One Direction, 'NSync & more hit boy bands

One of the biggest pop music acts of the 1970s, and arguably the first-ever "boy band," Jackson 5 was formed of five brothers from Gary, Ind., in 1964. The group played a repertoire of R&B, soul, pop and disco, and launched the solo careers of Jermaine and Michael Jackson. Jackson 5 was one of few groups in music history to have their first four singles reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100, according to MTV.

The Monkees began as a fictional band created for a 1960s TV show of the same name about four young men trying to make a name for themselves in rock and roll. The show's musical success (including its theme song) prompted the group to tour and record 11 studio albums between 1966 and 1996.

Bobby Brown and two friends began singing together as New Edition while still in elementary school in 1978. After recruiting a fourth member, the group was discovered and signed by writer/producer Maurice Starr. Their first hit, "Candy Girl," topped the R&B charts, and New Edition continued to see success through the late '80s, even after Bobby Brown quit the group to embark on a solo career in 1986.

Following the success of New Edition, producer Maurice Starr formed pioneering boy band New Kids on the Block in 1985 after holding a talent search in Boston. NKOTB mania ensued after the 1988 release of their sophomore album, "Hanging' Tough." Their wild success continued through the early '90s, with the title track of 1990's "Step by Step" album still the group's biggest single to date.

Formed in 1988, Boyz II Men went on to become the top-selling boy band of the past 25 years, according to Billboard. Their hit "One Sweet Day," featuring Mariah Carey, was No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart for 16 weeks in 1995-96, and the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012.

Brothers Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson from Tulsa, Okla., formed Hanson in 1992, but reached international boy band fame in 1997 with the release of their smash single, "MMMBop," and debut album, "Middle of Nowhere." Though somewhat of a one-hit wonder, the group still went on to record five more albums, including "Anthem," released in June 2013. Their world tour kicks off July 18, 2013 in Buenos Aires.

Formed in 1993, the Backstreet Boys shot to fame with their 1996 self-titled debut album, propelled by the success of the single "Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)." Seven albums later, they merged with New Kids on the Block to form supergroup NKOTBSB in 2011. The Backstreet Boys are currently touring with Jesse McCartney and DJ Pauly D.

Formed in Orlando in 1995, 'NSYNC burst on the pop music scene in 1998 with their self-titled debut album that included hits "Tearin' Up My Heart" and "God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You." Their sophomore album, "No Strings Attached," sold a record one million-plus copies in its first day, though they disbanded not long after in 2002, when member Justin Timberlake launched a wildly successful solo career.

Formed in 1996 and signed to Motown Records in 1997, 98 Degrees debuted with the single "Invisible Man," and went on to top the charts with "Because of You," their first major hit, and "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)," which hit No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart. Despite commercial success and sold-out concerts, 98 Degrees was overshadowed by rivals Backstreet Boys and 'NSYNC, who were setting astounding sales records during the height of the late '90s boy band craze.

Signed to P. Diddy's Bad Boy Records in 1996, the R&B quartet 112's biggest hit remains 2001's "Peaches & Cream." The group earned a Grammy for its collaboration with Diddy and Faith Evans on the Notorious B.I.G. tribute, "I'll Be Missing You," in 1997.

Simon Cowell formed Irish boy band Westlife in 1998. After 14 No. 1 hits including their debut single, "Swear It Again," the group disbanded in 2012.

Formed through the ABC reality show "Making the Band" in 2000 by former Backstreet Boys and 'NSYNC manager Lou Pearlman, O-Town debuted toward the end of the late '90s/early 2000s boy band craze. The group scored two Top 10 hits (including their biggest single,"All or Nothing") with their first album, but broke up after losing their record contract in late 2003.

The first sign of a late '00s boy band resurgence, the Jonas Brothers shot to fame after appearing on Disney's "Hannah Montana" and opening for the show's star, Miley Cyrus, in 2007. They soon scored their own Disney Channel show, "Jonas L.A.," and a movie, "Camp Rock," with Demi Lovato. With four albums under their belts, the brothers took an unofficial three-year hiatus before returning in 2013 with the single "Pom Poms," plus an upcoming tour and an album to be released later this year.

Initially a sensation in the UK, Ireland and other parts of Europe and South East Asia with their 2010 No. 1 debut single, "All Time Low," The Wanted has gained increasing popularity in the United States. Alleged rivals of fellow London-based boy band One Direction, The Wanted snagged their own E! reality show, "The Wanted Life," in 2013.

Both a pop band and a Nickelodeon TV series, Big Time Rush released their first album in 2010 and made their film debut with 2012's "Big Time Movie." They have covered songs by The Beatles and released their third album, "24/Seven" in 2013.

When Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson failed to impress as they each auditioned as solo artists on TV talent competition "The X Factor" UK, they were put together as a group later named One Direction, and finished third on the show in 2010. Judge Simon Cowell soon signed them to his record label, and their debut single, "What Makes You Beautiful," soon reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. One Direction reached international popularity when that song make a record-setting debut in the U.S. in early 2012, and the group's success hasn't waned since.

The Los Angeles-based group B2K consists of members Lil Fizz, Raz-B, J-Boog and Omarion (who joined in 1999). The group was active from 1998 to 2004 and were featured in the 2003 movie "You Got Served."