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Brian Harvey
Brian Harvey in concert, December 2007
Brian Harvey in concert, December 2007
Background information
Birth nameBrian Lee Harvey
Born (1974-08-08) 8 August 1974 (age 50)
OriginWalthamstow, London, England
GenresPop, r&b
Years active1992–present

Brian Lee Harvey (born 8 August 1974) is an English musician and was the lead singer of pop band East 17.

Harvey was born in Walthamstow, London, and attended Sir George Monoux School from 1988–90.

Career

Harvey was initially slated to be a backup singer and dancer for East 17, but during the initial recording session he was heard singing along by the recording staff and was promptly instated as the lead singer of the band.

Harvey's vocal style emulated R&B and new jack swing vocalists from the United States His vocals put him into a position of the band's frontman, or main member, which was shared with the band's creator, songwriter, instrumentalist, rapper and singer Tony Mortimer.

Throughout the course of the band's career the two leads had many disagreements, from how to vocalise songs to their behaviour in public. This tore the band between spiritual pop/hip-hop (Mortimer's writing influence) and R&B (the other band members) which would eventually lead to Mortimer leaving the band and Harvey becoming the only lead singer.

Harvey was sacked from the band after making comments in a radio interview that appeared to condone the use of the drug ecstasy. Mortimer left East 17 several months later. He eventually rejoined the band under the rebranded name of E-17.[1]

As E-17 the band had 2 UK Top 20 singles between 1998 to 1999 and the album Resurrection reaching the UK Top 50.

In 2000 he collaborated with True Steppers with the song True Step Tonight featuring Donnell Jones that reached No. 26 UK.

After E-17, he signed a record deal with Edel Records and had 2 singles released in 2001 Straight Up (No Bends) No. 26 UK and Loving You (Ole Ole Ole) No. 20 UK.

In 2004 he appeared on ITV1 programme I'm a Celebrity...Get Me of Here! in Australia but left as his grandmother died when he was travelling to appear on the show.

On 17 March 2007, Harvey performed a song entitled "I Can" for Making Your Mind Up, the UK's national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. The song was written by singer Conner Reeves. Harvey was eliminated after the first round of voting and the eventual winners were Scooch.[2]

Personal life

He was married to dancer Tash Carnegie with whom he has a daughter, Teigan Harvey. During the early 1990s, he was in a relationship with the EastEnders actress Danniella Westbrook.[1]

On 12 December 2001, he required reconstructive surgery after being attacked with a knife in a club car park in Nottingham.[1]

In May 2005, after being diagnosed with clinical depression, Harvey was hospitalised after an alleged suicide attempt.[1] On 31 May 2005, he was readmitted to hospital in a critical condition after falling under the wheels of his Mercedes-Benz after eating three jacket potatoes with tuna and cheese.[3][4][5] A documentary about Harvey's attempts to rekindle his music career, and recovery from his accident, was aired on BBC Television on 13 December 2005.

In August 2011, Harvey posted a video online of enforcement officers and police forcing the installation of a pre-pay electricity meter at his residence. According to the video, Southern Electric had taken the action after he failed to pay outstanding electricity charges.[6]

Discography

Singles

Albums

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Life of troubled pop star Harvey". bbc.co.uk. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  2. ^ Brian-harvey.net
  3. ^ "Harvey blames potato feast for freak accident".
  4. ^ "Singer wakes briefly after crash". bbc.co.uk. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  5. ^ "Singer Harvey hopes to walk again". BBC News. 8 August 2005. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
  6. ^ http://www.bitterwallet.com/brian-harvey-turns-filmmaker-as-southern-electric-give-him-a-pre-paid-meter/48321
  7. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 568. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  8. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 245. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
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