People in Boston thought that producer/entrepreneur Maurice Starr was crazy when he announced that his new group, with five R&B-inspired white kids, would be the next big thing. But he pulled it off and then some: The first New Kids on the Block album may have flopped, but 1988's Hangin' Tough was a sensation, fueled by the group's charisma and Starr's canny writing and production. For the next few years the kids from Dorchester ruled the charts, ultimately selling 80 million records. After breaking from Starr they split up in 1995, but launched a successful long-term reunion in 2008.