| -}} | |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070210180400/http://www.freewebs.com/transcontinentalartists/ Archived Transcontinental Page] * [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p513229|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic entry] * [http://benbledsoe.com Ben Bledsoe's Official Website] * [http://marcterenzi.de Marc Terenzi's Official Website] (in German)

Category:American boy bands Category:Musical groups from Orlando, Florida Category:American pop music groups Category:Vocal quintets Category:Sony BMG artists

Natural (band)

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