In the late 1990s, as the boy band craze swept across the globe, a trio from New Bedford, Massachusetts, emerged with a breezy blend of pop, hip-hop, and R&B that captured the hearts of millions. LFO, short for Lyte Funkie Ones, became a staple of the era’s pop culture, propelled by catchy tunes and boyish charm. Yet, their story is not just one of fame and success but also of profound loss, leaving only one surviving member to carry their legacy forward.
LFO’s origins trace back to 1995, when Rich Cronin and Brad Fischetti, two aspiring musicians from New Bedford, met Brian “Brizz” Gillis. The trio initially aimed to carve out a niche as a rap-influenced pop act, setting themselves apart from the synchronized dance routines and harmonized ballads that defined groups like Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. Their early years were marked by struggle, as they honed their sound under the guidance of controversial manager Lou Pearlman, the figure behind many boy band successes but later infamous for financial misconduct. Pearlman’s influence, while instrumental in their rise, would later cast a shadow over their achievements, particularly for Cronin, who lost publishing rights to some of their biggest hits.
The group’s first single, “Sex U Up (The Way You Like It),” released in 1997, failed to chart, its title perhaps too reminiscent of Color Me Badd’s earlier hit. It wasn’t until 1998, after Gillis left the group and was replaced by Devin Lima, that LFO began to find its footing. Lima, born Harold Lima, brought a fresh energy to the trio, and with his addition, LFO shortened their name from Lyte Funkie Ones to the more streamlined acronym. This lineup—Cronin, Fischetti, and Lima—would become the face of LFO during their peak years, embodying the frosted-tips, Abercrombie & Fitch aesthetic of the Y2K era.
LFO’s breakthrough came in 1999 with the release of “Summer Girls,” a pop laced rap track that became an anthem of the late ‘90s. Peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, the song was a masterclass in nostalgic pop culture references, name-dropping everything from New Kids on the Block to Abercrombie & Fitch. Written by Cronin, “Summer Girls” was both infectious and polarizing, its quirky lyrics and laid-back vibe standing in stark contrast to the polished ballads of their peers. The track’s success was undeniable, selling over 1.5 million copies in the U.S. alone and earning a Billboard Music Award for Top Selling Single of the Year.
The accompanying music video for “Summer Girls” cemented LFO’s place in pop culture, airing relentlessly on MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL) and showcasing the trio’s playful, carefree image. LFO’s self-titled debut album (one of my favourite albums of all time), released in 1999, capitalized on the success of “Summer Girls,” peaking at number 21 on the Billboard 200 and eventually going platinum. The album spawned another Top 10 hit, “Girl on TV,” which reached number 10 on the Hot 100. Inspired by Cronin’s then-girlfriend, actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, the song featured a music video starring Hewitt herself, further boosting its appeal. Unlike “Summer Girls,” “Girl on TV” leaned more into traditional pop territory, showcasing the group’s versatility and Cronin’s knack for penning relatable, romantic lyrics.
The debut album also included a cover of Yvonne Elliman’s “If I Can’t Have You,” which, while not reaching the Top 40, added to their catalog of catchy tunes. LFO’s success during this period was bolstered by high-profile opportunities, such as touring with Britney Spears in 1999, which exposed them to massive audiences and solidified their status as a household name. However, the pressures of fame and the grueling schedule imposed by Pearlman took a toll, with Cronin later revealing he underwent therapy to cope with the loss of his publishing rights and the exploitative nature of their management.
By 2001, the boy band bubble was beginning to burst, and LFO’s sophomore album, Life Is Good, arrived at a challenging time. The album’s lead single, “Every Other Time,” became their third Top 40 hit, peaking at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100, but it lacked the cultural impact of their earlier work. The title track, “Life Is Good,” was released as a promotional single but failed to chart, signaling a decline in their commercial momentum. The album itself struggled to replicate the success of their debut, with lackluster sales reflecting the shifting musical landscape and diminishing interest in boy bands.
In February 2002, LFO announced their hiatus, with Fischetti later admitting that the split was not initially amicable. The members went their separate ways, with Cronin attempting to launch new projects, including a short-lived group called Bad Mood Mike and a stint on VH1’s reality show Mission: Man Band. Lima, meanwhile, explored electronic music, forming a group called The Mack Pack (later Rogue Cherry) and releasing singles in 2014. Fischetti stepped away from the spotlight, eventually becoming a music director at a church in Florida and engaging in anti-abortion activism.
The story of LFO took a tragic turn in 2010 when Rich Cronin, the group’s charismatic leader and primary songwriter, passed away at age 36. Cronin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 2005, undergoing a stem cell transplant and battling the disease for five years. His death marked the beginning of what some have called the “LFO curse,” a term that, while sensationalized, reflects the heartbreaking reality of the group’s losses. Cronin’s passing was a profound blow to fans and bandmates alike, with Fischetti and Lima honoring his memory by reuniting briefly in 2009 for the Malcolm Douglas Tribute tour, during which they supported Cronin through his illness.
The tragedy deepened in 2017 when Devin Lima, who had become the heart of LFO alongside Fischetti, was diagnosed with stage four adrenal cancer, a rare and aggressive disease. The duo had just released their first new song in 15 years, “Perfect 10,” and were planning a tour to revive the LFO name. Lima underwent surgery to remove a football-sized tumor, but the cancer proved too formidable, and he passed away in November 2018 at age 41. Fischetti, devastated by the loss of his “soulmate” in the band, vowed to continue honoring both Cronin and Lima, framing their deaths within his faith as a future reunion in eternal life.
The final blow came in March 2023, when founding member Brian Gillis, who had left the group before their mainstream success, died at age 47 from a heart attack. With Gillis’s passing, Brad Fischetti became the sole surviving member of LFO, a reality that has left him grappling with what he calls an “unfortunate honor.”
Today, Fischetti carries the LFO legacy forward, performing their hits on nostalgia tours alongside other ‘90s acts like O-Town and Ryan Cabrera. His performances are a tribute to Cronin and Lima, whom he remembers not just as bandmates but as brothers. Fischetti’s mission is to “bring a little joy” to fans, reminding them of a “simpler time” before the complexities of adulthood and loss. Yet, his activism, particularly his vocal anti-abortion stance, has sparked controversy, with some fans questioning whether it aligns with the inclusive spirit of LFO’s music, highlighting the challenges of separating an artist’s personal beliefs from their public legacy.
As Brad Fischetti takes the stage alone, backed by the ghosts of his bandmates, LFO’s story serves as both a celebration of their brief, brilliant moment in the spotlight and a sobering reflection on the fragility of life. For fans, the music endures as a time capsule of the late ‘90s, but for Fischetti, it’s a mission to honor the past while navigating an uncertain future. In the end, LFO’s legacy is not just in their hits but in the resilience of the man left to tell their story, ensuring that Rich Cronin, Devin Lima, and Brian Gillis are never forgotten.
Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
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