Anthony Michael Mortimer (born 21 October 1970) is a British singer, songwriter and record producer from London. He is a former member of the boy band East 17, who were originally active from 1991 to 1997 and sold over 20 million records worldwide. Mortimer wrote most of the band's songs, including their only number-one single, "Stay Another Day".
Career
Mortimer was a member of the 1990s boy band East 17,[1] and was the band's primary songwriter. With East 17, Mortimer had seven top-ten singles and four hit albums on the UK singles chart and UK Albums Chart, respectively, between 1992 and 1997. He turned to songwriting[clarification needed] when the group disbanded in 1997, due to negative media coverage after fellow member Brian Harvey said that he had taken twelve ecstasy tablets in one night.[1] In 1998, Mortimer's East 17 bandmates briefly re-formed the group without him, and released two singles as E-17. They disbanded again the following year.[2]
During his time in East 17, Mortimer wrote the Childliners "The Gift of Christmas"[3] which was a charity single featuring other popular chart acts at the time such as MN8, Backstreet Boys, Peter Andre, Boyzone and Dannii Minogue among others. Mortimer has continued as a record producer since 1997, from his studio in Essex,[1] as well as recording his own songs including the single "N Toxyc 8".
Mortimer has also managed bands, including girl group Urban Angel, whose members included Roxanne Pallett, who wrote some of the group's songs. The band broke up after Pallett won a role in ITV soap opera Emmerdale.[4] In December 2012, Mortimer appeared as a panellist on Channel 5 show The Wright Stuff and again in June 2013. on 17 June 2013 he released his debut solo album Songs from the Suitcase.[5] In early 2014, Mortimer departed from East 17 to focus more on his solo career. In December 2019, Mortimer released a re-recorded version of "Stay Another Day" with the Waltham Forest Youth Choir, to raise money for mental health charity CALM.[6]
Personal life
Mortimer has two daughters with his partner Tracey. The award-winning lyrics of his song, "Stay Another Day", were inspired by the death of his brother, Ollie, by suicide. [7] In October 2000, Mortimer was chosen as one of four pall bearers at the funeral of gangster Reggie Kray.[8][9][10] Mortimer once collaborated with the Kray twin, when he got JJ Gilmour to record a poem Kray had written while in prison. The song has never been released, but Tony still has the tape at his home.[9]
