The Overtones
The Overtones are a UK based vocal harmony group. They were discovered by a Warner Bros. Records' talent scout while working as decorators in a shop near Oxford Street, singing during their tea break. Their first album, Good Ol' Fashioned Love, entered the UK Albums Chart at #16 in November 2010. After its re-release in March 2011, it reached #4. More than 500,000 copies of their first album have been sold.
History
The members were originally in a band called DYYCE, which then reformed as Lexi Joe, which formed the basis of The Overtones. With four members originally – Mark Franks, Mike Crawshaw, Darren Everest and Timmy Matley – the band had been performing for several years. The four all shared an interest in the doo-wop genre of the 1950s mixed with R&B and modern pop music. Their voices bear a strong resemblance to a 1980s' doo-wop boyband, 14 Karat Soul. After auditioning on The X Factor in 2009, as Lexi Joe, they were rejected from the final 24. Later, they met Lockie Chapman, discovered similar tastes in music and reformed themselves as a five-piece band, under the name of The Overtones. Everest then had the idea of starting a painting and decorating company so that the five could practice together while working. It was while painting a shop near Oxford Street in London that the band was discovered by a talent scout, while singing "The Longest Time". They later signed a 5-album deal with Warner Bros. Records.The first album by The Overtones has a number of original tracks written by the band, including their first single "Gambling Man", the title track "Good Ol' Fashioned Love" and "Carolyn". In 2010, they made a number of high-profile public appearances, supporting Peter Andre on tour, and performing at Stockport's Christmas lights switch-on and at the Abbey Park fireworks display in Leicester. They have made a number of television appearances, including on This Morning.
On 13 March 2011, they were the house band for week 10 on the ITV show Dancing on Ice. On 1 June 2011, they were the house band for the third semi-final on the ITV show Britain's Got More Talent. In November 2011, they performed on The Saturday Night Show when the presenter Brendan O'Connor had to hold up a curtain after a "terrible mishap occurred in the RTÉ studio". The incident, available on YouTube, was nominated for the "Brown Trousers Moment" award at the 2011 Erics.
On 29 September 2012, they appeared in an episode of Red or Black? being part of a round by using a handkerchief in their performance. On 9 December 2012, they appeared as special guest performers in the final episode of series 9 of The Xtra Factor.
In mid-2013, they announced the release date of their third album, Saturday Night at the Movies. It was released on 4 November 2013.
In early 2014, The Overtones went on a UK tour, stopping in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 20 February.
They toured with Sir Cliff Richard in Germany in May 2014.
In November 2014, The Overtones announced the release of their fourth studio album, Sweet Soul Music. It was released on 27 February 2015, with a brief tour commencing in June. Their fifth album and first Christmas album, Good Ol' Fashioned Christmas, was released on 27 November 2015, with a Christmas tour following in the UK.
In 2016, The Overtones toured with the stage show "That's Entertainment", a show featuring music from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Later in 2016, The Overtones announced on their Facebook page that they would be touring from November to December, with their "Christmas with The Overtones Tour". On 21 November 2016, Matley announced via Twitter that he would not be joining the rest of the band on tour, having been diagnosed with skin cancer in September 2016. As he progressed through his treatment, Matley returned for the band's touring commitments in 2017 and the band began recording its sixth studio album.
Matley died on 9 April 2018 from multiple traumatic injuries sustained in a fall from a balcony. The band cancelled most of its touring commitments in order to grieve, before returning to the studio to complete the album as a four-piece. The album, The Overtones, was released on 19 October 2018 on the band's own label GamblingMan Records, including one track with Matley's previously recorded vocals.
On 24 April 2019, Chapman announced that he would be leaving the band to pursue other commitments. His last performance with the group took place at the Isle of Wight on 4 May 2019.
On 30 June 2019, The Overtones announced that Jay James would be joining the group.
Members
Timmy Matley
Timothy Thomas Matley was from Cork, Ireland. He was the lead singer of the band, and sometimes joined the middle harmonies.Matley entered into performing arts at the age of 14, and at 16 years old he travelled to London to audition for a performing arts school. He left Ireland when he was 17, as he did not enjoy college. He went travelling before deciding to get involved with songwriting and singing. In October 2014, he took part in the BBC Great British Sewing Bee for Children In Need, winning the show. Matley was diagnosed with stage three malignant melanoma in 2016. He died in April 2018, aged 36, after falling from an 11th floor balcony in east London.
Mark Franks
Mark Robert Franks comes from Sale, Greater Manchester. He sings the middle harmony sections in their songs.Franks attended the Royal Ballet School from age 11 to 16. He was a professional dancer for 10 years before joining The Overtones. Franks has released some of his 1980s remixes under his "DJ Rescue Rangerz" name on Soundcloud.
Lockie Chapman
Lachlan Alexander Chapman comes from Manly, New South Wales, Australia. He was the bass singer.Chapman left Australia on his 25th birthday and traveled to England in the hope of becoming an actor. In early 2016, Chapman appeared in the Channel 4 comedy series, Crashing.
Chapman announced on 24 April 2019 that he would be leaving the band to pursue other commitments. His last performance with the group was at the Isle of Wight on 4 May 2019.
Chapman started his solo singing career on 2 July 2019 following 3 sell out dates in London.
Mike Crawshaw
Michael Crawshaw comes from Bristol. He sings the middle harmonies.Crawshaw grew up in Bedminster, with his family moving to Kingswood when he was 16. He attended Cheddar Grove School, Bedminster Down Comprehensive School and St Brendans Sixth Form College, where he had his first taste of singing in an amateur production of Jesus Christ Superstar. He performed with operatic societies in Bristol before moving to London to pursue his singing career. His favourite song is "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder.
Darren Everest
Darren Everest comes from Essex. He is the falsetto voice of the band.Everest, a West Ham United supporter, had originally wanted to be a footballer and had played for Leyton Orient and Southend United. After falling ill with glandular fever, he was forced to stop playing for a year and took up singing.
Jay James
Jay James Picton, known professionally as Jay James, is a Welsh Recording Artist, Songwriter & Broadcaster from Saundersfoot in Wales. A former servicemen at 16 he joined the Royal Navy and served for 10 years before leaving the military to purse a career in Music. As a songwriter and recording artist signed to Sony BMG Publishing and Decca Records, Universal. On the 27 August 2012 he released debut album 'Play It By Heart'. The album featured written collaborations with 'Booker T Jones' and'John Legend' and was recorded between New York and Los Angeles with Producers Mike Peden and James Ho 'Malay'. In 2014 James appeared on Series 11 of'The X Factor UK', mentored by Simon Cowell he finished in 8th place. In 2016 James joined the British Forces Broadcasting Service 'BFBS Radio' to host a Network Music & Entertainment Programme 'The Big Show' aired Globally for Armed Forces personnel and their families. He has also worked for Made Television, host of regional Sports and Entertainment programme 'Sportsline' and in 2019 took over presenting the Vodafone Top 40 previously hosted by Marvin Humes on Nation Broadcasting 5 regional stations across wales. 'The Sunday Social with Jay James' was a new programme that featured guests Mark Ronson, Louis Tomlinson, The Stereophonics and Olly Murs. James is a Royal British Legion Ambassador on was the digital host for the Festival of Remembrance in 2018.On Sunday 30 June 2019 in an official announcement Jay James became a member of British Group The Overtones.