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Donnie Wahlberg Pays Visit to the Man That Started NKOTB, Maurice Starr

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Donnie Wahlberg with Maurice Starr 2019

There is one man responsible for the breakout group, New Kids on the Block. That man is Maurice Starr.

As it appears, Maurice Starr has been having some health challenges, so the New Kids paid him a visit last month. In the 1980’s, Wahlberg came in contact with Starr, the man that started it all. After he heard Donnie sing and rap, he knew this kid had something special.

Maurice Starr with NKOTB Hollywood Walk of Fame
New Kids on the Block members Jordan Knight, Danny Wood, Donnie Wahlberg, Jonathan Knight and Joey McIntyre pose with the group’s creator Maurice Starr (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Getting emotional, Wahlberg has nothing but love for this man, saying, “It would be very hard to fully explain the impact this man has had on my life — on so many of our lives — beyond the success that he helped me to find professionally. I can only say that if every kid on earth had someone to believe in them, the way that this man genuinely believed in (and fought for) me, the world would have nothing but love.

Donnie Wahlberg with Maurice Starr 2019
Donnie Wahlberg with Maurice Starr who started NKOTB

Let’s Recap

In an interview from 1990, Maurice talks about how and why he chose the boys of NKOTB. He liked Jordan’s shy personality and how he was able to hit all those high notes. He loved Danny’s interest in the inner workings of the studio, and much mre. Watch him talk in the video below:

Jordan Knight Gets Emotional

The guys of NKOTB cannot forget how Maurice trained them and started them off at the Apollo Theater. They were a young group of guys trying to please their audience, and they succeeded beyond anyone’s imagination.

30 years later, the guys returned to the famed theater for the 30th anniversary of ‘Hangin’ Tough.’ One band member, Jordan Knight got emotional as he spoke about Starr rescuing them “from the streets.” Knight’s brother Jonathan walked over to console his younger brother.

Watch the moving clip below.

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