Brian Harvey

Brian Harvey (born Brian Lee Harvey, August 8, 1974, Walthamstow, London, The United Kingdom) is an English musician and lead singer of pop band East 17. 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 U.S. but with a 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. 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. 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. On 12 December 2001, he was attacked in a club car park in Nottingham and hit in the head with a machete. In May 2005, after being diagnosed with clinical depression, Harvey was hospitalised after an alleged suicide attempt. 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. 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.