Brian Lee Harvey is an English musician. Harvey was the lead singer of pop band East 17, later renamed E-17. E-17 had two UK Top 20 singles between 1998 and 1999 with the album Resurrection reaching the UK Top 50. After E-17 Harvey signed a record deal with Edel Records and had two singles released in 2001, "Straight Up " and "Loving You ".
Career
Harvey was born in Walthamstow, London. He was initially being considered as a backing singer and dancer for East 17, however during the initial recording session recording staff heard him singing along, and as a result he was made 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. In 1997 Harvey was sacked from the band after making comments in a radio interview that appeared to condone the use of the drugecstasy, causing an uproar in the press and the matter being raised in Parliament. Mortimer left East 17 several months later. Harvey eventually rejoined the band under the rebranded name of E-17. As E-17, the band had two UK Top 20 singles between 1998 and 1999 with the album Resurrection reaching the UKTop 50. In 2000, he collaborated with True Steppers with the song "True Step Tonight" featuring Donell Jones that reached no. 26 in the UK. After E-17, he signed a record deal with Edel Records and had two singles released in 2001, "Straight Up " and "Loving You ". In 2004, he appeared on the ITV1 programme I'm a Celebrity...Get Me of Here!, but left early after Janet Street-Porter criticised his flatulence. It was also rumoured that his grandmother died when he was travelling to appear on the show. On 17 March 2007, Harvey performed a song entitled "I Can" for , 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. In 2014, he released a new single, "Invisible". In 2019, Harvey was making music with rapper Cryptik Soul. He was featured in the songs "A Ghetto Luv Story" and "Bang 'Em Up" on Cryptik Soul's album Killer's Blood. The album was supported by the singles "Come & Save Me" and "Bang 'Em Up".
Personal life
Harvey dated EastEnders actress Danniella Westbrook from 1991 to 1995. Harvey was married to dancer Natasha Carnegie with whom he has a daughter named Teigan. On 12 December 2001 he required reconstructive surgery after being attacked with a knife in a club car park in Nottingham. In May 2005, after being diagnosed with clinical depression, Harvey was hospitalised after an alleged suicide attempt. On 31 May 2005, he was re-admitted to hospital in a critical condition after falling under the wheels of his car. 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.
