Teen heartthrob Ashley Parker Angel was born and raised in Redding, CA, by his piano-teacher mother and stepfather, both of whom encouraged him to be involved in music. After being spotted by a talent agency in his hometown, he was given the opportunity to audition for the 2000 ABC television show Making the Band. Angel's boyish good looks and voice won him a spot in the group, the five-member boy band O-Town, who, as part of the deal, were awarded a major-label contract, which produced multi-platinum record sales as well as thousands of young female fans. br /br /When O-Town disbanded in 2002, the 21-year-old Angel moved to L.A. to pursue his career as a solo artist, writing songs until he had enough to present to various producers. The experience of being in O-Town afforded Angel the luxury of being able to choose who he wanted to work with, finally deciding on Blackground Records and Da' Family Entertainment, with whom he officially signed a contract in 2004. Around the same time, during the height of reality television's popularity, MTV approached Angel with the idea of filming his efforts to reenter the music world in a show entitled There and Back: Ashley Parker Angel. He agreed, and the program, which began in January 2006, documented his struggles as he tried to secure a record deal, brush up on his performing sk**s, and try to support his family. That same year, shortly after the season finale, Angel's debut solo album, Soundtrack to Your Life (whose title track he co-wrote with the Matrix for his son, Lyric), was released. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide