East 17
Biography
With the notable exception of Take That, East 17 were the most successful teen-oriented dance-pop band in Britain of the early '90s. Led by songwriter Tony Mortimer, the group initially tried to emulate American rap and hip-hop, before settling down into a commercial fusion of new jack R&B, hip-hop beats, rap, and pop melodies. The stylish, accessible blend of dance music, plus the group's boyish good looks, made East 17 into a teen pop sensation. Occasionally, the band achieved some credibility from dance circles when they convinced remixers to reshape their infectious singles, but for the most part, East 17 was a decidedly adolescent -- and decidedly British -- phenomenon, scoring a number of hit singles during the early and mid-'90s, before Brit-pop captured the attention of the majority of British teens.
Comprised of four vocalists/rappers -- Tony Mortimer (born Anthony Michael Mortimer, October 21, 1970), Brian Harvey (born Brian Lee Harvey, August 8, 1974), Terry Coldwell (born Terence Mark Colwell, July 21, 1974), and John Hendy (born Jonathan Darren Hendy, March 26, 1971) -- East 17 were formed in London in the early '90s. Taking their name from their local London postal code in Walthamstow, the group began their musical career by imitating American rap outfits, eventually finding inspiration from urban soul and dance music as well.
Selected Discography
Portions of content provided by All Music Guide © 2006 All Media Guide, LLC.