Jo O'Meara

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Jo O'Meara
O'Meara in 2008
O'Meara in 2008
Background information
Birth nameJoanne Valda O'Meara
Born (1979-04-29) 29 April 1979 (age 42)
Romford, Essex, England
GenresPop
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1996–present
LabelsSanctuary
Associated acts

Joanne Valda "Jo" O'Meara (born 29 April 1979) is an English singer and songwriter. She is best known for being a member of pop group S Club 7 between 1999 and 2003.[1][2] O’Meara later went on to launch a solo career and famously appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2007.

Early life[]

O'Meara was born in Romford,[3] London, to parents Dave and Barbara. She has a brother and sister, Shane and Julie. She grew up in Collier Row, a suburban housing estate in the north of Romford in the London Borough of Havering. She was educated at Clockhouse Junior School and Bower Park School, and excelled in music, singing and dance.[3]

Career[]

1999–2003: S Club 7[]

Main article: S Club 7

The group rose to fame by starring 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.[4] 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 eventual departure from the group of the latter. 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 to 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.[5]

2004–2007: Relentless and reality shows[]

Between 2003 and 2005 O'Meara became addicted to gambling and had some problems with her spine at that time.[citation needed] 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.[6] The album would be focused on R&B sound and Fuller described O'Meara as "the next Christina Aguilera".[6] In December 2004 she split from Fuller when the negotiations with Polydor Records failed and they disagreed over the recorded songs – he proposed that she record music from other composers, but she wanted an album with only songs written by her.[6] She returned to the studio to record a new material, focused on pop rock style and produced by Richard Carpenter, and planned to release as debut single "Taxi Cab", "Lovely" or "Don't Wanna Let You Down", featured Lee Ryan, but failed to sign with a record label and the project was postponed.[6][7]

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.[8] On 3 October she released her debut album, Relentless, produced by Brian Rawling, Graham Stack and Bill Padley.[citation needed] The album peaked at No. 48 in UK and it was described by music critics as "polished", "well constructed" and "better than other ex boy and girl band" albums, citing the O'Meara "strong voice"[9][10] In November the label began planning the second single but executives and O'Meara disagreed over the choice – between "To Ease Your Pain", "Wish I was Over You" or "Relentless" – and she left the label.[11]

In February 2006, O'Meara took part in the BBC reality show Just the Two of Us. Her singing partner was Chris Fountain, actor on the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. The pair came third in the competition, failing to attract enough votes to make the final after their performance of "Never Had a Dream Come True". In January 2007, O'Meara appeared on Celebrity Big Brother. Along with Jade Goody and Danielle Lloyd, O'Meara was accused of racist and bullying behaviour toward fellow contestant Indian actress Shilpa Shetty, resulting in a record number of complaints to Ofcom, national and international media coverage, and condemnatory statements from the British and Indian governments.[12]

2008–2020: S Club 3 and S Club 7 reunion[]

In November 2008, O'Meara, Bradley McIntosh, and Paul Cattermole formed the spin-off group S Club 3 and have been performing in nightclubs, universities and Butlins holiday camps around the United Kingdom.[13] 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.[14]

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 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.[15] In 2017, the trio released a single titled "Family" for charity but failed to chart in the UK. [16]

In August of 2020, O'Meara announced that she would no longer be performing as S Club 3 to focus on her upcoming second studio album. [17]

2021: With Love[]

In April and May 2021, O'Meara released unplugged renditions of "Don't Stop Movin'" and "Relentless," respectively. Her second album, With Love, will release on 27 August 2021.[18]

Personal life[]

O'Meara suffered a back injury in 2002. In January 2008, O'Meara said she was "well on the way to recovery from the aftermath of the Big Brother controversy" and she had rediscovered her passion for rescuing animals and horses.[citation needed] On 12 May 2008, O'Meara gave birth by caesarean section to a 7 lb 15oz boy she named Lenny.[19]

Discography[]

Albums[]

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications
Title Album details Peak
UK
[10]
Relentless 48
With Love
  • Released: 27 August 2021
  • Format: Cassette, CD, digital download
  • Label: Metrophonic
 did not chart

Singles[]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[10] 		IRL
[20] 		UKR
[21]
"What Hurts the Most" 2005 13 26 19 Relentless
"On the Surface"[18] 2021 — — — With Love
"Sweet Surrender" — — —

Promotional singles[]

Year Single Album
2021 "Don't Stop Movin' (unplugged)" With Love
"Relentless (unplugged)"

Filmography[]

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Miami 7 Jo Main role
2000 L.A. 7
S Club 7 Go Wild! Herself Reality television
2001 Hollywood 7 Jo Main role
S Club Search Judge / Mentor
2002 Viva S Club Jo Main role
2006 Just the Two of Us Contestant Series 1
2007 Celebrity Big Brother Series 5
Films
Year Title Role Notes
1999 Back to the '50s Jo Television film
Boyfriends & Birthdays
2003 Seeing Double

References[]

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b 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.
  4. ^ "S Club reach for the top". BBC News. 18 June 2000. Retrieved 4 September 2007.
  5. ^ "S Club to split up". BBC News. 21 April 2003. Retrieved 25 August 2007.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Jo O'Meara – News". Monrezo. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  7. ^ "News Express". Monrezo. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  8. ^ "2005 UK Singles Chart" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Jo O'Meara Relentless Review". BBC. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c "The Official Charts Company – Jo O'Meara". The Official Charts Company. 5 May 2013.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Jo O'Meara solo career". Jo O'Meara Official. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  12. ^ Taylor, Joel (17 January 2007). "Big Brother backlash". Metro. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
  13. ^ "S Club live on stage – The Reunion show". www.happymondaysleeds.com. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
  14. ^ "Former S Club Singer O'Meara Injured After Bottle Thrown". contactmusic.com. 14 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 January 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
  15. ^ "S Club 7 reunite for Children in Need". BBC News. bbc.com. BBC. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  16. ^ "S Club 7 reunite for Children in Need". . SClub7.Com. . 2 December 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Jo announces her departure from S Club 3". . Jo O'Meara Source. . 6 August 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b Logan, Philip (27 June 2021). "Jo O'Meara Drops Brand New Single 'On the Surface'". CelebMix. United States. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Jo O'Meara gives birth to son". NOW. 15 May 2008. Archived from the original on 20 May 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  20. ^ "Jo Chart History". aCharts. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2009.
  21. ^ "Compilation Search: Emma Bunton" (in Ukrainian). FDR Charts. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.

External links[]

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