Group Bio

How high can you jump? Guaranteed, the talented teens of Jump5 have got you beat. Singers, dancers, and role models, the members of Jump5 exemplify the very best of their generation. The music of the Nashville-based group is thoroughly modern pop, high-spirited and 100% fun. Their peers across the country already got the message with Jump5's 2001 Sparrow Records album debut. Now, with their latest single “All I Can Do” and upcoming second album ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, Jump5 is poised to step into an even brighter spotlight for all the world to see.

Working with producer Mark Hammond, Jump5 has taken a quantum leap forward with the new album. “It’s more mature than the last one,” says Brittany with her customary enthusiasm, “but still has tons of energy.” Luckily, these kids have energy to spare. They’ll need it for their extensive U.S. summer 2002 tour. This time, Jump5 shares the bill with the likes of Aaron Carter, A*Teens and Baha Men in their highest-profile itinerary to date. Add to that the new single being included on a CD given away with 3 million McDonald’s Mighty Kids Meals this summer, and Jump5 is just inches away from household-name status.

While all this acclaim may seem overwhelming for five people barely old enough to drive, these are not your typical teenagers. All began dancing and singing early on (try pre-kindergarten!), and with the loving support of their families, nothing has stood in the way of their success. The Jump5 story begins when then-two-year-old Brittany Hargest and four-year-old brother Brandon met four-year-old Lesley Moore at dance class. In time, they were joined by Libby Hodges and Chris Fedun on the talent show and recital circuit. Having formed fast friendships, it was only natural that the talented teens of Jump5 would create a group of their own. Only this would be one teen group with a twist.

“All along,” recalls Brandon, “we wanted to do more than just entertain people; we wanted to help them too.” That commitment to positive values has separated Jump5 from other teen groups, too many of whom mimic the inappropriate sexuality of older artists. “Kids are exposed to so much that’s bad,” says Libby. “Many artists dress too provocatively, exposing themselves just to get attention. Too few out there have a positive message like ours. But kids and parents appreciate what we do.”

So much so, the group quickly expanded, taking their upbeat message to schools, malls, concert halls, and amphitheaters. Earlier this year, they were welcomed into the White House when President and Mrs. Bush hosted a night of music. “We never get nervous normally, but we did that time,” laughs Chris. “After our performance, we got to talk with the President and have our pictures taken with him.”

The demands of constant rehearsal, recording, and performing means the kids receive home schooling together. But that’s just fine with the five student body members at Jump5 High. Says Libby, “Our teacher is awesome, but she is hard.” Adds Lesley,” I went to public school for most of my life, so this is a major change. But I’m having so much fun, and so is everyone else in the group.”

Of course, Jump5 wouldn’t have made it this far if the members didn’t feel a genuine mutual affection. “We love each other to death,” says Brittany. “We really are best friends.” Being on the road so much has only brought them closer, as they rely on their friendship to carry them through. However, Brandon admits there are some things to get used to as they travel the country. “Chris and I are pretty neat, but on the bus it’s the girls that make a mess.”

That’s probably the deepest dish you’ll get out of Jump5. This group is simply about making people happy, which these days counts for a lot. “We love what we do,” says Libby, “but we don’t let it go to our heads and we don’t take it too seriously.” Someday they hope to expand their artistic horizons. Writing and producing records, appearing in film and television, nothing seems beyond their eventual reach. Yet if you ask them, the members of Jump5 are less concerned about their own glory, and more focused on the audiences they touch. Says Brandon, “We’re kids trying to help other kids.”

The months ahead will likely prove the busiest of their lives. They not only have the new album, single and tour, but they will also be featured prominently on Disney’s release this fall on the DVD of the animated classic “Beauty and the Beast.” The group has newly re-recorded the title track, made famous in the early 90's by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson. The song, along with a stunning video version, are both included on the Disney DVD package, introducing the masterpiece to a new generation of viewers.

But Jump5 is ready for anything. As Libby says, “Whatever you want to be in life, you can do it if you live your dreams. There are always new opportunities coming.” That’s a life lesson the members of Jump5 have already learned well. Who’s next?

