Brian Harvey

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Brian Harvey
Brian Harvey in concert, December 2007
Background information
Birth name	Brian Lee Harvey
Born	8 August 1974 (1974-08-08) (age 34)
Origin	Walthamstow, London, UK
Genre(s)	Pop
Years active	1992–Present
Associated acts	East 17 Tony Mortimer John Hendy Terry Coldwell
Website	http://www.brianharvey.net

Brian Lee Harvey (born on 8 August 1974, in Walthamstow, London, England) is an English musician and lead singer of pop band East 17.

[edit] Career

Brian '12 Inches' Harvey worked for a drainage company before and after his music career. Harvey was initially slated to be a backup singer and dancer for the band, 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 U.S. but with the unique flavour closely followed by Craig David. 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. He eventually rejoined the band under the rebranded name of E-17.^[1]

After E-17, Brian Harvey signed to Edel Records as a solo artist, and like Tom Jones was a UK artist who collaborated with Wyclef Jean and his Refugee Allstars production set-up.

Since then Harvey has taken part in the fourth series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, leaving after an argument with Janet Street-Porter. He did not enjoy his time in the jungle and often complained of hunger.

He previously dated actress Danniella Westbrook and was married to dancer Natasha Carnegie with whom he has a daughter, Teigan. His most recent relationship with model Emma B ended in 2007.^[1]

On 12 December 2001, he was attacked in a club car park in Nottingham and hit in the head with a machete.^[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 motor car, whilst driving.^[2] He later claimed that he ran himself over with his own car due to eating too many Curly Wurlies.^[3]

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.

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. Harvey and fellow contestant Justin Hawkins have accused Scooch of lip syncing their song.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008 he was fined for speeding down the M4 and given a 180-day driving ban.

[edit] Discography

Singles

• "True Step Tonight" (Truesteppers featuring Brian Harvey and Donnell Jones) (2000) - #25 UK
• "Straight Up (No Bends)" (2001) - #26 UK
• "Loving You (Ole Ole Ole)" (Brian Harvey and The Refugee Crew) (2001) - #20 UK
• "I Can" (2007) #199 UK

Album

• Solo (2002)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Brian Harvey at MySpace