{{Short description|British singer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Jonathan Hellyer | image = | caption = | birth_name = Jonathan Paul Hellyer | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Singer, director, drag actor }} '''Jonathan Paul Hellyer''' is an English singer, theatre director and drag actor. He is best known for his time as the lead singer of Bronski Beat and collaborations with Wayne G.
==Career==
===Joining Bronski Beat=== Hellyer joined the band, Bronski Beat following the departure of John Jon Foster and toured the U.S. and Europe with back-up vocalist Annie Conway, primarily touring nightclubs and LGBTQ festivals/events. They released the album, ''One More Chance'' and covered the songs, "I Love the Nightlife" by Alicia Bridges and "I'm Gonna Run Away from You" by Tami Lynn.
===Collaboration with Eartha Kitt=== In 1989, Bronski Beat wrote and collaborated with American-singer Eartha Kitt, on the song "Cha Cha Heels" which was written for Divine but following his death, Bronski Beat and Kitt performed the song with Hellyer on backing vocals. Despite making it to the charts, it was only a minor hit reaching #34 on the charts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bronski Beat & Eartha Kitt : Interview & video | website=YouTube | date=20 June 2006 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqPOhLd6TvE&t=102s |access-date=14 May 2023 }}</ref> The song was Hellyer's only big hit throughout his career. Hellyer recorded additional material with Bronski Beat for the next few years and performed at events around Europe and America.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bronksi Beat co-founder Steve Bronski dies aged 61 |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2021-12-09/bronksi-beat-co-founder-steve-bronski-dies-aged-61 |access-date=10 March 2023 |publisher=ITVX |date=9 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Marc Almond leads tributes as ex-Bronski Beat man Larry Steinbachek dies aged 56 |url=https://www.irishnews.com/magazine/2017/01/13/news/marc-almond-leads-tributes-as-ex-bronski-beat-man-larry-steinbachek-dies-aged-56-883384/ |website=The Irish News |access-date=10 March 2023 |date=13 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2021 |title=Steve Bronski, founding member of Bronski Beat, dead at 61 |url=https://www.outinperth.com/steve-bronski-founding-member-of-bronski-beat-dead-at-61/ |access-date=14 March 2023 |website=OUTInPerth {{!}} LGBTQIA+ News and Culture}}</ref>
===Later work and first departure=== Hellyer was an active member of the Nightingale Club, a gay bar in Birmingham. He was also a regular performer there in 1993. He did the voice announcements for the club and portrayed Dame Edna Everage during performances at the club too. Additionally he helped with organising charity event nights for the Birmingham AIDS Trust. After working with Eartha Kitt, Hellyer and Bronski Beat continued to collaborate until 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Schiller |first1=Rebecca |title=Watch Eureka O'Hara Give a Pride Month Herstory Lesson on Divine |url=https://www.billboard.com/culture/pride/eureka-ohara-pride-month-herstory-lesson-divine-video-8462916/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |magazine=Billboard |date=28 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Destiny |title=Today's Birthday: the magnificent Eartha Kitt |url=https://qnews.com.au/on-this-day-january-17-magnificent-ally-eartha-kitt/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |work=QNews |date=16 January 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrop-Griffiths |first=Dan |date=24 August 2010 |title=Interview: Jonathan Hellyer, star of Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2010/08/24/interview-jonathan-hellyer-star-of-elegies-for-angels-punks-and-raging-queens/ |access-date=8 May 2023 |website=PinkNews }}</ref> Hellyer provided the lead and backing vocals on the album ''Rainbow Nation'' which was a collection of both old and new songs. The songs that Hellyer provided lead vocals on included covers of "Hit That Perfect Beat" and "Why" from the ''Age of Consent'' album and the songs including "Kickin' up the Rain", "No Difference" and "Tell Me Your Name".<ref>{{cite web |title=Bronski Beat - 80s Songs {{!}} Simplyeighties.com |url=https://www.simplyeighties.com/bronski-beat.php |access-date=14 May 2023 |website=www.simplyeighties.com}}</ref> Hellyer recorded a few more minor songs before departing the band in 1994.
===Brief return and disbandment of Bronski Beat=== Following Hellyer's departure in 1994, John Jon Foster was brought back briefly as the lead singer of Bronski Beat but ultimately dropped out in 1995 and was once more replaced by Hellyer but not long after, Steve Bronski decided to fold the band overall following the lack of success with newer material.
=== Recent works === Hellyer has performed and composed with artists including Trish O'Brien and the KBL Band.<ref>{{cite web |title=MISCELLANEOUS ARTISTES |url=https://www.rhythmshop.com/miscellaneous-artistes |website=rhythmshop |access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> Hellyer appeared in productions of the Dame Edna Experience<ref>{{cite web |title='Five years to save the RVT' |url=http://www.nottelevision.net/five-years-save-rvt/ |website=Not Television |date=11 October 2014}}</ref> based on the television show.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Howard |title=Awards for favourite LGBTQ venue |url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/awards-for-favourite-lgbtq-venue/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029065524/https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/awards-for-favourite-lgbtq-venue/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=29 October 2020 |website=South London News |access-date=10 March 2023 |date=5 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Dame Edna Experience |url=https://www.qxmagazine.com/club-night/the-dame-edna-experience/ |website=QX Magazine |access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> Hellyer has worked with Australian DJ Wayne G.