Brandon Hargest
Birthday: March 17, 1987
Favorite color: red
Favorite ice cream flavor: mint chocolate chip
Travel companions: "My sister. I love having family with me."
Hidden talent: "I can wiggle my ears and make my hair look like a wig."
Bad habits: "My worst habit is not paying attention to things around me all the time. The others tease me because I will ask a question after it has already been answered."
Musical role models: 'N SYNC
Training: vocal lessons, piano lessons, guitar lessons, gymnastics and tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop dancing
Watching his lil' sis light up the stage was all Brandon needed to jump into the limelight himself. "My mom and I had to take her to class," he remembers, "So I decided to try it too." Unleashing a natural talent, he quickly followed in her footsteps landing music videos, a gig at Opryland USA and television commercials-including a memorable spot for Garth Brooks' 1998 Double Live CD. "Garth gave me a baseball bat that the Pittsburgh Pirates autographed for him," Brandon recalls. "It was so cool." What wasn't so cool was the feeling he got immediately after JUMP5 signed with Sparrow Records and his voice started to change. "I knew it was going to change, but didn't know how it would turn out," he says. "I can hit more low notes now." When he's not performing, this shy guy can be found with a Nintendo controller between his fingers ("I love video games," he smiles.) or with his face buried in a book. "He's the brainiac," Brittany reveals. "And he's more sensitive and shy than the rest of the group.

Lesley Moore
Birthday: October 15, 1986
Favorite color: orange
Favorite ice cream flavor: chocolate chip cookie dough
Travel companions: "I wear a gold necklace my dad gave me before he died. I also take a stuffed chick named Puff everywhere I go."
Hidden talent: "I can make myself burp."
Bad habits: "My worst habit is slouching over. My dance teacher makes me wear a hanger over my shoulders to hold them back."
Musical role models: Destiny's Child 
Training: vocal lessons, cheerleading, basketball, gymnastics and ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop dancing
Talk about being driven. Diagnosed with Osgood-Schlatter in her knee-a condition in which the ligament attaching to knee becomes partially detached-she just shrugged it off and continued competing. "I had to wear a brace while I was dancing," remembers Lesley, who took to the dance floor at age 4. "My knees hurt, but I just grinned and beared it." Later, doctors found an extra bone in her foot-and she wouldn't let them remove it. "They wanted to, but it would take too long to recover," she explains. Lesley, who started singing at age 8 and has appeared in commercials and music videos, gets her I-can-do-anything attitude from her mom, who raised her as a single mother after her father died when she was 3. "I want us to be a big success, so I think I push myself really hard sometimes," says the former cheerleader. But even focusing on bettering herself doesn't distract her from her groupmates. "She is so sweet and unselfish," Libby describes. "She is always there for you."

Libby Hodges
Birthday: April 2, 1987
Favorite color: periwinkle
Favorite ice cream flavor: chocolate chip cookie dough
Travel companions: "I carry pictures of my younger sister's drawings."
Hidden talent: "I can unwrap a Starburst wrapper in my mouth with my tongue!"
Bad habits: "I am the late one."
Musical role models: Destiny's Child
Training: vocal lessons, piano, gymnastics and jazz, tap, ballet and hip hop dancing
Libby can't even remember how old she was when she started singing. "I guess when I began to talk," she laughs. "I was obsessed with Gloria Estefan, and I would always sing along-even if I wasn't on tune." But there is one thing she will never forget: when her parents got her a dance teacher at age 5. "When I was singing, I always tried to move to the music, and my mom and dad were like, 'We've got to get this girl some lessons," she smiles. Following in her mother's footsteps (she sings and acts), this exceptional singer has been belting ballads in the studio since she was 4. She recorded her own self-titled CD when she was in the third grade and has a slew of commercials under her belt. Onstage and off, Libby's groupmates look up to her. "Libby doesn't care what anyone thinks about her," Brittany reveals. "If she wants to do something, she'll do it." And one thing she definitely doesn't want to do right now is date. "I don't plan on it for a while," she says. "I like just having tons of guy friends instead, because you can be close to whomever you want."

Britanny Hargest
Birthday: August 2, 1988
Favorite color: lavender
Favorite ice cream flavor: chocolate chip cookie dough
Travel companions: "I wear a ring my dad gave me, and take my lollipop ring to remind me of home."
Hidden talent: "I can hang a spoon off my nose, and my arms are double jointed."
Bad habits: "Burping and being loud."
Musical role models: Jessica Simpson & Destiny's Child
Training: vocal lessons, piano lessons, guitar lessons, gymnastics and ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop dancing.
Ironically, this natural talent wasn't really into music growing up. "I loved singing myself, but wasn't a huge fan of music," she explains. Instead, her passion was dancing and acting. Almost immediately after starting dance lessons at age 3, she was doing commercials and strutting her stuff in music videos. "Performing gives me a rush," she says. "It creates this huge amount of energy." Brittany took up singing lessons at age 5, and a year later landed a part in the A Country Christmas at the star-launching theme park Opryland USA, where she affectionately became know as "Injury Girl." "Something happened to me during almost every show," she laughs. "I fell in the pit, got hit by balls on stage, got knocked off a barrel I was standing on-you name it." Believe it or not, she's not embarrassed about any of it. Ask her group-mates and they'll tell you this energetic entertainer is the member most likely to make a scene. "She will do anything to get attention," Libby laughs. "And she's not embarrassed by anything.