The Overtones

A five-part vocal harmony group that brought back classic 1950s pop, The Overtones were dubbed the "Take That of doo-wop", performed for The Queen at her Diamond Jubilee, and played at Hyde Park as part of the London Olympic celebrations. Timmy Matley, Mike Crawshaw, Mark Franks and Darren Everest were individually struggling away on London's music circuit before joining together as Lexi Joe and auditioning for X Factor in 2009 where they narrowly missed out on the last 24. Timmy Matley recruited Australian baritone Lachie Chapman after overhearing his deep, booming voice while working in a department store and they opened a painting and decorating business together. Their big break came when they were discovered by a Warner Music A&R man, who spotted them rehearsing in their overalls on a tea break. Their debut album Good Ol' Fashioned Love (2010) shot to Number 5 in the UK and featured classic doo-wop standards “Blue Moon”, “Goodnight Sweetheart”, and “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” alongside self-penned single “Gambling Man”, before the group headed out on tour with Peter Andre. Follow-ups Higher (2012) and Saturday Night at the Movies (2013) also made the Top 10 as the band mixed vintage big band razzamatazz with the modern boyband pop. 2015’s Sweet Soul Music was their fourth straight to 10 album, and though the next three would fail to reach that mark, 2015’s Good Ol’ Fashioned Christmas, 2018’s The Overtones, and 2021’s 10 all cracked the top 30.