CNN Article

Hanson be-bops to top with Partridge Family sound
From Correspondent Mark Scheerer

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Not every band can say they earned a No. 1 single their first time out, but a group called Hanson has done it with the infectious tune "MMMBop."

What's truly amazing about this trio is that it is made up of three very young brothers from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"Our parents forced us into this. Help us!" screams drummer Zachary Hanson.

Zachary may joke about his parents' involvement, but it's their support -- not prodding -- that has helped him and his two brothers bop to the top of the Billboard pop charts.

"Our parents were musical and they did stuff in high school and college, so I think it was in the genes," explains Isaac Hanson. "I actually wrote my first song when I was in third grade."

Third grade wasn't that long ago for these brothers. Isaac, the guitarist, is just 16. Taylor, on keyboards, is 14. And drummer Zachary is 11.

They've scored with a No. 1 single and a top 10 album practically before they could shave.

"Actually, we thought it would be younger," Isaac says.

"We actually were saying, 'Man, we're too old now,'" Taylor adds.

No angst here

These are not the typical angst-ridden teens pointing blame at the world. So catchy and uplifting are their songs, the brothers could be called the Partridge Family for the '90s.

Blame it on the time their family spent in South America and the Caribbean. There, the boys found their musical inspiration from a compilation of early rock 'n' roll.

"Chuck Berry, Otis Redding, Little Richard, Elvis, Johnny Taylor, Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, the list goes on and on," Isaac explains.

So, are they filled with brotherly love?

"No, we don't get along," Zachary says, playfully fighting with Taylor.

The Hansons are home-schooled and always have been. It's a good thing, too, since their early success could keep them on the road.

"I hope we get to stay in the music business and maybe do some acting or directing films or something like that," says Zachary. "Actually, I'd like to be a cartoonist if this doesn't work out."

All this with only one driver's license between them.

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