Joanne Valda O'Meara (born 29 April 1979) is an English singer, songwriter, actress and television personality. She was a member of the pop group S Club between 1999 and 2003, which has currently reformed since 2023.[1][2]
At age 16, O'Meara joined the earliest incarnation of girl group Solid HarmoniE and flew out to Sweden to work with record producer Max Martin. She'd move to Essex and performed open mic nights until she was spotted by the S Club 7 team in a country and western bar.[5] Prior O'Meara was also a member of a German rap/hip hop group 2-4 Family which was formed in 1998.
The group rose to public prominence by appearing in their own BBC television series, Miami 7, in 1999. Over the five years they were together, S Club 7 had four UK No.1 singles, one UK No.1 album, a string of hits throughout Europe, including a top-ten single in the United States, Asia, Latin America and Africa. They recorded a total of four studio albums, released eleven singles and went on to sell over fourteen million albums worldwide. Their first album, S Club, had a strong 1990s pop sound, similar to many artists of their time. However, through the course of their career, their musical approach changed to a more dance and R&B sound which is heard mostly in their final album, Seeing Double.
The concept and brand of the group was created by Simon Fuller, also their manager through 19 Entertainment; they were signed to Polydor Records. Their television series went on to last four series, seeing the group travel across the United States and eventually ending up in Barcelona, Spain. It became popular in 100 different countries where the show was watched by over 90 million viewers.[6] The show, which was a children's sitcom, often mirrored real life events which had occurred in S Club, including the relationship of Hannah Spearritt and Paul Cattermole, as well as the latter's eventual departure from the group. As well as the popularity of their television series, S Club 7 won two Brit Awards—in 2000 for British breakthrough act and in 2002, for best British single. In 2001, the group earned the Record of Year. S Club's second last single reached number-five in the UK charts and their final studio album failed to make the top ten. However, on 21 April 2003, during a live onstage performance, S Club announced that they were to disband.[7]
2004–2007: Relentless and reality shows
In 2004, O'Meara signed with Simon Fuller as her artist manager and began recording her debut solo album, planned to be released between September and December.[8] The album would be focused on R&B sound, with Fuller describing O'Meara as "the next Christina Aguilera".[8] In December 2004, Fuller dropped O'Meara when they failed to sign with Polydor Records and had creative conflicts – he proposed that she record music from famous songwriters as Xenomania, but she wanted an authorial album.[8] In 2005, O'Meara returned to studio as an independent artist to record a new material, focused on pop rock style and produced by Richard Carpenter, and recorded songs like "Taxi Cab", "Lovely" or "Don't Wanna Let You Down".[8][9]
In July 2005, O'Meara signed with Sanctuary Records and on 26 September was released her debut solo single, "What Hurts the Most", a version of Mark Wills's 2003 song. The song peaked at number 13 on the United Kingdom and 26 in Ireland.[10] On 3 October she released her debut album, Relentless; the album peaked at number 48 in UK and was described by music critics as "polished", "well constructed" and "better than other former boy/girl band" albums and O'Meara's Voice as "strong".[11][12] In November, Sanctuary planned to release "Relentless" as the second single, but O'Meara decided to leave the label.[13]
In November 2008, O'Meara, Bradley McIntosh, and Paul Cattermole formed the spin-off group S Club 3 and had been performing in nightclubs, universities and Butlins holiday camps around the United Kingdom.[15] On 12 November 2008 a bottle was thrown during their performance in Bradford. It struck O'Meara, leaving her with a cut to the head requiring hospital treatment. A 20-year-old man was arrested and it was suggested the attack was linked to her Celebrity Big Brother appearance where she was accused of racially aggravated bullying.[16][3]
O'Meara featured in a cover of the Python Lee Jackson song "In a Broken Dream" on The Popes' 2012 album New Church, her first released recording in seven years. She also appeared on stage with them performing the song. In November 2014, all seven original S Club 7 members reunited to perform a medley of some of their greatest hits on BBC Children In Need. They performed a reunion tour, Bring It All Back 2015, in May 2015.
Following the S Club reunion Jo continued to tour with Tina Barrett and Bradley McIntosh performing as S Club 3.[17] In 2017, the trio released a single titled "Family" for charity but failed to chart in the UK.[18]
In August 2020, O'Meara announced that she would no longer be performing as S Club 3 to focus on her upcoming second studio album.[19] She was replaced by former S Club 8 member Stacey Franks, with the group renamed as "S Club Allstars".[20]
2021–present: Solo career return and second S Club reunion
In April and May 2021, O'Meara released unplugged renditions of "Don't Stop Movin'" and "Relentless," respectively. Those songs would go on to be included in her second album, With Love, was released on 27 August 2021, and featured twelve tracks.[21]
In 2022, O'Meara signed a new management deal with Saga Entertainment with Jack Corbyn as her personal manager. This year also saw O'Meara taking to the stage at the London Palladium after releasing a cover of Radiohead classic "Creep".[22][23]
On 13 February 2023, it was announced that S Club were to reunite for a second time for a new arena tour in October, to mark the 25th anniversary since their original formation. The tour would consist of 10 shows in the UK and one in Ireland, before moving on to Canada and the US in 2024.[25]
Personal life
In 2008, O'Meara gave birth to her son, after separating from her partner Bill Slate.[26]
Discography
Studio albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
^"S Club to Split". NME. 23 April 2003. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 13 October 2008. Rumours of an impending split have dogged the band since member Paul Cattermole left S Club 7 last year, and recently when lead singer Jo O'Meara revealed she had a debilitating back condition.
^"Big Brother accused of racism". The Guardian. London. 16 January 2007. Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2008. Over the weekend, former beauty queen Lloyd and O'Meara, ex-lead singer of S Club 7, poked fun at Shetty's accent.
^Michelle Archard and Deanne Blaylock (11 January 2007). "Essex girls battle it out in Celebrity Big Brother". Essex Chronicle. Essex Chronicle Series Ltd. p. 27. Jo, 27, was born in Romford and grew up in Collier Row. She attended Clockhouse Junior School and Bower Park School in Havering North Road.
