P.Y.T. (band)
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Defunct | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Tampa, Florida , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
P.Y.T. was a female vocal ensemble originating from Florida, established in 1998 and ceasing activities in 2002.
Throughout their career, they supported prominent artists such as 'N Sync, Britney Spears, Destiny's Child, and 98 Degrees on tour, and appeared in the 2001 Super Bowl pre-game event. Their tracks were included in motion pictures like Center Stage, Miss Congeniality, and Bring it On, as well as the television drama Guiding Light. Their first album, titled PYT (Down with Me), was eventually released in mid-2001 following postponements.
Formation
The group P.Y.T. originated from four friends—Ashley Niven, Lauren Mayhew, Lydia Bell, and Tracy Williams—who grew up together in Tampa. Their early performances took place at Tampa Bay's Entertainment Revue connected to Busch Gardens. Initially called Glory, they aimed to participate in a Teen People magazine competition; however, their demo attracted the interest of Epic Records executive Dave McPherson, leading to a contract in 1999. The name P.Y.T. was adopted from the Michael Jackson track "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)", though the acronym also stood for "Prove Yourself True" at times. Vocally, Williams performed alto and lower harmony parts, Mayhew and Niven sang mezzo-soprano melodies, Bell contributed soprano harmonies, with Niven taking lead vocals on the album's songs.
Career
Their debut single, a ballad titled "Something More Beautiful," was released in 1999. In 2000, they followed with "Down With Me," an R&B-influenced track predominantly featuring Ashley Niven’s voice. Although not officially credited, members of P.Y.T. appeared as acquaintances of Mandy Moore in her "Candy" music video. To support their singles and forthcoming album, they toured alongside *NSYNC and Britney Spears. The year 2001 saw the release of "Same Ol' Same Ol'," complemented by a remix video that premiered on Nickelodeon. P.Y.T. continued touring with acts like 98 Degrees and Destiny's Child before launching their debut album PYT (Down With Me) in August 2001. Soon after this release, Epic Records ended their contract; after seeking new label partnerships, the group ultimately disbanded.
Post-breakup, Lauren Mayhew and Lydia Bell created another ensemble named Turning Point, which dissolved despite expanding its lineup. Mayhew pursued a career in acting and television hosting, including work on Real Access, a teen-focused version of Access Hollywood aired on The N network. Her acting credits include appearances on series like Joan of Arcadia and American Dreams, as well as roles in films such as Raise Your Voice alongside Hilary Duff and American Pie: Band Camp. Additionally, she served as a Ring Announcer for WWE’s ECW brand. Tracy Williams went on to establish the female trio UC3, performing nationally and entertaining U.S. military personnel abroad.
In 2006, unreleased tracks originally by P.Y.T. were re-recorded by the girl group Huckapoo.
Discography
Studio albums
- PYT (Down with Me) (June 19, 2001)
Singles
- "Something More Beautiful" (1999)
- "PYT (Down with Me)" (2000)
- "Same Ol' Same Ol'" (remix) featuring Sarai (2001)
Soundtracks
- "We’re Dancing" and "A Girl Can Dream" featured in Center Stage (2000)
- "Anywhere USA" included in both Bring It On and Miss Congeniality soundtracks (2000)
- "Same Ol' Same Ol'" featured in the video game Project Gotham Racing (2001)