Additionally, Hellyer has also performed in a variety of shows around London since 2013, mostly doing live performances or drag shows while also singing cover songs and his own.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bank Holiday Monday with the Dame Edna Experience and Lola Lasagne Tickets - London |url=https://www.outsavvy.com/event/6802/bank-holiday-monday-with-the-dame-edna-experience-and-lola-lasagne |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=OutSavvy }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 March 2013 |title=The Dame Edna Experience Goes West |url=https://www.marksimpson.com/2013/03/27/the-dame-edna-experience-goes-west/ |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=marksimpson.com }}</ref> Hellyer also continues to do performances as Dame Edna around the United Kingdom and the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-06-05 |title=Midlands Zone June 2017 by Midlands Zone - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/midlands-zone/docs/midlands_zone_june_2017 |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=issuu.com }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1 November 2024 Updated – The Royal Vauxhall Tavern – The Story So Far, The Royal Vauxhall Tavern |url=https://www.vauxhalltavern.com/24-april-2024-royal-vauxhall-tavern-the-story-so-far/ |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=www.vauxhalltavern.com }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=24 April 2023 |title=Coronation Bank Holiday Special: DE Experience |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/coronation-bank-holiday-special-de-experience |access-date=3 February 2025 |website=Time Out}}</ref>
==Vocal style and praise== Hellyer has a keening, falsetto like Jimmy Somerville, can hold notes and has a strong vocal range when singing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=reporter |first1=Mike Boehm Mike Boehm is a former arts |last2=Times |first2=pop music critic for the Los Angeles |title=POP MUSIC REVIEW : Singer Adds Luster to New Bronski Duo |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-31-ca-848-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=14 May 2023 |date=31 December 1988}}</ref> In an interview, Steve Bronski praised Hellyer's vocal style and said that he "was a perfect imitator. He could imitate Jimmy, he could imitate Jon Jon. He could intimidate you."<ref>{{cite web |title=STEVE BRONSKI [80's Bronksi Beat Band] NEW LIVE INTERVIEW - Man Parrish Studio | website=YouTube | date=14 October 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r43J8QbmA8g |access-date=14 May 2023 }}</ref> Hellyer has been praised for his work in the drag show industry.<ref>{{Citation |title=Why '95 / Kickin' Up the Rain by Bronski Beat - RYM/Sonemic |url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/bronski-beat/why-95-kickin-up-the-rain/ |access-date=23 May 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Bronski Beat - Rainbow Nation Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rainbow-nation-mw0000077109 |access-date=23 May 2023 }}</ref>
==Personal life== Hellyer is openly gay and produces, directs and stars in drag shows and songs with lesser-known artists/bands.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Staff |first1=Legacy |title=Eartha Kitt: The Most Exciting Woman in the World |url=https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/eartha-kitt-the-most-exciting-woman-in-the-world/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |work=Legacy.com |date=17 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=reporter |first1=Mike Boehm Mike Boehm is a former arts |last2=Times |first2=pop music critic for the Los Angeles |title=POP MUSIC REVIEW : Singer Adds Luster to New Bronski Duo |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-12-31-ca-848-story.html |access-date=10 March 2023 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=31 December 1988}}</ref> He took part in the Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at the Shaw Theatre in 2010. He also revealed in an interview that same year he is not a fan of modern comedies nor the Gavin & Stacey series or James Corden, the creator and actor in the series. Hellyer compared Corden to having syphilis.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harrop-Griffiths |first=Dan |date=2010-08-24 |title=Interview: Jonathan Hellyer, star of Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2010/08/24/interview-jonathan-hellyer-star-of-elegies-for-angels-punks-and-raging-queens/ |access-date=2025-02-01 |website=PinkNews }}</ref>
==Discography==
===With Bronski Beat=== *''My Discarded Men (with Eartha Kitt)'' (1989) *Cha Cha Heels ''(with Eartha Kitt)'' (1989)<ref name="pop">{{cite web |url=https://talkaboutpopmusic.com/2019/04/11/where-are-they-now-jimmy-somerville/ |title=Where Are They Now? Jimmy Somerville |last=Smith |first=Christopher |website=Talk About Pop Music |date=11 April 2019 |access-date=14 August 2021}}</ref> *''I'm Gonna Run Away from You'' (1990) *''Sweet Thing (as Hellyer)'' (1990) *''One More Chance'' (1991) *"Bronski Beat - Kickin' Up The Rain / Hit That Perfect Beat Boy '95" (1995) *''Rainbow Nation'' (1995) *"No Difference (as Hellyer)" (1995) *"Bronski Beat - Why '95 / Kickin' Up The Rain" (1995) *"Kickin' Up The Rain (F.T. & Co. Edit) (as Hellyer)" (1995)
===With Wayne G=== *''If You're Not The One (Wayne G Club Mix) (as Jonathan Paul Hellyer)'' (2003) *''If You're Not The One (Club Mix)'' (2004) *''Do You Wanna Funk (As Jonathan Paul Hellyer)'' (2004) *''If You're Not The One (Wayne G Mix)'' (2006) *''I Promised Myself (Wayne G Classic Mix)'' (2010)
===Solo projects=== *"Taste of Tears (As Hellyer)" (2002)
==References== {{reflist}} {{Bronski Beat}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hellyer, Jonathan}} Category:20th-century English LGBTQ people Category:20th-century English male singers Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people Category:21st-century English male singers Category:Bronski Beat members Category:Gay singers Category:English LGBTQ singers Category:English gay musicians Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people)