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 a 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. Harvey was seen as an outspoken R&B badboy, whilst
Mortimer was a highly spiritual though sexual rapper, and writer. 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 an 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.
Harvey appearing in I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!,
2004.
He previously dated actress Danniella
Westbrook and was married to dancer Natasha Carnegie with whom he has a
daughter, Tegan. His most recent relationship with model Emma
B ended earlier this year.
On 12 December 2001, he was attacked in a club car park by a
group of youths in Nottingham and hit in the head with a machete. The
attack was serious but not fatal, and was one of a series of events
that have earned Harvey a reputation for being one of the luckiest
figures in pop.
In May 2005, after being diagnosed with clinical
depression, Harvey apparently took an overdose of sleeping
tablets and was hospitalised. 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 Brian's attempts to rekindle his music
career, and recovery from his accident, was aired on BBC Television
on the 13
December 2005.
On 17
March 2007,
Brian 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. Brian was
eliminated after the first voting and the eventual winners were Scooch. Brian and
fellow contestant Justin Hawkins have made
accusations against winners Scooch that they where lip syncing their
song. Brian also claims that Scooch had singers in backstage that did
all the singing.
In a further controversial twist to Harveys' career, on June
9th a charge was formally registered against him for apparent sexual
misconduct while being treated in greater Walthamstow general hospital.
Harvey's well publicised high-profile failures and episodes of
bad luck or misfortune has gained him the status of a tabloid-darling.
Nevertheless, Harvey still attempts to rekindle his ailing career with
a series of unsuccessful re-launches and gimmicks. Harvey is rumoured
to be writing a new solo album, Keytronic, due to release late 2007.
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)
- Keytronic (2007)
External links
